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Deep Trekker Inc opening new company office in Puerto Montt, Chile
Dr Neil Auchterlonie The growth of aquafeed
iscussion and debate over the development of the aquafeed sector in Asia, and in China in particular, has carried increasing emphasis over time but this year several meetings and conferences I have attended have served to boldly underline and highlight this message. The 6th GFFC on the future of food and feed in Bangkok, VIV Asia in March (which included a side-session on shrimp farming hosted by International Aquafeed), and recently the Global Aquaculture Forum in Guangzhou all indicated that this region is where the real growth in aquafeed development, and also aquaculture will come. The volumes of production that are being quoted (both currently, and as targets for strategic development), are numbers which are so large it is almost impossible to comprehend. A recent trip to China included a visit with a couple of colleagues from the IFFO Beijing office to an IFFO member, which as a feed company was describing current production volumes in the region of 10 million tonnes, with a plan for further growth! I mention this only to highlight the volumes that are reality in the sector in China. Although that was not a total aquafeed volume because it also included a proportion of pig and poultry feed, it is clearly a highly significant number. These are the sort of figures that will drive forward the global aquaculture industry and make it a continuing success for protein production through the 21st century, but they are not achieved without a great deal of hard work, strategic planning and technical knowledge. On the subject of the latter point, it was pleasing to have several detailed conversations about the importance of fishmeal as a key ingredient in aquafeeds. It is clear that Chinese producers regard the nutritional contribution of fishmeal as key to manufacturing nutritionally complete diets for aquaculture species. It is also clear that although fishmeal inclusion rates for species such as carps and tilapia are low, fishmeal is still important and the total volume of feed for these species makes the fishmeal contribution significant. Where some very interesting developments are likely to take place are within the production of new high value species, and the adoption of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) technology, as well as the commissioning of offshore aquaculture production facilities. All these developing scenarios require investment and focus in the production of high quality aquafeeds, feeds which will perform in markedly different aquatic environments and provide total nutrition for a range of new, often carnivorous, farmed fish species. IFFO itself hosted a workshop on fishmeal quality in Guangzhou, and what was very obvious was how the feed industry relies on the importance of this ingredient in manufacturing high quality aquafeeds. The presenters and delegates helped to provide an entertaining and informative session on why fishmeal is so highly regarded in China, and I can tell you that its future is secure in the market because those important nutritional qualities are widely recognised by those that sue the material on a daily basis, and whose livelihoods are dependent on it.
Dr Neil Auchterlonie is the Technical Director at IFFO. He has managed aquaculture and fisheries science programmes in both public and private sectors. Academically he holds a BSc in Marine and Freshwater Biology from Stirling University, a MSc in Applied Fish Biology from the University of Plymouth, and a PhD in Aquaculture (halibut physiology) from Stirling University. 14 | June 2019 - International Aquafeed
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eep Trekker Inc, a Canadian based global provider and manufacturer of portable and durable submersible Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs), just announced that it has opened a new company office in Puerto Montt, Chile. The new office strengthens the Deep Trekker presence in Chile and will manage the distribution of Deep Trekker products and services to the Latin American market. Deep Trekker SpA will offer the company’s complete range of submersible products, technical support, training services and customer service. “For the past eight years Deep Trekker has experienced exceptional growth across the globe and we believe this success can be directly tied to developing products in close collaboration with our customers,” says Sam Macdonald, President, Deep Trekker. “Establishing a direct presence in Latin America will allow us to get even closer to our customers, and as a result, deliver innovative products based on the specific needs of the Latin American market.” “The team here in Chile is committed to growing the Deep Trekker brand through the delivery of high-quality, robust submersible ROVs and exceptional customer service,” says Cristian Aguilera, SpA Business Development Manager. “I am very excited to be part of the Deep Trekker family and look forward to supporting our unique customers.” The new office is a clear reflection of the company’s current state; a strong year of growth, successful development and expansion into Latin America. With the aquaculture industry in Chile being the third largest in the world, making up 12 percent of global production, Deep Trekker is committed to supporting aquaculture with purpose-built robots that will continue to address the small and large tasks from monitoring to inspection.