Aquaculture Magazine April-May 2021 Vol. 47 No. 2 by Aquaculture Magazine

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APRIL-MAY 2021

INDEX

Aquaculture Magazine Volume 47 Number 2 April - May 2021

EDITOR´S COMMENTS

INDUSTRY NEWS

14 NEWS ARTICLE

Hatch Innovation is changing the game in 2021: three on-site innovation studios and a Women in Aquaculture virtual program

18 ARTICLE

Refuting Marine Aquaculture Myths, Unfounded Criticisms and Assumptions in the United States.

26 GREENHOUSES AND POND LINERS

Role of pond lining in dynamics of sulfur recycling bacteria in Pacific White Shrimp, Penaeus vanammei grow out culture ponds.

34 AQUACULTURE WITHOUT FRONTIERS News update.

36 INTERVIEW

XpertSea: a technology and finance company that is unlocking a variety of business solutions in the shrimp industry, an interview with the CEO.

ARTICLE

on the

cover A 20-year retrospective review of global aquaculture: global expansion and persistent challenges

Volume 47 Number 2 April - May 2021

Editor and Publisher Salvador Meza info@dpinternationalinc.com

Editorial Assistant Lucía Araiza editorial@dpinternationalinc.com

The importance of selecting the right partner for your transportation needs. Editorial Design Francisco Cibrián

Shelf life of fresh fillets from eviscerated farmed tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) handled at different pre-filleting times.

60 ARTICLE

How to Improve Your Genetics.

Designer Perla Neri design@design-publications.com

Sales & Marketing Coordinator Juan Carlos Elizalde crm@dpinternationalinc.com

Marketing & Corporate Sales Claudia Marín sse@dpinternationalinc.com

Business Operations Manager Adriana Zayas administracion@design-publications.com

64 LATIN AMERICA REPORT Recent News and Events.

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UPCOMING EVENTS ADVERTISERS INDEX

Subscriptions: iwantasubscription@dpinternationalinc.com Design Publications International Inc. 203 S. St. Mary’s St. Ste. 160 San Antonio, TX 78205, USA Office: +210 5043642 Office in Mexico: (+52) (33) 8000 0578 - Ext: 8578 Aquaculture Magazine (ISSN 0199-1388) is published bimontly, by Design Publications International Inc. All rights reserved. www.aquaculturemag.com

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COLUMNS

OUT AND ABOUT

DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MARKETING BYTES

Welcome, Seaspiricy! By: Salvador Meza *

Five Digital Marketing Topics to Watch in 2021 By: Sarah Cornelisse*

TECHNICAL GURU

THE FISHMONGER

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY

Dissolved Oxygen Instruments. By Amy Stone

Are you in the box seat?

Investing in aquaculture: a good idea or not? “Caveat emptor”- let the buyer beware. By Stephen G. Newman Ph.D. * President and CEO, AquaInTech Inc.

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The role of women in the blue economy and aquaculture By: Lucía Araiza, editorial coordinator *

round the world, women are increasingly affected by climate change, market changes, and significant disruptive events such as the COVID-19 pandemic that we continue to face. I recently read an article from Dona Bertarelli published by the United Nations and its international development program, where this quote resonated with me “if the economy prospers, women prosper, which in turn reduces the gender gap in society.” So I wanted to share with our readers the following reflection as a starting point for this edition of Aquaculture Magazine. In the blue economy, the connection is very evident; Women constitute the majority of the active population in coastal-maritime tourism and fishing, which are the main activities of this sector. However, women receive the lowest payment wages and have the least labor protection in their activities. Specifically, in the case of aquaculture, the contribution of women is frequently overlooked and undervalued even though they are the ones who play key roles in the supply chains of reliable and nutritious food, on which around 3 billion people depend around the world.

were applied in sustainable alternatives, renewable energy, innovation and technology for aquaculture, and the protection of aquatic and marine ecosystems. And now, let’s imagine how these projects could also be enriched if we integrated women into each one of them. The reality is that in the sector, there is still a disparity in economic compensation based on gender, as well as limitations on opportunities, resources, financing, market information, technology, training, mobility, and more; And this, in turn, has a great impact on the development of the economy and the food security that it can represent for humanity. A paradigm shift is needed to include women in the sector, just as much as changes are necessary for

public policies that can allow the development of aquaculture in the world. Creating a sustainable and resilient blue economy, which fully includes the potential of women in its development, will benefit society, the economy and promote the 17 Sustainable Development Goals proposed by the UN. We present our edition 27-2 (April - May 2021). We hope that this gender perspective can serve as a point of reflection that accompanies our specialized content to search for a better present and future for global aquaculture. *Editorial coordinator for Aquaculture Magazine and Panorama Acuícola Magazine Email: editorial@dpinternationalinc.com

A paradigm shift needed “The development of the blue economy in the world is also a great opportunity to advance gender equality,” writes Dona Bertarelli. Imagine how much our sector’s development could improve if projects and investments 4 »

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INDUSTRY RESEARCHNEWS REPORT

INVE Aquaculture uncovers Artemia in a brand new knowledge hub

Specialist knowledge about aquaculture’s key live feed, Artemia, can now be found in one place online, without registration, and free of charge. INVE Aquaculture, part of Benchmark, has recently launched a new web-based service dedicated to the sharing of information and expertise about the most widely used live feed in the

aquaculture sector, Artemia. Now live at https://artemia. inveaquaculture.com this hub is ideal for hatchery managers, researchers, and newcomers wanting to understand everything from the fundamentals of Artemia culture to advances in Artemia technology and how to benefitfrom its use in aquaculture.

The new Artemia knowledge hub is a testament to the company’s collaborative strategy by contributing to a better understanding of Artemia’s potential as a live feed and by sharing insights into technologies and tools that help to maximize efficiency and Return on Investment (ROI).

BioMar announces new division for Asia In line with strategic aspirations of growth, BioMar is now establishing a fourth division embracing activities in the Asian region, including Vietnam and China. With over 30 years of experience in aquaculture, Francois Loubere will assume the role of VP Asia, while Luis García Romero will take over the role of MD for West Med & Africa. Following the announcement of the new partnership with Viet-Uc in Vietnam, BioMar has now made 6 »

changes in executive management announcing a VP for Asia. This role will set the strategic direction for the region and support the integration and further development of the business units. With more than 30 years of experience in BioMar and the aquaculture industry, Francois Loubere has been a key contributor in building up the BioMar business unit in West Med & Africa as well as contributing to several strategic business development

projects. Francois Loubere will join the Executive Committee in BioMar Group. Following this change, the commercial manager in West Med & Africa, Luis García Romero will take over the position of Managing Director for the business unit. With a little less than 2 years in BioMar Group, he has already proven himself to be a strong commercial profile with a steep learning curve and a very solid business understanding. APRIL-MAY 2021

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INDUSTRY RESEARCHNEWS REPORT

FloNergia Inc. Names Professional Aquaculture Services, Inc. as Its Exclusive Distributor in the US. FloNergia Inc., a global leader in the development, commercialization, and deployment of engineered airlift pumping systems for the agriculture aquaculture, aquaponics, hydroponics and water/wastewater industries, today announced the appointment of Professional Aquaculture Services, Inc. as Exclusive Distributor for the company’s complete line FloMovTM airlift pumps in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Nevada, and Mississippi. FloNergia’s FloMovTM airlift pump technology is used in many markets for water circulation and aeration. FloMovTM pumps not only improve water quality but will also reduce energy costs associated with pumping/ aeration systems by 50 to 70% when

compared to conventional systems. Additionally, FloMovTM pumps have been proven to perform several functions including disrupting thermal stratification, improving oxygenation, stripping carbon dioxide, and facilitating the recovery of solid waste. FloNergia Inc. specializes in the development, commercialization, and distribution of airlift pumping systems for commercial and industrial applications involving the use of air to efficiently move fluids. The company provides engineering support and product service for its customers from its facilities in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, and its Research Centre at the University of Guelph. Further information: https:// www.flonergia.com/

Scoot Science Hires Business Development Specialist Scoot Science, the premier ocean forecasting technology company for aquaculture businesses, continues to expand its presence in Canada with the addition of Business Development Specialist Craig Blackie. Through this role, Blackie will develop sales channels while implementing programs for Scoot Science that support the interests of aquaculture companies, first nations groups, government agencies, and environmental organizations. Blackie has been on the front lines of monitoring ocean change and managing community and regulatory relationships on behalf of aquaculture companies for nearly a decade. He is a fish biologist and holds a master’s degree in aquaculture. His most recent position with Grieg Seafood in British Columbia included building partnerships with first nations groups along the coast and managing government relations. Scoot Science is an ocean data analytics company built to catalyze 8 »

the blue economy and support fish farmers who need to protect their operations from the risks of rapidly changing oceans. By integrating inpen environmental data with publicly available oceanographic and meteorological data Scoot Science gives farmers a window into their regional ocean. Scoot Science goes beyond operation-

al insights by building risk models that translate ocean dynamics into marine business outcomes. Those models enable aquaculture to finally unlock the tools of modern finance and insurance. For more information about Scoot Science, please visit www.ScootScience.com APRIL-MAY 2021

Ocean On Land Technology achieves an increase in European clawed lobster survival rates Ocean On Land Technology®, which forms part of the Cadman Capital Group’s Aquaculture portfolio, has reported an increase in the survival rate of European clawed lobsters, during experiments focused on hatchery culture. Created in partnership with Orkney Shellfish Hatchery, the experiments, which began in October of last year at the hatchery’s Orkney facility, have reported continued uptrends in larval survival rates, which now consistently stand at upwards of 30%, a number significantly higher than the estimated 0.005% survival rate of European clawed lobster in the wild. Focused on growing clawed lobsters on land from broodstock to post-larvae, the series of experiments utilised Ocean On Land Technology’s state-of-the-art Hatchery-in-a-Box system, a product which comprises a

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fully transportable, complete hatchery solution inside a specially-modified shipping container. Rigorous scientific studies on husbandry, system design, and nutrition completed by the team have aided the survival rate improvement, something that continues to drive efficiency into the hatchery process by allowing operators to consistently produce more larvae from smaller facilities. In addition, the subsequent use of Ocean On Land Technology’s patented Aquahive® system within the experiments has resulted in 90% survival from post-larvae (stage IV-VI) to a robust juvenile size. Through its ongoing partnership, Ocean On Land Technology and Orkney Shellfish Hatchery are committed to researching, developing, and trialing new technologies to improve efficiency and sustainability when cul-

tivating shellfish on land, in order to aid the replenishment of worldwide seafood stocks. For more information visit www. oceanonland.com.

INDUSTRY RESEARCHNEWS REPORT

Blue Aqua International Launches Doctor Shrimp TM

Blue Aqua International recently launched the Doctor Shrimp Academy and Clinic to provide practical skills training and shrimp diagnostics services for the shrimp farming industry globally. Blue Aqua International has been at the forefront of super-intensive shrimp farming, with more than 4,000 customers worldwide. The global firm provides cutting-edge solutions for the management of the culture environment, health, and the optimization of animal nutrition. While operating farms in both Singapore and Indonesia, it’s now transferring its expertise in super-intensive shrimp farming worldwide. Doctor Shrimp is a global platform and clearinghouse for technical and practical knowledge of the five species of shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, Penaeus monodon, Fenneropenaeus indicus, Litopenaeus stylirostris, and Marsupenaeus japonicus. With ambitions to become a global center of excellence in the industry, Doctor Shrimp willhone in on three focus areas: (1) A technical and tools resource platform for shrimp farming, (2) Education and practical aquaculture skills training, (3) Shrimp disease diagnostic services. 10 »

Aquaculture Magazine

The Doctor Shrimp Academy is specialized in all facets and practical skills transfer with technical courses designed for real-world shrimp farming. Partnering with Temasek Polytechnic, the Academy is rolling out a series of specialized courses with a practicum at Blue Aqua’s commercial shrimp farm in Singapore, which is well known for its super-intensive shrimp production numbers. The Doctor Shrimp Clinic & Laboratory in Singapore will serve the needs of shrimp farmers by offering quick and accurate disease diagnostic tests, along with prevention and treatment to assist farmers in their operations. With Singapore’s strategic location as a hub for Southeast Asia, The Clinic is able to provide the shortest turnaround time to support farmers in the region. In addition to offering laboratory services such as qPCR, microbiology, post-mortem, and water quality testing, leveraging on Doctor Shrimp’s knowledge base – The Clinic will also provide customized and targeted solutions and protocols to improve shrimp health, which ultimately will prevent future infections. More information at: http://www. doctorshrimp.com/academy/index. html APRIL-MAY 2021

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INDUSTRY RESEARCHNEWS REPORT

UMD Partners with US Aquaculture to Improve Rainbow Trout Filet Quality and Yield

The University of Maryland (UMD) was recently awarded a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) to explore genomic selection as a method of increasing fillet quality and yield in rainbow trout. Rainbow trout represents a $100 million industry in fish sales alone. This is separate from the significant recreational appeal of the fish, with trout fishing attracting about 8 million anglers throughout the year. But while genomic selection has been widely adopted in livestock programs as a way to increase yield, it is yet to be adopted in 12 »

aquaculture. With this grant, UMD and collaborators across academia and industry are taking the lead in showcasing the benefits of genomic selection in rainbow trout and beyond.“The overarching goal of this work in rainbow trout is to use the most current technologies in novel ways for aquaculture to help solve a fundamental problem for the industry,” says Mohamed Salem, associate professor in Animal & Avian Sciences with UMD and the lead on this work. “Using genomic technologies and genetic markers, we can help identify the genes that are important for how feed transitions into filet in the fish. When you grow a fish, some fish will put

more of the feed energy you give them into filet, and some will deposit more into visceral fat, which is a complete waste. So identifying the genetic markers that are associated with this conversion process will help improve feed efficiency.” As Salem explains, muscle fillet is the most valuable product for rainbow trout, so anything to improve the quality and quantity of filet on a fish will improve production efficiency. While classical breeding can improve yield over time, it is a slow and time-consuming process. Genomic selection provides breeders with the additional information needed to increase the accuracy of precision breeding and improve APRIL-MAY 2021

the overall genetic quality of their breeding stock much more rapidly. In order to achieve this goal, Salem is partnering with USDA, University of Georgia, University of Idaho, Middle Tennessee State University, and Pacific Aquaculture. Pacific Aquaculture is an industry partner that grows rainbow trout in Washington and Idaho, and they hope to find a solution to a common industry problem known as downgrading that costs them tens of thousands per week. “Downgrading is related to cracks in a filet that don’t look good for customers, so they downgrade the product to nuggets or for other uses and are unable to sell the filets at the normal price in the consumer market,” explains Salem. “Downgrading occurs in about 15% of filet products, and this goes beyond trout. Atlantic salmon, with a market value of $18 billion worldwide, also has a similar problem. But very few researchers are examining this APRIL-MAY 2021

issue, and no one is looking at it in rainbow trout.” The reason why these cracks in the filet form are unknown, but this work will help determine the genetic reasons behind the problem while examining genetic markers that connect to filet quality. By partnering within academia and industry, the work has the potential to make a real impact across aquaculture.

Aquaculture Magazine

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NEWS ARTICLE

Hatch Innovation is changing the game in 2021: three on-site innovation studios and a Women in Aquaculture virtual program

Hatch’s mission is to achieve the least possible footprint of farmed and alternative seafood, for the benefit of oceans, terrestrial ecosystems and future generations. This year, they are offering support to local and regional early-stage innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs through 3 different on-site innovation studios, as well as a new virtual program targeted towards female innovators and entrepreneurs.

atch was conceived in 2017 by co-founders Carsten Krome, Georg Baunach and Wayne Murphy, with the goal to revolutionize the way seafood is produced around the world through investing in its technological development. After three years in operation, HATCH has invested in more than 35 companies, run four successful accelerator cohorts, raised its first US $8M fund and established offices in Hawaii, Norway and Singapore. The team has grown to 12 full-time members spread across the globe, who run the three business units of Hatch – the accelerator program, the fund and the innovation services offering. Hatch’s mission is to achieve the least possible footprint of farmed and alternative seafood, for the benefit of oceans, terrestrial ecosystems and future generations. The team’s vision is to catalyze farmed and alternative seafood innovation through responsible investment, expertise and insights, supported by a strong, committed community. What does this mean? That you may have a possibility to participate in one of their open calls if you are a researcher with a great idea, a project team looking for support and mentorship, a startup 14 »

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THE FISHMONGER

Our industry is subjected to a

wide range of cost variables, many of which are not easily controlled, and the pandemic has become another of these creating ‘the perfect storm’ to deal with.

ventative health measures introduced, which affected curtailing regional tourism and visitation and thereby seafood tourism in these areas. For example, farm gate sales of products such as fresh Oysters were affected by the drop in inbound international tourism. The decline in direct sales decreased more dramatically during the lockdown phase as domestic travel restrictions reduced tourism visitation levels to regional areas while physical distancing restrictions limited the operations of farm gate retail outlets. This resulted in farm gate outlets shutting and staff lay-offs and strongly impacted revenue as farm gate prices are typically higher than wholesale. In some States, producers’ sales of Oysters and Finfish species via home delivery or fishing ports close to metro areas increased, especially during the lockdown phase. ‘Back of the boat’ sales of Rock Lobster increased as producers were no longer able to sell the average volumes into export markets in China. This trend continued across the lockdown and initial easing phases as the price of the product into these export markets remained low even when resumed. It was reported from a survey of Tasmanians about food access and supply, 22% reported buying Rock Lobsters directly from fishers during the COVID-19 lockdown period (UTAS 2020). 76 »

A survey reported that aside from the loss of sales, employment costs were impacted. Thirty-five percent of farms reported an average of 15% increase in labor cost due to COVID-19, driven by increased safety requirements, space and equipment needed to manage excess oyster inventories, and heightened biosecurity risks. Seventy-seven percent of farms accessed government support programs. Our industry is subjected to a wide range of cost variables, many of which are not easily controlled, and the pandemic has become another of these, creating ‘the perfect storm’ to deal with. It is even harder in our food production area as most of our stock is underwater and not in mind eye like it is in, say, the beef industry. Riding out the storm will take a lot of doing, and much can be learned from sharing information and knowledge. The Fishmonger suggests you follow these tips: • Be nimble in your dealings – always be on the lookout for ideas, and do not be afraid to make changes to your organization to ensure you are profitable.

• Look for opportunities to have quick sales to promote and move products. • Do not buy what you cannot sell – know what your customers want and plan. • Utilize social media to build loyalty and offer specials through that medium. • Take advantage of any offers of government assistance. • Avoid wastage by utilizing value-add products. • Shop around with your suppliers to get the best deal – do it in a way that makes them see you as an important client. • Make your payments on time. • Do not become a bank for your creditors – be strict on your terms. • Continue to train your staff. • Look after your staff and reward them for any initiatives. • Do not forget your local market – if you create loyalty, they will support your business in good and bad times. Happy Fishmongering!

References cited by the author available under previous request to our editorial team.

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ty-free workshop for you to develop your project’s commercial scalability, technological readiness, and industry fit. You will have the chance to grow your business network, speak to global and regional aquaculture experts to validate your ideas, understand key market insights, and learn to pitch for investment and talk to customers successfully. The virtual program will take place on a weekly basis from 17th August to 11th September 2021.

startups, many with female founders with strong and talented female teams. We have a global business network and access to some of the most talented female leaders in the agrifood industry. We have run four accelerator programs across the globe, raised an $8M+ investment fund and advised many high-profile global enterprises on their aquaculture and alternative seafood investment strategies. We have created the most relevant and current data set on the industry and are able

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to connect people across all fields, directly and without hassle or extra cos. We can help you understand your intellectual property potential and will educate you about how and when to raise funds from whom. As the market of aquaculture and alternative seafood continues to grow, we are looking for the best aquaculture and alternative seafood ideas to develop and scale into viable businesses. Hatch Women in Aquaculture Innovation Studio is an equi-

Who should apply? · Companies with female founders or management teams · Project teams looking for support and mentorship · Startups that want to take things to the next level · Later stage companies seeking to increase market & industry access · Companies in adjacent industries entering aquaculture · Talented entrepreneurs seeking opportunities in the industry · Limited to 15 teams and 2 people per team For further information, please visit: https://www.hatch.blue/ Something unclear? Email benedict@hach.blue

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ARTICLE

Refuting Marine Aquaculture Myths, Unfounded Criticisms and Assumptions in the United States By: National Aquaculture Association *

A variety of tenacious myths critical of marine aquaculture practiced in the United States have persisted for decades to be presented as facts to the public and Congress. The National Aquaculture Association (NAA) recently posted an updated analysis of refuting the variety of tenacious myths critical of marine aquaculture practiced in the United States. Authors of this analysis believe critics have erroneously assumed marine aquaculture-related environmental damage reported in other countries occurs in the United States. The reality is U.S. fish and shellfish farmers culture aquatic animals and plants within a very complicated and expensive legal, regulatory, husbandry and science-driven environment.

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he United States is not a world leader in sustainable aquaculture production by volume or value but we are in the thoughtful and rigorous development of regulatory and non-regulatory production practices, animal nutrition and health management4, and the efficient processing and distribution of high-quality, wholesome foods. A recent analysis by Gentry et al. (2017) of global marine aquaculture potential concluded with a statement that is very relevant to U.S. aquaculture by highlighting the unlimited potential of the United States to be a global leader in sustainability, technology and production (internal citations deleted): “Given the significant potential for marine aquaculture, it is perhaps surprising that the development of new farms is rare. Restrictive regulatory regimes, high costs, economic uncertainty, lack of investment capital, competition and limitations on knowledge transfer into new regions

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THE FISHMONGER

Our industry is subjected to a

wide range of cost variables, many of which are not easily controlled, and the pandemic has become another of these creating ‘the perfect storm’ to deal with.

References cited by the author available under previous request to our editorial team.

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ARTICLE

revised a nationwide permit for marine shellfish farming and created two new nationwide permits for seaweed and marine finfish farming. The Corps issues nationwide permits (NWPs) to authorize activities under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, structures and work in navigable waters, where those activities will result in no more than minimal individual and cumulative adverse environmental effects. The Environmental Protection Agency granted a NPDES during September 2020 for a publicly-funded, experimental and demonstration project in the Gulf of Mexico that is currently being appealed. We invite and encourage your independent analysis of the multi-agency, state and federal, generated permit. The full permit package is posted here: https://www.epa.gov/npdes-permits/ocean-era-inc-velella-epsilon20 »

aquatic-animal-production-facilitynational-pollutant.

Myth: Marine net pens or sea cages are factory farms that in US waters would contribute marine pollution caused by excess feed, untreated fish waste, antibiotics, and antifoulants Feed Management and Fish Growth Feed is a significant cost to all fish farms and can range from 50% to 60% of variable costs. As a consequence, farmers invest in employee training and infrastructure to store, handle, deliver and monitor feed to fish as efficiently and with as little loss as possible. The practical aspects of feed monitoring technology is rarely presented in science literature; although, sophisticated approaches have been adopted to include cameras, Doppler radar, infrared detection, sonar sensors and water quality sensor arrays. Current feed monitoring in the United States utilizes farm employees observing feed consumption via video for each cage in an array of

cages to stop feed delivery when fish near satiation. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) (weight of feed offered/weight of fish produced) have trended downward as feed management and feed quality have improved from 3:1 (3 pounds of feed to 1 pound of harvested fish) to around 1:1. Fish Density Fish density is a production system is a complex question dependent upon species behavior, physiology, and water quality. The success of every farm growing animals, terrestrial or aquatic, depends upon the health and growth of the livestock. Fish grown at-sea in net pens benefit from standard practice of a low volume, 2% to 3%, at-harvest of fish relative to the volume of the sea cage or net pen. Excess feed, untreated fish waste and nutrients Current farm and feed management practices refute the claims that offshore marine aquaculture causes waAPRIL-MAY 2021

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THE FISHMONGER

Our industry is subjected to a

wide range of cost variables, many of which are not easily controlled, and the pandemic has become another of these creating ‘the perfect storm’ to deal with.

References cited by the author available under previous request to our editorial team.

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Complaining that we cannot

co-exist does not serve a shared goal of providing domestically produced product for the growing U.S. and global markets.

The use and application of antifoulants in the marine environment is regulated by EPA under authority granted the Clean Water Act and Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. Antifouling coatings registrants must obtain approval from the U.S. EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs, which oversees periodic pesticide registrations and reviews, and regulates pesticide use to prevent significant adverse effects on non-target organisms. Containers of antifoulants include EPA approved label instructions regulating storage, handling, application, and disposal. The EPA’s Office of Water is responsible for implementing the Clean Water Act, and similar statutes designed to maintain aquatic ecosystems to protect human health; APRIL-MAY 2021

support economic and recreational activities; and provide healthy habitat for fish, plants, and wildlife.

Myth: Offshore farms entangle marine animals The federal permitting process for offshore farms requires interagency consultations, as authorized by the National Environmental Policy Act, to enforce the provisions of the Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to prevent injury or death to listed species, marine mammals and birds and to prohibit unpermitted fishery harvest, possession or sale.

Unlike fishing gear that is designed to intentionally “catch” animals, aquaculture gear is designed to contain animals being cultured without hurting them or any wild animals that may occur around farms.

Myth: Escaped farm-raised fish adversely impact wild fish stocks Belle and Nash (2008) noted that escaping fish may pose a variety of environmental risks including pathogen transmission, interbreeding with wild conspecific to introduce new genetics, competition for resources, predation, colonization or disruption or damage to existing commercial or recreational fishing. The authors concluded: “For most of the aquatic species commercially cultured in the United » 23

THE FISHMONGER

Our industry is subjected to a

wide range of cost variables, many of which are not easily controlled, and the pandemic has become another of these creating ‘the perfect storm’ to deal with.

References cited by the author available under previous request to our editorial team.

APRIL-MAY 2021

ognized for utilizing compounded feeds appropriate for their aquatic animal and production system and that advances in the formulation of compounded feeds is advancing at a rapid and sustainable rate.

Myth: Farm-raised fish will displace US fisheries and are cheap and of low-quality Fundamentally for U.S. farmers it is very difficult to produce “cheap” fish in the United States because of the plethora of federal and state natural resource and environmental regulations focused on aquatic animal culture, possession, sale and health, APRIL-MAY 2021

water use and quality, land use and access to markets and local, state and national labor, safety, business regulations and permits and mandated minimum wage. What is also clear – and often missing from the discussion of competition – is that competition will exist with or without domestic aquaculture. The marketplace is global and demand for seafood products is growing. The United States cannot meet consumer seafood demand through wild caught fishing activities alone. Seafood imports and other forms of protein, such as beef and chicken, already provide significant competition. Seafood business executives speaking at the National Marine Aquaculture Summit said that if seafood is not available from U.S. sources, their customers are demanding that they get it somewhere else. New rules by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized by the Food Safety Modernization Act have added additional regulations for the processing, handling and transportation of animal feeds and human food. Such controls help to make farm-raised seafood products safe and wholesome foods. As U.S. farmers, we are at a very real price disadvantage and recognize import product prices as being one of our greatest challenges. In response, rather than a protectionist approach, the U.S. aquaculture community has been working to develop markets that appreciate locally grown and high-quality fish, shellfish and seaweed products. And we are working to educate the U.S. consumer of U.S. sustainable production practices, environmental stewardship and the nutritional benefits and value of buying U.S. grown foods. Editor’s note: This analysis was revised and updated January 20, 2021. The present article summarizes the information found on it, however we strongly recommend our readers to access the original version to dig deeper on the references and sources consulted on the formulation of the analysis.

Unlike fishing gear that is

designed to intentionally “catch” animals, aquaculture gear is designed to contain animals being cultured without hurting them or any wild animals that may occur around farms.

REFERENCES Belle, S.M. and C.E. Nash. 2008. Chapter 8 Better management practices for net-pen aquaculture in Tucker and Hargreaves, editors, Environmental Best Management Practices for Aquaculture. US Aquaculture Society and Wiley-Blackwell, Ames Iowa. Gentry, et al. 2017. Mapping the global potential for marine aquaculture. Nature Ecology and Evolution 1:1317-1324. *The National Aquaculture Association represents farmers across the United States that raise aquatic animals and plants destined for food, bait, ornamental, recreational fishing markets and as fertile eggs, larvae, fingerlings or shellfish seed to stock farms for grow-out. This association is a U.S. producer-driven, non-profit association incorporated in 1991 that for 30 years has worked ensure the aquaculture industry’s sustainability, profitability and development occurs in an environmentally sustainable manner. The original version of this analysis can be found at: http://thenaa.net/pub/NAA-Refuting-Marine-AquacultureMyths.pdf

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GREENHOUSES AND POND LINERS

Role of pond lining in dynamics of sulfur recycling bacteria in Pacific White Shrimp, Penaeus vanammei grow out culture ponds Plastic lining ponds provide better management and healthier environmental conditions, and sulfur cycling bacteria can be used as an indicator of pond environmental conditions. The present investigation, developed by researchers from Universities Bharathidasan and Navsar and the Aquatic Animal Health and Environment Division Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA) in India, compares observations on the trend of total heterotrophs, total vibrios, and the sulfur cycling

By: N. Manoharan, H.G. Solanki and A.K. Ray *

ater quality in aquaculture systems to a large extent is controlled by the microbial biodegradation of organic residues (Avnimelech et al., 1995; Abraham et al., 2004) through the

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bacteria in earthen and lined white legged shrimp Penaeus vannamei culture ponds and the influence of farm level interventions like application of exogenous probiotics.

process of mineralization. Microorganisms are involved in the production and breakdown of organic matter and nutrient recycling in aquatic environments. Heterotrophic bacteria oxidize organic matter, whereas the autotrophic nitrifying and sulfur

bacteria oxidize problematic compounds like ammonium, nitrite, or sulfide, respectively (Moriarty, 1997). Sulfur-reducing bacteria (SRB) and sulfuroxidizing bacteria (SOB) are predominately involved in the reduction and oxidation of sulfates and APRIL-MAY 2021

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GREENHOUSES AND POND LINERS Table 1 Different water and soil probiotics, mineral mixtures, disinfectants used in culture systems.

hydrogen sulfide in pond bottom (Syed et al., 2006) and assist in maintaining a healthy pond environment in commercial shrimp culture ponds (Rao et al., 2000; Devaraja et al., 2002; Burford et al., 2003; Abraham et al., 2004, 2015; Fernandes et al., 2010; Patil et al., 2012). Studies on the role of sulfur cycling bacteria in P. vannamei culture systems are scanty. Smith and Briggs (1998) suggested full pond liners (bitumen impregnated geotextile) against earthen pond for managing nutrient load in shrimp culture systems. Still, they did not discuss the role of pond lining on microbial dynamics, although pond lining is a highly intensive and high input system with zero water exchange. The present investigations compare observations on the trend of total heterotrophs, total vibrios, and especially the sulfur cycling bacteria (SOB and SRB), which play a significant role in understanding the ecosystem in commercial P. vannamei culture ponds.

Study Location In group I, three earthen ponds (1.0 ha each) located 2.5 km from Gulf of Cambay at Onjal village of Navsari district, Gujarat (India) with P. Vannamei post larvae (PL 12) stocking density @ 30 nos. m-2 were selected for the study. 28 »

In Group II, three (1.0 ha each) fully lined ponds [Geosynthetic manufactured materials (GSE), GSE Lining Technology Co. Ltd., Thailand; 300 μm thickness] located 2 km from Gulf of Cambayat Chijgam village of Navsari district, Gujarat (India) with P. vannamei postlarvae (PL 12) stocking density @ 95 nos. m-2 were selected for the study.

Pond Preparation Detailed procedure for the pond preparation is provided in Fig. 1. In both systems, an initial dose of water probiotics was given before stocking of seeds. The ponds were lined with 300 μm thickness of GSE (GSE Lining Technology Co. Ltd., Thailand). Aeration in earthen ponds was provided using paddlewheel aerators @ 8 HP ha-1 from 3 h early in the morning up to 30 DOC (days of culture), 8 h up to 50 DOC, 10 h up to 75, and 12 h till the end of harvest. Aeration in lined ponds was provided before stocking during the pond preparation period (rice ferment applications as well as probiotics applications). Then after, 24 h @ 6 HP ha-1 up to 30 DOC, 8 HP up to 50 DOC, 10 HP up to 75, and 12 HP till the end of harvest. Shrimps were fed with commercial feed (30– 35% crude protein,

Figure 1 Flow chart mentioning the pond preparation before stocking post larvae.

2.5–3.0% crude lipid, <3% crude fibre, <15% ash content and <12% moisture). Initially, blind feeding was done up to 28 DOC, which was then adjusted based on the feed consumptions in check trays (initially 60% of body weight and gradually reducing it to 1.8% of body weight at the end of culture period). Feeding was carried out in four equal rations per day at an interval of every 4 h. APRIL-MAY 2021

Figure 2 Total Bacterial Counts in soil and water samples of Lined and Earthen L. vannamei culture ponds.

Plastic lining ponds allow easy

removal of the organic load, thereby permitting higher stocking densities and harvests than earthen ponds.

Figure 3 Total Vibrio Counts in soil and water samples of Lined and Earthen L. vannamei culture ponds.

Different water and soil probiotics, mineral mixtures, disinfectants used in culture systems are listed in Table 1 to maintain desirable conditions. Water probiotics included Bacillus sp., whereas soil [probiotics included Rhodobacter and Rhodococcus sp. (liquid formulations)] and Thiobacillus denitrificans (powder formulation). Apart from this, the accumulated sludge in the lining pond was removed regularly after 70 DOC through the centrally designed drainage system. APRIL-MAY 2021

Sample Collection Water and sediment samples were collected from both the groups fortnightly from ponds in sterilized plastic bottles and plastic bags, respectively, and transported to the laboratory in insulated boxes containing pre-cooled gel ice packets. The samples were ponds compared with the water samples (Fig. 1). The TBC outnumbered the TVC, SOB, and SRB populations indicating the major role of abundant heterotrophic bacteria over the

autotrophic beneficial bacterial populations. Similar results were also reported by other authors (Rao et al., 2000; Devaraja et al., 2002; Patil et al., 2012). In both the groups, the applications of disinfectants, in the present study, though they might have worked at the time of application, have not helped in controlling the pathogenic bacteria that is vibrios or even the water quality deteriorating bacterial population in the long run and the system comes to its original state where it was before application.

Total Bacterial Population The mean TBC of pond water and sediments were close to or above 6.0 log CFU/ml, suggesting abundant availability of nutrients in both systems. During the culture period, the values of TBC observed agreed with earlier studies (Abraham et al., 2004, 2015; Patil et al., 2012). Rao » 29

GREENHOUSES AND POND LINERS

et al. (2000) reported TBC of 3 log 1.40 to 4 log 3.40 CFU/ml in water samples and 3 log 2.60 to 5 log 6.10 CFU/ml in sediment samples. The earthen pond water sample showed the first peak of 6 log 8.60 ± 1.15 CFU/ml at 23 DOC and subsequently, the second peak was observed at 104 DOC (6 log 8.37 ± 1.17 CFU/ml), whereas the highest peak in lined ponds was observed at 136 DOC (6 log 7.25 ± 2.05 CFU/ ml). After bleaching of pond water and 5 days prior to stocking of seeds (pre stocking period), the TBC were 6 log 0.53 ± 0.06 CFU/ml and 6 log 3.73 ± 0.65 CFU/ml in earthen and lined ponds, respectively. High aerations might be the reason for the high bacterial growth (Fernandes et al., 2010). The sediment samples of earthen ponds showed slightly higher TBC than the water samples, seen also in earlier reports (Abraham et al., 2004, 2015; Patil et al., 2012).

Total Presumptive Vibrio Population The total presumptive vibrio count was 2 log 0.73 ± 0.05 CFU/ml and 2 log 3.67 ± 0.98 CFU/ml in earthen and lined ponds. As with TBC, the higher population of TVC in lined ponds may also be due to the longer duration of initial preparation time given before stocking, allowing the proliferation of the vibrio proliferation. The high vibrio load in lined ponds must be attributed to the higher stocking density in lined ponds throughout the culture period. This might be due to the steady increase in organic matter accumulation in the pond bottom (Moriarty, 1997; Sujatha, 2007), as witnessed by the total quantum of feed per pond in each group (Group I – 9.45 t and Group II – 10.35 t). A large amount of organic matter in shrimp culture ponds is possible due to high stocking density, overfeeding, uneaten feed, fecal matter, fertilizers, and over blooming (Kautsky et al., 2000). 30 »

Figure 4 Sulphur oxidising bacterial counts in soil and water samples of Lined and Earthen Penaeus vannamei culture ponds.

Figure 5 Sulphur reducing bacterial counts in soil and water samples of Lined and Earthen Penaeus vannamei culture ponds.

Sulfur-Oxidizing Bacteria (SOB) and Sulfate- Reducing Bacteria (SRB) The SOB and SRB are essential in converting sulfur and sulfur-related compounds. The sulfur recycling bacteria that is SOB and the SRB were significantly lower (P < 0.01) in the lined pond compared with earthen ponds throughout the culture period indicating the role of soil substratum requirement for the proliferation and favorable condi-

tion requirement for the growth of this bacteria (Abraham et al., 2004, 2015). The SOB and SRB populations were 4 log 1.44 ± 6.87 CFU/ml, 3 log 8.50 ± 2.17 CFU/ml and 3 log 0.58 ± 0.25 CFU/ml, 3 log 0.85 ± 0.22 CFU/ml, respectively, for earthen and lined ponds. The levels of SOB and SRB counts in the present study were in accordance with Patil et al. (2012) but were much lower than the previous reAPRIL-MAY 2021

Table 2 Different bacterial population in shrimp culture ponds.

ports (Suplee and Cotner, 1996; Rao et al., 2000). However, Devaraja et al. (2002) and Abraham et al. (2004, 2015) reported even lower counts. The present study results reflect the intensification of culture practices and the effect of the stocking density. The counts of SOB in earthen

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ponds decreased up to 70 DOC then showed an increasing trend with a peak of 3 log 45.00 ± 16.46 CFU/ ml at 172 DOC. A drastic increase after 70 DOC was observed, which may be due to the increased frequency of soil probiotics application and aeration. The counts of SOB in lined

ponds showed an increasing trend up to 120 DOC with a peak of 3 log 1.33 ± 0.21 CFU/ml and drop at the end of culture period (136 DOC). Though SRBs were considered anaerobic bacteria, they were present both in pond bottom sediments and the water column. The earlier stud-

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ies by Rao et al. (2000), Devaraja et al. (2002), and Patil et al. (2012) also supported the present observations. The possible reason for higher SRB counts in the water column might be attributed to creating anaerobic conditions at the center of micro-niche due to the higher activity of heterotrophic bacteria (Schramm et al., 1999). The SRB counts in earthen pond water samples were almost stable up to 85 DOC, increased drastically with a peak at 172 DOC (4 log 2.53 ± 4.62 CFU/ml), indicating the pond deterioration in the second half of the culture. It registered a drastic drop at 133 DOC and then again increased till the end of culture. Significant reduction in SRB counts coincides with the application of soil probiotics. The role of probiotic applications in improving the pond conditions is support32 »

ed by several researchers (Devaraja et al., 2002; Patil et al., 2012; Abraham et al., 2015). An almost similar trend was observed in pond sediments but with slightly higher SRB counts. An increasing trend of SRB in pond sediment samples up to 56 DOC also supports the assumption of deteriorating pond conditions and the drop in SRB count then after coinciding with the application of soil probiotics. The SRB counts in lined ponds increased up to 59 DOC with a peak of 3 log 2.30 ± 0.70 CFU/ ml and then decreased may be due to applications of soil probiotics and regular sludge removal. Also, the SRB populations in lined ponds were managed through the regular exchange of bottom sludge using a central drainage system; otherwise, the SRB populations could have

In the present study, the

microbial population density differs significantly with the type of culture system despite the stocking density.

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outnumbered the SOB populations (Smith, 1998).

Conclusions In conclusion, the accumulation of organic matter (sludge) leads not only to increases in sediment oxygen demand but also to anaerobic conditions resulting in the production of undesirable gasses such as hydrogen sulfide. To avoid these unfavourable conditions in the pond environment, sludge has to be managed by removing at a certain period of time. With the intensification in aquaculture, the accumulation of a heavy organic load leads to the deterioration of the environment, leading to poor growth and survival of the cultured aquatic animal (Prawitwilaikul et al., 2006). Plastic lining ponds allow easy removal of the organic load, thereby permitting higher stocking densities APRIL-MAY 2021

and harvests than earthen ponds. It is important to study the dynamics of this recycling microorganism and its behavior in the present system of culture in commercial product applications. In the present study, the microbial population density differs significantly with the type of culture system despite the stocking density. It is mostly indicated by the corresponding load of sulfur cycling bacterial populations. Also, farm-level interventions like probiotics play a significant role in maintaining a healthier pond environment. Further research on managing these populations through suitable and appropriate bacterial consortiums (probiotics formulations), their dosage, and schedule of application will aid in improving the water quality requirements of the aquatic organism in different systems of culture.

N. Manoharan1, H.G. Solanki2 and A.K. Ray3* Marine Science Department, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli-620024, Tamil Nadu, India 2 College of Fisheries, Navsari Agricultural University (NAU), Navsari-396450, Gujarat, India 3 Aquatic Animal Health and Environment Division Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA), Chennai-600028, Tamil Nadu, India. This is a summarized version developed by the editorial team of Aquaculture Magazine of the article titled Role of pond lining in dynamics of sulfur recycling bacteria in Pacific White Shrimp, Penaeus vanammei grow out culture ponds that was originally published on the Indian J. Comp. Microbiol. Immunol. Infect. Dis., Vol. 38 No. 2 (July-Dec), 2017: 85-91. References cited by the authors are available under previous request to our editorial team. 1

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AQUACULTURE WITHOUT FRONTIERS

News update Standard for Aquatic plant names finalized After three years of development and extensive stakeholder consultation, the first Australian Standard for Aquatic Plant Names AS 5301-2020 has been completed. The standard includes flowering plants, red, green, and brown algae, aquatic protists, and cyanobacteria that naturally require saltwater or freshwater habitats for growth. It provides the scientific and’ common’ or ‘standard’ name for species grown in Australia and imported, which are used commercially as food and in therapeutics, derivatives, and additives. This includes many widely used seaweeds. The standard is expected to support the emerging seaweed production sector in Australia and to provide clarity for consumers, given the growing interest in seaweeds for health and culinary use. View the standard at https:// www.frdc.com.au/ New Zealand – Proposed Science & Technology Precinct The Cawthron Institute is looking to relocate to a new Science and Technology Precinct at Port Nelson to create more space and more opportunities for innovation. Port Nelson is collaborating with Cawthron on the project, along with up to $5 million in support from the Nelson City Council. It has been reported that for Cawthron’s newly appointed chief executive Volker Kuntzsch, relocating was an opportunity to upgrade the institute’s facilities and collaborate with other organizations. Kuntzsch said Cawthron’s investment in the new site would likely be $20m-plus, but the total cost of the new premises would depend on who the other partners were and what they wanted. He said from a pragmatic perspec34 »

tive, Cawthron had also outgrown its current facilities, and they need to be looking at facilities that will last 50 years into the future, with the opportunity to have flexibility. Kuntzsch said the company settled on the preferred location at the port, after looking at about 30 different sites across Nelson and Tasman. He said engineers were still doing their due diligence at the site, with factors like sea-level rise and seismic activity to be considered. The Namibian-born Kuntzsch comes from a scientific background, gaining a Masters of Zoology from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. His move to Cawthron comes after an extensive career in the seafood industry, most recently coming off a seven-year stint as the chief executive of Sanford Ltd, before which he was the president of both Nippon Suisan (USA) and King & Prince Seafood Corp (USA). He said while his commercial background was probably the “elephant in the room” for scientists, his vision for Cawthron was creating value in a much bigger sense than just the bottom line. Part of that vision was using science to make a difference with New Zealand’s vast ocean resources.

Australia - New national marine research hub The Australian Government has announced $ 45-million investment in a new national Marine and Coastal Hub as part of the second phase of its National Environmental Science Program (NESP) from 2021 to 2027. The hub will be hosted jointly by the University of Tasmania and Queensland’s Reef and Rainforest Research Centre. The six original NESP hubs will transition into four new hubs during the year. The original hubs were: Clean Air and Urban Landscapes; Marine Biodiversity; Threatened Species Recovery; Earth Systems and Climate Change; Northern Australia Environmental Resources; and Tropical Water Quality. The four new hubs are: Marine and Coastal; Resilient Landscapes; Sustainable Communities and Waste; and Climate Systems. Research across the four hubs will focus on pressing environmental management and policy needs, with an emphasis on climate adaptation, threatened species, protected places, and waste impacts. They are expected to work collaboratively, while researching practical environmental science strategies within their own field. APRIL-MAY 2021

Seagrasses help fight plastic Spanish researchers have found that seagrass beds may have a role to play in helping to remove plastics from inshore marine environments. The grasses trap plastic fibers, often aggregating them into balls, which are then washed onto the shoreline. The researchers investigated the seagrass Posidonia oceanica, known as Neptune grass, which forms extensive meadows in the Mediterranean Sea. They found beached seagrass remains, including vegetative balls known as aegagropilae, had trapped up to 1470 plastic items per kilogram of plant material. The plastics were mainly composed of negatively buoyant polymer filaments and fibers. They estimate the total extent of P. oceanica may be capable of trapping nearly 900 million pieces of plastic debris from the Mediterranean Sea each year, although the meadows are in decline in some areas because of climate change, pollution, dredging, and other stressors. The findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports on the Nature website.

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Ocean literacy The United Nations has declared 2021–2030 as the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. The aim is to support efforts to reverse the decline in ocean health

and gather ocean stakeholders worldwide behind a common framework that will ensure ocean science can fully support countries in creating improved conditions for sustainable development of the ocean. In conjunction with this, the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has established an online Ocean Literacy Portal to share resources to build ocean literacy and networks. Programs include the OceanTeacher Global Academy, which provides a comprehensive, professional-level, web-based training platform to support classroom training (face-toface), blended training (combining classroom and distance learning), and online (distance) learning. These courses have been developed by 16 international, regional training centers. Other organizations that have developed ocean literacy materials, primarily for school students, include the Australian Marine Environment Protection Association and the USbased National Marine Educators Association. » 35

INTERVIEW

XpertSea:

a technology and finance company that is unlocking a variety of business solutions in the shrimp industry, an interview with the CEO In an exclusive in-depth Q&A interview with Aquaculture Magazine, Valerie Robitaille who is the CEO of the Canadian company XpertSea, shares her business vision and experience within the aquaculture industry and the international shrimp market in relation with technology, computer science, data trading, and the role of women in the aquaculture industry and markets.

What is your studies background, and how has it led you to work in the aquaculture industry? I’ve been fascinated by the oceans from a young age. I pursued my interest in the oceans by obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology from Maine Maritime Academy in 2007, and then I completed a master’s degree in Geoengineering from the National Institute of Scientific Research in Quebec City. During my studies I learned about optics and photonics and, together with my partner Cody, designed an application for commercial marine environments, which we also patented. Then we were contacted by a shrimp hatchery which only had very basic tools for counting larvae, and that helped us understand how our technology could bring significant benefits to the shrimp industry. More generally speaking, we understood that for such a huge 36 »

Valérie Robitaille XpertSea CEO landscape.

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industry, aquaculture suffered from a really serious technology gap that made it less efficient, less profitable, and less sustainable. That’s when we launched XpertSea, to research and develop new methods for tracking and managing aquatic populations, and more broadly to find ways to make aquaculture more efficient, profitable and sustainable.

Tell us a brief history of the company: and your role as its CEO • In 2011 Cody Andrews and I began developing commercial applications using optics and photonics in marine environments. • In 2012, following interest from aquaculture producers, we and our co-founders launched XpertSea to develop new methods for tracking and managing aquatic populations. • In 2015 we closed a financing seed round of 1.25M CAD from investors led by Real Ventures, edō Capital and BDC. • In 2016, we commercially launched the XperCount2, a connected device using computer vision to characterize aquatic organisms and automate functions such as counting, sizing and weighing. • By 2017, we had local representatives and partners in Asia, South America and Europe, and our technology was being used in more than 40 countries. • In 2018, we raised $10 million CAD in a Series A financing led by Obvious Ventures and Aqua-Spark, and we introduced an AI-powered Growth Platform to give shrimp farmers unique insights so they can make informed data-driven decisions and maximize farm profitability (The Growth Platform won the 2019 Aquaculture Award for Technical Innovation). APRIL-MAY 2021

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INTERVIEW

XpertSea in Asia - Valerie Robitaille and Asia GM Chelsea Andrews.

• In 2020, we incorporated all of our hardware and software technologies into a Smartphone App that lets shrimp farmers capture accurate animal data, and track growth from stocking through harvest, using just their Android or iPhone’s built-in camera. The smartphone app connects farmers and buyers though a new Data-Driven Marketplace that makes shrimp trading fast, efficient and transparent, while solving their financing challenges with guaranteed same day payment. In the first 6 months that our marketplace and financing services were available in Ecuador, over 12 million pounds of shrimp was traded. 38 »

Why did you switch from making a shrimp-counting technology to launching a marketplace for trading shrimp? Initially it was clear that one of shrimp producers’ biggest challenges was the lack of visibility they have to properly manage their production. There was no technology and no data, so it was hard for growers to know how many shrimp they had in their pond, never mind tracking growth or identifying disease patterns. So at first we developed technology that uses computer vision and machine learning to help the farmers optimize their production.

By working closely with the farmers and really trying to understand their pain points, we realized that their challenge is not just in growing shrimp, but also in selling the shrimp to buyers. There was no marketplace where they could find the best buyer, negotiate prices and transact efficiently. On top of that, it was often impossible for them to access capital or get favorable financing terms. This lack of capital made it hard for them to grow their current crop and buy supplies to start their next crop. Our big breakthrough came when we realized that our technology produces a lot of valuable data APRIL-MAY 2021

about their ponds and about the industry that can be leveraged to unlock a variety of business solutions for both growers and buyers. When they can share precise data transparently, each party can transact with confidence. In 2020 we then leveraged our technology and our data to launch a new “data-driven marketplace” where farmers can connect to buyers efficiently and get same day financing. With these kinds of challenges out of the way, they can focus on growing shrimp and growing their business.

tive tools for the job. So we brought on board a team of highly skilled people in computer vision and AI, led by our CTO Samuel Couture Brochu, to unlock these capabilities. Since then our AI skills -- from developing computer vision models to detect small aquatic organisms, to predicting the yield of an Ecuadorian shrimp pond -- have evolved, and machine learning is now the cornerstone of our innovation. Like other industries, as aquaculture evolves we want to understand clearly what the work entails, and then find ways to optimize it. On a farm, there are thousands of data points per day impacting the health of the ponds -- feed, seed, weather, water, soil; etc. -- yet very little data is recorded. Since the experience of each producer is subjective, that leads to completely different management styles and success rates between one farmer and another, even if they are neighbors. If this knowledge base could be optimized so that all farmers could achieve greater yields and reduce waste, it would further increase the sustainability of the sector. Hence, we need to digitize those records through computer science and use the combined knowledge of billions of data points to help us make better decisions.

Tell us about your role as XpertSea’s CEO I have learned from experience that the CEO of a technology startup plays many roles and must never be afraid to get her hands dirty. This suits me well as I am interested in both the entrepreneurial side of things and the scientific-technological side of things. In broad terms I would say my role includes many functions such as setting a vision for where the company wants to be in 3 to 5 years; strategy and product roadmap; working with investors or potential investors; and empowering our team. But I am only one person, and everything I do is made possible by our 60-person team of hard-working innovators, not only in Canada but also in Latin America and Southeast Asia. How do you imagine shrimp farming would be in the future? XpertSea works with machine What would be different from learning, computer science, and now? What would prevail from AI. How did you get involved in current practices? these areas, and why do you We define ourselves as a technology think they are essential for the and finance company because we see aquaculture industry? them being the two biggest problem Our journey into computer science areas to solve in the industry. We are began with the ideation and design still early in the technology and data of the first XperCount prototype in revolution in shrimp farming; only 2012. We did not actually intend to a small portion of farmers are ususe AI or machine learning to begin ing data to better farm and optimize with; we wanted the most flexible their growth. We see a path where and precise solutions, and we quick- technology adoption will drive betly realized that machine learning and ter behavior but most importantly deep learning were the most effec- predictive analysis. APRIL-MAY 2021

As technology becomes more affordable, it will play a much bigger role in the production process than it does today. Real time monitoring will enable predictive analytics and make the sector more proactive instead of reactive. We have also definitely seen an interest from feed and health companies to make recommendations based on data of what is happening in the pond, and that’s the type of partnership we are excited about with Elanco and Vitapro. We like to look at the agriculture sector to give us a glimpse of where aquaculture will go. More and more research is being put towards improving genetics, nutrition, and the systems that shrimp are grown in than ever before. In the future I imagine producers will see faster and more predictable yields because each of these elements working together will help to perfect the recipe for growing shrimp. Data will be the center of this revolution: data to better farm but also data to improve factors like feed, input efficiencies and genetics. On the finance side, farmers and even processing plants have challenges accessing traditional banking systems, so that’s another area that will be very different in the future. Again, data can unlock financial or de-risk insurance products. By leveraging data, we see a future where impact funds and banks will be able to provide the financial backing for producers to expand their businesses. We look at how fintech companies are revolutionizing the financing world and we believe this revolution is coming to aquaculture too.

What message would you like to give to young women thinking about pursuing a career in the aquaculture industry? Whether you are a young woman inspired by business and finance, or by science and technology, or by working on the ground with growers and » 39

INTERVIEW

XpertSea in Asia - Valerie Robitaille with execs and field reps.

processors in different geographies, there is a place for you. Aquaculture is a very exciting industry to be in. When people think of aquaculture they think of ponds and nets, but it is also a huge industry that is growing very rapidly and needs many talented people in order to fulfill its potential. Aquaculture also presents opportunities to help our planet socially, economically and environmentally. Aquaculture’s importance will accelerate as the world’s population continues to grow. And there will be many opportunities for young women to help develop one of the leading sources of nutrient-rich protein for our hungry planet; or to help 40 »

the industry evolve with sustainable practices; or to help women working in aquaculture around the world develop their skills and take a more prominent role in the industry. In terms of their role as women in this industry, I think our experience at XpertSea, where more than half our leadership team is female, should give them confidence that women are essential in this industry. Similarly our experience working with people like Amy Novogratz at Aqua-Spark, one of our investors, shows there is a place for a woman’s unique perspective, and it can make all the difference. I really haven’t faced any particular challenges as a woman in the

industry, but I know that my experience is not universal. We have staff on the ground in various countries around the world, and we have to pay attention to their experiences and their concerns, because the social, political or security situation in each country is different.

For further information on the company and its technology and products, please visit: https://xpertsea.com/

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ARTICLE

A 20-year retrospective review of global aquaculture:

Global expansion and persistent challenges

By: Rosamond L. Naylor, Ronald W. Hardy, Alejandro H. Buschmann, Simon R. Bush, Ling Cao, Dane H. Klinger, David C. Little, Jane Lubchenco, Sandra E. Shumway & Max Troell* The sustainability of aquaculture has been debated intensely since 2000, when a review on the net contribution of aquaculture to world fish supplies was published in Nature. This article summarizes the reviews developed by the authors on the developments in global aquaculture from 1997 to 2017, incorporating all industry sub-sectors and highlighting the integration of aquaculture in the global food system. Pressure on the aquaculture industry to embrace comprehensive sustainability measures during this 20-year period have improved the governance, technology, siting, and management in many cases.]

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n 2017, aquaculture supplied more than 80 Mt of fish and shellfish and 32 Mt of seaweeds, encompassing around 425 farmed species. Three main patterns of aquaculture development have characterized the sector as it matured: continued growth in the volume and value chains of freshwater aquaculture; advances in fish nutrition, genetics, and alternative types of feed that reduce the use of wild fish in aquafeed formulations; and expanded culture of extractive bivalves and seaweeds with the potential to provide a wide range of food, industrial, and ecosystem services. These trends reveal increasingly tight connections between land and sea. Continuing a long history of inland production, the share of freshwater fish raised on compound feed, which is made largely from terrestrial and some marine ingredients, has increased over the past two decades. Meanwhile, the inclusion of plantbased ingredients in aquafeed has increased, and the production of extractive species (mollusks and seaweed) that filter nutrients from terrestrial and marine food systems has grown. Aquaculture has thus become more

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ARTICLE

integrated into the global food system, with rapid growth in production and major transformations in feed ingredients, production technologies, farm management, and value chains. Through aquaculture growth, consumers from low- to high-income nations have benefited from year-round availability and access to aquatic foods, which are rich in protein and micronutrients. The sector produces far more than fish, shellfish, and algae for direct human consumption. It also generates products used in food processing, feed, fuels, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and a variety of other industrial products, and it contributes to a range of ecosystem services. Despite impressive gains, the aquaculture sector still faces serious challenges that, in some cases, undermine its ability to achieve sustainable outcomes. The sector has generally embraced a business and societal expectation of environmentally and socially sound practices. Globally traded finfish and crustacean systems are progressively improving their environmental performances, either independently or in response

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Figure 1 Composition and growth of global live-weight aquaculture production. a, The species composition is shown for 1997 and 2017. Green, plants and algae; blue, freshwater fish; pink, shellfish; orange, diadromous fish. b, c, Growth is shown from 1997 to 2017 for the following production categories (b): total, freshwater fish, algae, molluscs and CDMM, which comprises crustaceans, diadromous fish, marine fish, and miscellaneous species and is expanded in c. Algae comprised more than 99% of the production weight o ‘algae and aquatic plants’ production in 2017. Data were obtained from the FAO2. National data are reported on the basis of the ASFIS List of Species (http://www.fao.org/fishery/collection/asfis/en). NEI, not elsewhere included for species identification in question.

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to government regulation, private and public sector standards, and market incentives. Many aquaculture systems, however, still lack the motivation to meet sustainability criteria because their targeted markets do not reward producers through improved prices or access. At the same time, mollusks, filter-feeding finfish, and seaweeds have sustainable characteristics, particularly because they do not rely on aquafeed, but instead remove nutrients from the water column. In summary, as the global industry continues to expand, its contribution to economic social and environmental performance varies across a wide diversity of aquaculture systems.

Global expansion Global aquaculture production more than tripled in live-weight volume from 34 Mt in 1997 to 112 Mt in 2017 (see Figure 1). The main species groups that contributed to the top 75% of aquaculture production in 2017 included seaweeds, carps, bivalves, tilapia, and catfish. Although the production of marine and diadromous fish species and crustaceans has also grown rapidly during this period, it has been dwarfed by the liveweight volume of marine bivalves and seaweeds, and by the production of freshwater aquaculture. Freshwater fish account for 75% of global edible aquaculture volume, reflecting their favorable conversion from live to edible weight in comparison to mollusks and crustaceans, which have high shell weights. The role of freshwater systems has gained attention in part because advances in feed technology and breeding, particularly for salmon and shrimp, are addressing earlier concerns regarding the effects of aquaculture on wild-capture fisheries. Aquaculture is more diverse today, with 40% more fish, shellfish, aquatic plant, and algal species cultivated in a wide variety of marine, brackish, and freshwater systems globally. Global production remains concentrated, however, with only 22 of all 425 APRIL-MAY 2021

species groups farmed in 2017 (5%) accounting for over 75% of global live-weight production. A small fraction of the “aquatic plant and algae” category (~32 Mt) consisted of aquatic plants (1,639 tonnes) in 2017. Aquatic plants are listed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) under “aquatic plants NEI” and are underreported given the informal nature of the harvests for household and local consumption. Asia remains the largest aquaculture producer, accounting for 92% of the live-weight volume of animals and seaweeds in 2017. Aquaculture in Asia is also more diverse than other regions in terms of production systems and cultivated species. Nine of the top-ten ranked countries for aquaculture species diversity are in Asia, with China leading by a wide margin. Since 2000, the country has maintained its role as the largest global producer, processor, and trader of fish, crustaceans, and mollusks, and has emerged as a leading consumer owing to the rapid growth in income and domestic seafood demand. The role of China notwithstanding, the aquaculture sector has become increasingly global, with growth rates in South America and Africa exceeding Asia during the past two decades (albeit from a much smaller production base), and with relatively rapid expansion in South and Southeast Asia compared to East Asia. The largest aquaculture producers outside Asia—each accounting for 1–2% of the global production—include Norway and Chile, which mainly produce Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), and Egypt, which produces Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Aquaculture in the Western Hemisphere has largely developed around single- or dual-species and single-production systems (for example, Atlantic salmon in cages, Nile tilapia and channel catfish -Ictalurus punctatus- in ponds). These systems and species have benefitted from targeted ge-

The sector produces far more than fish, shellfish, and algae for direct human consumption. It also generates products used in food processing, feed, fuels, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and a variety of other industrial products, and it contributes to a range of ecosystem services.

netic and nutritional advances, but remain vulnerable to shocks related to market volatility, extreme climate events, and pandemics such as COVID-19. The growth of aquaculture has been fuelled by the expansion in global trade, declines in the availability of wild fish, competitive product pricing, rising incomes, and urbanization—all of which contribute to rising per capita consumption of seafood worldwide. Global fish trade remains limited, however, to a relatively small number of species and countries: salmon, shrimp, catfish, and tilapia collectively represent approximately one-third of internationally traded seafood by value, but only 8% of global seafood production. The process of globalization itself has been dynamic, with incomes and markets in the global South expanding more rapidly than the global North in recent decades. The growing importance of domestic markets, particularly in Asia, means that over 89% of aquaculture output does not enter into international markets. » 45

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Persistent challenges Over the past 20 years, trends in the production and environmental performance of aquaculture have been positive. Destructive habitat conversion, particularly by shrimp farming in mangrove ecosystems raised in the previous review1, has declined markedly since 2000. Challenges to the industry persist, however, including the effects of pathogens, parasites, and pests (PPP), pollution, harmful algal blooms, and climate change. The aquaculture industry has become increasingly vulnerable to these stressors given its rapid expansion, its reliance on the ambient environment, and the changing world in which all food systems operate. Pathogens, parasites and pests Pathogens, parasites, and pests (PPP) are a chronic risk for the aquaculture sector, and the intensification of production and increased trade and supply chain integration since 2000 have amplified these risks. Aquaculture species differ in their defenses, and although invertebrates lack the adaptive immunity of finfish, their innate immune system—which is certainly not simple or homogenous—is not fully understood. The gut is an important component of the immune system for finfish, which allows diet and alterations in the microbiome to influence the susceptibility and potential resistance of finfish to disease, whereas the external microbial communities are vitally important for the health status of invertebrates. For most high-value and widely traded species, there have been substantial advances in PPP identification, diagnosis, and treatment over the past 20 years, derived in part from innovations in agriculture and human medicine. Such science-led disease management options remain largely unavailable for many low-value aquaculture species and low-income regions owing to a lack of product development and prohibitive costs. Global networks, such as the World 46 »

Organization for Animal Health, have emerged to facilitate the transfer of scientific knowledge. The aquaculture industry has responded to PPP pressures in recent decades using a variety of approaches. Adoption of best management practices (for example, for site and system selection, stocking densities, species rotations, broodstock, and feed quality, filtration, pond, and cage cleanliness, parasite monitoring and removal, culling, zoning, and surveillance) has been the most important means of minimizing PPP risks across all types of production systems. Once a pathogen, parasite, or pest is widely recognized in a given system, avoidance through biosecurity is the primary management action available to most aquaculture producers. In some systems in which epizootics have caused boom-and-bust cycles, resistant spe-

cies have been introduced, provided that viable markets exist. For example, the aquaculture industry in Thailand transitioned from black tiger shrimp to whiteleg shrimp, largely because of problems with infectious diseases, specifically white spot disease and monodon slow growth syndrome. The use of therapeutants—chemical substances used to prevent and treat pathogens—including antimicrobials, has become a common practice in many aquaculture systems. There are no comprehensive data on the nature and extent of therapeutic use in most aquaculture sectors, and both good and bad practices are found worldwide. Although improper therapeutant use can pose risks to the health of consumers, workers, cultured organisms, and surrounding ecosystems (particularly in open production systems), the misuse of antiAPRIL-MAY 2021

Many aquaculture systems still lack the motivation to meet sustainability criteria because their targeted markets do not reward producers through improved prices or access.

microbials in aquaculture is especially problematic as it can lead to the emergence and transfer of antimicrobialresistant genes and bacteria. As an alternative, large investments have been made in selective breeding for disease resistance in certain aquaculture species, but this avenue is costly and cannot easily be replicated across species. Effective multivalent vaccines have also been introduced for some high-value species such as salmon and trout, and show promise for replication in marine species aquaculture if efficient and cost-effective delivery systems (for example, oral or immersion) can be developed. Vaccines developed for farmed salmon have led to reductions in antibiotic use of up to 95% in Norway, the UK, Ireland and Canada, but antibiotic use remains high in Chile. Advanced water management through recirculating APRIL-MAY 2021

aquaculture systems, as discussed in the following section, represents another important, but relatively costly, technology for controlling PPP. In addition, supplementation of feed with nutraceuticals, plant extracts, prebiotics, and probiotics is used to boost fish growth and immunity and serves as a promising alternative to antibiotics— mainly in high-value production systems, but also increasingly in lowervalue freshwater systems in Southeast Asia. Studies also project increased risks of aquaculture disease incidence and antimicrobial resistance associated with disease management owing to global warming. The quantification of trends in PPP is, however, complicated by variation between national and international disease monitoring and treatment regulations and by a lack data for most aquaculture species and

production regions. In the absence of reliable data, the incidence and management of PPP throughout the global aquaculture industry is and will remain highly unpredictable.

Harmful algal blooms and climate change Harmful algal blooms are increasing globally with respect to frequency, magnitude, duration, geographical ranges, and species composition, and are driven largely by anthropogenic processes. They occur in aquaculture areas worldwide, and their influences on production vary widely depending on species-specific effects. Intensive and poorly managed finfish and crustacean systems can contribute to the emergence of harmful algal blooms, and shellfish, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers are common vectors for toxic microalgae. Toxic blooms repre» 47

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Asia remains the largest aquaculture producer, accounting for 92% of the live-weight volume of animals and seaweeds in 2017. Aquaculture in Asia is also more diverse than other regions in terms of production systems and cultivated species.

sent a large economic cost to parts of the industry for which monitoring and management are ineffective. Climate-driven losses to aquaculture productivity and livelihoods stem mainly from suboptimal growing temperatures, sea-level rise (saltwater intrusion), infrastructure damage, droughts and freshwater shortages, and rising feed costs associated with lower crop yields and forage fish landings. Risks to aquaculture infrastructure often drive investments to more protected geographies and systems. In addition, ocean acidification affects shellfish production, mainly at the larval life stage, and is managed through adjustments in pH within the hatchery. The literature does not support generalizations of the damages of ocean acidification to shellfish aquaculture given the species-specific responses documented, sparse data, uneven and questionable experimentation, and the complexity of pathways through which species are affected. Climate change also amplifies the uncertainties surrounding PPP and harmful algal blooms in aquaculture and predictions remain uncertain. In general, scientific studies on climate– aquaculture interactions are based on laboratory-based tolerance data and 48 »

modeled, but not validated, for commercial aquaculture and thus remain speculative. There are no comprehensive data on climate-driven production and economic losses in aquaculture at regional or global scales, and outcomes are contingent on adaptation responses.

Responding to the challenges Increased attention has been directed to ecosystem-based management, system design, and new forms of private and public sector governance to manage biological and climate risks, and encourage sustainable aquaculture production. Recirculating aquaculture systems Recirculating aquaculture systems are designed to control all environmental facets of production by continually filtering, treating, and reusing water, and thereby increasing operational efficiency and reducing risks from PPP and climate change. Recirculating aquaculture systems have lower direct land and water requirements than conventional aquaculture and enable higher stocking densities but are constrained by large energy requirements, high production costs, waste disposal challenges, and risk of catastrophic disease failures. Offshore aquaculture Offshore aquaculture in deep and open ocean waters is designed to produce large volumes of fish while minimizing land and freshwater constraints and coastal environmental impacts, such as nutrient pollution and sea to avoid conflicts with other marine uses and to ensure the effective dilution of wastes, particularly for large-scale systems. Government regulations have constrained commercial development of offshore aquaculture, particularly in the USA and European Union, because of public controversy regarding its interactions with the marine environment, potential ecological damage, and competing uses of ocean and natural resources.

Governance Aspirations to improve the environmental and social performance of aquaculture practices and technologies have led to the emergence of new combinations of public and private regulation, codes and standards; however, the application of these governance instruments has struggled to match the expanded geographies, volumes, and diversity of aquaculture systems. The uneven implementation of government regulation has led to regional disparities in production, growth and system design. Governments have facilitated aquaculture expansion in many Asian countries, Norway, and Chile, whereas in other regions— including the European Union and USA—governments have constrained growth. Uneven regulation has led to disparities in investment and trade, with only a few export nations selling into major net seafood importing markets such as the USA and European Union. In response to public over- and under-regulation, several types of private governance arrangements have emerged with the intention of shaping demand for sustainable, ‘fair’, and organic aquaculture production. For example, 30–50 voluntary labeling, certification and rating schemes have been introduced by non-government organizations and private companies. Farm-level certification is setting new norms for sustainable aquaculture globally, yet the role of certification remains limited by low (yet growing) levels of producer compliance. The two largest certification groups—the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and the Global Aquaculture Alliance Best Aquaculture Practice (GAA-BAP) standards— account for 3% of global aquaculture production. Low levels of compliance have been attributed to insufficient finances, low demand for certified products, poor literacy levels, and inadequate administrative skills required for monitoring and reporting, and environmental production risks beyond the control of APRIL-MAY 2021

the producer. Consumer guides such as the US Seafood Watch have rated a further 53% of global production. These ratings are involuntary and based on broad-scale assessments at the sector or regional level. Certified and rated production is skewed to major export species. Overall, 57% of salmon and trout, 17% of shrimp and prawns, 17% of pangasius and 11% of tilapia are certified, with higher levels of compliance observed in countries with a greater proportion of vertically integrated supply chains. Domestic demand for sustainable products in Asian seafood markets appears to be increasing, driven by food safety concerns, but considerable growth in domestic demand for sustainable seafood is needed to make aquaculture certification and rating systems effective globally. States can enhance the success of private governance arrangements by providing capabilities, resources, and minimum regulation to support improvements in farm practices. Both certification and consumer guides APRIL-MAY 2021

have now started shifting to ‘hybrid’ forms of governance, which integrate private assessment tools into spatial management units that are managed in collaboration with buyers and states.

Outlook The aquaculture literature reflects the increased attention to food system outcomes, with consumers, value chains, and sustainability criteria progressively shaping the direction of the industry. Continued growth in the sector has important implications for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Three key patterns emerge in this review. First, freshwater fish have a central role in the global production, contributing more than any other aquaculture sub-sector to the total (live and edible) volume, rural livelihoods, and food security during the past two decades. Because most farmed freshwater fish do not enter the global market, however, there is currently little impetus for producers to engage in sustainable practices

with recognized ratings or certification. Second, marked improvements have been made in the efficiency of marine resource use across all fed species and in the field of fish nutrition. Further gains in these areas may be more difficult and costly to achieve for carnivorous species, but the increasing costs of fishmeal and fish oil that are associated with marine resource limitation will provide continued incentives for innovation. Third, careful siting of aquaculture systems underpins the commercial and environmental success of the industry. Almost all freshwater and marine aquaculture systems interact with the ambient aquatic environment and both benefit from and provide environmental services to the ambient environment as a result. Prudent siting and scaling are essential for maximizing the ecosystem services provided by farmed extractive species and for mitigating critical challenges to the industry associated with PPP, coastal pollution, and climate change. The wide diversity of aquaculture » 49

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Looking ahead, the effective spatial planning and regulation of aquaculture sites will be paramount for achieving positive environmental outcomes, especially as aquaculture systems increase in scale and production intensifies. The industry is investigating recirculating and offshore technologies to reduce its exposure to and impact on aquatic environments; however, these systems will require innovative financial and environmental management to have any chance of widespread success. In addition, investments are needed in an array of PPP prevention strategies across different aquaculture sub-sectors, recognizing that treatments after PPP problems emerge are largely futile. Finally, future policies and programs to promote aquaculture will require a food systems approach that examines nutrition, equity, justice, and environmental outcomes and trade-offs across land and sea. Tools such as life cycle analysis will need to be refined and deployed to ensure comparability between terrestrial livestock and aquaculture production on the basis of nutritional value and global environmental outcomes.

systems across species, geographies, producers, and consumers prevents the development of a single strategy to achieve sustainable and healthy products. Governance systems need to be designed with clearly articulated, science-informed goals, but without overly proscriptive standards and regulations for realizing those goals. Such flexibility is needed to support the abilities of industries, 50 »

governments, and non-government organizations to innovate while still providing clear end points and requirements for monitoring, reporting, transparency, and accountability. The aquaculture sector will continue to face large uncertainties in the future, including climate change, evolving PPP pressures, pandemics, and market disruptions and changes in food systems more broadly.

Editor’s comment about online content The full version of this review, any methods, additional references, Nature Research reporting summaries, source data, extended data, supplementary information, acknowledgements, peer review information; details of author contributions and competing interests; and statements of data and code availability are available at https://doi. org/10.1038/s41586-021-03308-6 *This article is a summarized version of the original review: “A Review on Shrimp Aquaculture in India: Historical Perspective, Constraints, Status and Future Implications for Impacts on Aquatic Ecosystem and Biodiversity”, written by Mahesh Salunke, Amol Kalyankar, Chandraprakash D. Khedkar, Mahesh Shingare & Gulab D. Khedkar *. The original version was published through the Taylor & Francis Reviews in Fisheries Science & Aquaculture Journal during 2020 (vol. 28, number 3). The full version can be accessed online at: https://doi.org/10.1080/23308249.2020.1723058 Editor’s note: references cited by the authors within the text are available under previous request to our editorial team.

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The importance of

selecting the right partner for your transportation needs

By: MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company *

he past year has taken to the fore the key centrality of trade and the global shipping sector, as companies like MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company never stopped servicing global markets amid the very difficult conditions imposed by the pandemic on supply chains around the world. The Covid-19-related protective measures instituted in March across APRIL-MAY 2021

As lockdowns and quarantine measures significantly disrupted seafood trade flows around the world, carriers faced a number of logistical difficulties, particularly in relation to border restrictions. The key requirements for companies shipping seafood revolve around the assurance of fast transit times, reliable services, equipment availability, and on-time tracking

the United States contributed to an almost-immediate impact on seafood sector sales: restaurants and other food-service establishments typically account for about two-thirds of the sales of fresh seafood in the country, but the sudden halt in the restaurant business affected the entire seafood distribution network, with retail sales considerably higher than usual over the course of the second half of the year.

Disruptions in international trade With international markets negatively affected by disruptions in harvesting and processing, fresh product exports experienced steeper declines when compared to frozen product exports. “Fish and fish products that are highly dependent on international trade suffered quite early in the pandemic due to the many restrictions and closures of global markets, » 51

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whereas fresh fish and shellfish supply chains were severely impacted by the closure of the food service sectors,” says Pietro Pinto, Nationwide Reefer Sales Director at MSC USA. “The very same protective measures that halted production in restaurants also impacted charter fishing operations, which shut down in most coastal states in the U.S. beginning in mid-March.” As lockdowns and quarantine measures significantly disrupted seafood trade flows around the world, carriers faced a number of logistical difficulties, particularly in relation to border restrictions.

The global accelerating demand for refrigerated cargo In the context of unparalleled disruptions affecting all the major stakeholders in the international supply chain and generating a slowdown in the entire container transport system, demand for temperature-sensitive products continued to accelerate. The volume of refrigerated cargo (commonly called reefers) expanded 3.4 per cent in 2019 to 5.3 million Forty-foot Equivalent Unit (FEU) and, according to maritime research consultancy Drewry, the volume is set to continue, approaching 5% in the period to 2024. To meet the greater demand for cold-chain delivery, MSC expanded its shipments of refrigerated contain-

ers, and just last year alone, it transported more than 1.9 million reefer containers. Serving the Pacific North West out of the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, as well as the North East via Boston and New York, MSC helps U.S. customers shipping seafood reach all the main markets worldwide, among them West Africa, the Middle

East, the European Union and the Far East. “MSC has one of the world’s most advanced reefer container fleets and has developed industry-leading teams of reefer experts across our agencies worldwide. Our dedicated teams of over 1,000 reefer experts, available 24/7 across the world, are continuously trained to meet the growing reefer market demands and to ensure our customers’ cargo is in safe hands at every stage of its journey,” says Pinto. “We guarantee regular and frequent monitoring of the shipment, from the receipt of the loaded container to its final destination. With outstanding global coverage, a presence in more than 155 countries, calling more than 500 ports, MSC offers end-to-end weekly services to destinations all around the world.”

The power of a great partnership The key requirements for companies shipping seafood revolve around the 52 »

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assurance of fast transit times, reliable services, equipment availability, and on-time tracking. Amid an unprecedented demand that led to a shortage of containers worldwide, MSC has been able to count on worldwide service and reefer experts and operations teams dedicated to helping with the repositioning and the overall management of the fleet, offering the support of a solid transportation partner. “Throughout the most pressing of times over the past year, our teams were able to promptly add vessels to aid keeping our weekly calls consistent, studying different routing solutions to help customers with their supply chain,” says Mr. Pinto. “Equipment availability that is in optimum condition is a key requirement for our customers, and our reefer teams are extremely experienced in handling seafood, providing the best support for customers even in the most pressing of times.”

End-to-end reefer shipping services Over the past 50 years, MSC has gone “the extra mile” by expanding its services beyond ports. By developing an integrating road, rail, and barge network across the world, the company offers door-to-door transport solutions, even to the most remote areas. At depots, reefer experts carry out a thorough inspection of the container in preparation for loading to ensure the cargo meets the relevant regulatory requirements and retains its sale value at destination. While containers are in transit over land, MSC can provide Genset portable diesel generators to keep containers operating at the required temperature. Looking ahead As American consumers continue seeking healthier, protein-dense foodstuffs, the purchase of seafood and plant-based foods is constantly on the rise. The Covid-19 pandemic has fuelled consumers’ desire to eat healthy, immune-boosting foods, and seafood’s strong linkage to omega3s is likely to continue to propel the growing consumption of seafood beyond 2021. “At MSC, we’re constantly monitoring these changes. The increased demand is only one factor in the mix. Another important aspect is the danger of rising ocean temperatures and their resulting effects, with some of the sea life migrating into new territories with cooler waters, usually further north. This is something we’re closely monitoring at MSC as it requires a constant reevaluation and reassessment of our services and trade routes,” commented Pinto.

Visit msc.com to find out more about how MSC’s services and expertise can help your company to keep its goods moving.

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Shelf life of fresh fillets

from eviscerated farmed tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) handled at different pre-filleting times

Knowledge about shelf life of fresh fillets of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) stored at 0°C is limited. Pre-filleting time needed for in situ By: Edgar Iván Jiménez-Ruiz, Alfonso Nivardo Maeda-Martínez, Víctor Manuel Ocaño-Higuera, María Teresa SumayaMartínez, Leticia Mónica Sánchez-Herrera, Oscar Alexandro Fregoso-Aguirre, Jesús Ernesto Rincones-López y Yolotzin Apatzingán Palomino-Hermosillo *

evisceration, bulking, and transport to the processing plant has not been studied. In this work, Mexican researchers determined the effect of several pre-filleting times (from 8 to 72 hr.) of eviscerated chilled tilapia, on the quality and shelf life of fillets during 19-day storage at 0°C.

remium-quality fresh fillets of tilapia averages 25,000 ton/year in the U.S. market. This product is imported from Honduras, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Colombia. Bulking is required to optimize transport costs, so shelf life is a key factor. Knowledge about shelf life of fresh fillets of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) stored at 0°C is limited. Pre-filleting time needed for in situ evisceration, bulking, and transport to the processing plant has not been studied. In this work, we determined the effect of several pre-filleting times (from 8 to 72 hr.) of eviscerated chilled tilapia, on the quality and shelf life of fillets during 19-day storage at 0°C. The state of freshness can be described by defined attributes of the fish, which can be quantified by various indicators. In this work, nonsensory methods (instrumentals) were employed including physical (color and texture), chemical (pH), biochemical (Total Volatile Basic Nitrogen TVB-N and K value), and microbiological parameters. Adenylate Energy Charge (AEC) of live fish was

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calculated at harvest to determine the stress condition at the beginning of the experiments.

leted at 24, 48, and 72 hours after the harvest. Samplings were repeated at days 5, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, and 19.

Materials and method Experimental design Adult tilapia (O. niloticus) (880 ± 140 g) cultivated in floating cages in Michoacán, Mexico, were harvested and transferred to ice water. Fish were eviscerated, placed in crushed ice, and transported to the laboratory in Nayarit, Mexico. Prior to evisceration, the stress status of the fish was determined by AEC analyses. The experimental procedure was as follows: Twenty-one eviscerated fish were filleted upon arrival (8 hours from harvest site) and three fillets were used for color, texture, pH, and microbiological analyses. For the determination of TVB-N and K values, fillets were frozen in liquid nitrogen and kept at −80°C until analyzed. Another three groups of 24 fish were fil-

Physical assessment Color assessment of the inner side of each fillet was determined (n = 6) by tristimulus colourimetry. Texture of fillets (n = 6) was assessed with a nonpenetration tests (a fruit hardness tester equipped with a 1-cm cylindrical probe in diameter), and for penetration technique, a penetrometer equipped with a puncture probe of 1.9 cm at the base and 2.5 cm in height was used. Results were reported in kgf units.

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Biochemical properties pH of fillets was determined by triplicate as well as Total Volatile Basic Nitrogen (TVB-N). AEC and K value AEC and initial K value of recently harvested fish were calculated by trip-

licate from adenosine 5′triphosphate (ATP), adenosine 5′diphosphate (ADP), adenosine 5′monophosphate (AMP), inosine 5′monophosphate (IMP), inosine (HxR), and hypoxanthine (Hx) determinations by highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Microbiological analyses Total mesophilic colony-forming units (CFgU) in the fillets were determined (n = 3) by total plate count according to the method indicated in the Mexican regulation NOM-092SSA1-1994. Results and discussion Physical assessment Mean values of color parameters place fillets in the red-yellow zone of the color sphere. Values of all parameters did not show significant changes (p > .05) during 19-day storage period, at the four prefilleting time treatments. This probably indicates that APRIL-MAY 2021

Figure 1 Texture values with penetration (a) and without penetration (b) of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fresh fillets during 19-day storage at four pre-filleting times. Values are the mean ± standard deviation of the mean (n = 6).

TVB-N values identify the latter stages of spoilage and, therefore, can be used as a standard method to determine if the fish is suitable for conventional markets. The European Commission defines the limit between 25 and 35 mg/100 g depending on the species of fish.

there was no protein denaturation or water evaporation during processing. Initial texture values with or without penetration techniques at the four pre-filleting time treatments were 4.03 ± 0.18 and 9.02 ± 0.18 kgf, respectively (Figure 1). Texture remains without significant variations (p > .05) in the 8-hr. pre-filleting treatment during the first 11 days of storage, followed by a sudden drop at day 13 to 3.5 and 6.0 kgf. Texture in the other treatments showed a gradual decrease from day 5 to day 19 (p < .0.5) reaching mean APRIL-MAY 2021

values of 3.0 and 5.0 kgf at the end of the experiment with and without penetration, respectively. Regardless the loss in firmness, gaping of fillets was never observed. Gaping is a major textural quality defect, originating from the rupture of thin tubular sections in the myocommata. The mechanical strength of the connective tissue that holds the fillets together is strongly influenced by postmortem pH. The myocommata are strong at neutral pH but greatly weakened at more acid values such that fillets gape.

Biochemical properties A good marker to be considered for shelf-life follow-up of fishing products is pH, if it is simultaneously used with other parameters. Figure 2 shows that the initial value at the 8h treatment was within the interval of 6.7–7.0 reported for fishery products recently caught. After 2 days, pH dropped to ~ 6.3, probably because of rigor mortis. Subsequently, pH remained without significant change (p > .05) at 6.41 pH during 15 of storage at 8 hr. pre-filleting treatment. In all treatments a gradual but significant (p < .05) increase on pH resulted. A “very fresh” and excellent quality fish has a pH value equal or lower than 6.7; pH of 6.7–6.9 is of inferior quality but acceptable, and pH of 6.9 or greater is considered “not fresh”, contaminated, or deteriorated product. Therefore, fresh fillets at 8 hr. pre-filleting treatment have a shelf life of 15 days, and 13 days for 24 and 48 hr. pre-filleting treatments. Longer pre-filleting times will have a reduced shelf life of 9 days. The bases formed during fishery product storage are a series of alkaline compounds product of nucleotide and amino acid degradation in » 57

ARTICLE Figure 1 pH variations in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fresh fillets during 19-day storage at four pre-filleting times. Values are the mean ± standard deviation of the mean (n = 3).

Results of physical, chemical, biochemical, and microbiological indicators suggest that shelf life of fresh tilapia fillets stored on ice is affected by the pre-filleting time. The longer the pre-filleting time the shorter the shelf life.

the muscle due to autolytic activity and mainly bacterial action, which are also related to muscular pH increase. Mean initial values for TVB-N concentrations at the four pre-filleting treatments were from 16.70 ± 0.69 to 18.39 ± 0.80 mg/100 g, which fall within range 5–20 mg/100 g for fresh or recently caught fishery products.

TVB-N values in the 8h pre-filleting treatment did not show significant changes during the whole storage period (p > .05). However, TVB-N values of treatments 24 and 48 hr. showed a significant increase (p < .05) starting from day 13, and earlier (day 11) for the 72-hr. treatment. The increments agreed with variations in

pH values. After this increase, the values remained without significant changes (p > .05) until the end of the storage period. These increases may be due to the degradation of nitrogen-containing compounds, such as proteins, to various amines. TVB-N values identify the latter stages of spoilage and, therefore, can be used as a standard method to determine if the fish is suitable for conventional markets. The European Commission defines the limit between 25 and 35 mg/100 g depending on the species of fish. In this study, the highest values recorded at the end of the experiment were 20.64 ± 0.48 and 20.39 ± 0.41 mg/100 g in treatments 48 and 72 hr., respectively.

Adenylate energy charge (AEC) and K value The mean value of AEC of recently harvested fish was 0.57 ± 0.06. This value indicates that the fish were moderately stressed; values of 0.8– 1.0 indicate physiologically healthy organisms; 0.5–0.7 for moderately stressed, and d <0.5 for those with severe stress. This value was expected, considering the stress produced during harvest, chilling, and evisceration. K value is considered a good indicator in assessing freshness and 58 »

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quality of fishery products, and correlates well with storage time. Fishery products are “very fresh” with K values < 20%; moderately fresh < 50%; and “not fresh” or not recommended for consumption with K values > 70%. We obtained a K value of 3.47% ± 0.08%, just after harvest and chilling in treatment 8 hr., but it gradually increased to 6.97 ± 1.56; 9.24 ± 1.95; and 13.63 ± 7.34 at the start of treatments 24, 48, and 72 hr. By day 5, fillets of treatment 8h were the only ones that remained of very fresh quality with a K value of 15.91 ± 1.89. In the other treatments 24, 48, and 72 hr., K values by day 5 were 27.02 ± 0.45, 32.30 ± 1.36, and 33.16 ± 4.241, respectively. The next category of moderately fresh with K values lower than 50% was reached at days, 15, 13, 9, and 9 in treatments 8, 24, 48, and 72 hr., respectively.

CFU/g (International Commission on Microbiological Specifications for Foods). However according to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and Good Commercial Practices (GCPs), the upper limit is 5.69 log10 CFU/g. Our initial values were in the range from 2.36 ± 0.30 to 3.80 ± 1.01 log10 CFU/g; the ICMSF limit of 7 log10 CFU/g was reached on day 17 for treatment 8 hr. pre-filleting time with mean value of 5.73 ± 0.16. This limit was reached on day 15 for the rest of the treatments at 24, 48, and 72 hr. with mean ± SD values of 6.34 ± 0.054, 6.89 ± 0.02, and 6.62 ± 0.06 CFU/g, respectively. GMP and GCP limit was reached on days 15, 13, and 11 at treatments 8 hr. (4.99 ± 0.36 CFU/g), 24 hr. (5.38 ± 0.13 CFU/g), 48 hr. (5.57 ± 0.33 CFU/g), and 72 hr. (5.44 ± 0.083 CFU/g), respectively.

Total mesophilic bacteria count The upper limit of mesophilic bacteria as suitable and innocuous for human consumption is 7.0 log10

Conclusions Results of physical, chemical, biochemical, and microbiological indicators suggest that shelf life of fresh

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tilapia fillets stored on ice is affected by the pre-filleting time. The longer the pre-filleting time the shorter the shelf life. K value, pH, texture, and microbiological results suggest that tilapia fillets have a shelf life of 15, 13, 11, and 9 days at 8, 24, 48, and 72 hr. pre-filleting time; therefore, the fish must be filleted as soon as they are harvested if a long shelf life is desired. K value, pH, texture, and total plate counts are excellent indicators of freshness for tilapia fillets if used together.

* This is a summarized version developed by PhD. Carlos Rangel Dávalos, professor and researcher at the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences of the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, of the article: “Shelf life of fresh fillets from eviscerated farmed tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus) handled at different pre-filleting times” by Edgar Iván Jiménez-Ruiz, Alfonso Nivardo Maeda-Martínez, Víctor Manuel Ocaño-Higuera, María Teresa Sumaya-Martínez, Leticia Mónica SánchezHerrera, Oscar Alexandro Fregoso-Aguirre, Jesús Ernesto Rincones-López and Yolotzin Apatzingán PalominoHermosillo. The article was originally published in May 2020 through Wiley’s Journal of Food Processing and Preservation. We encourage our readers to access and read the full version through: https://doi.org/10.1111/jfpp.14529

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ARTICLE

How to Improve

Your Genetics By: Dr. Elisa Marques * Senior Director of Business Development at the Center for Aquaculture Technologies (CAT)

Every producer will benefit from using DNA technology in their breeding program. The level of benefit and the type of return on investment will depend on the tool – whether low density (LD), medium-density (MD), or high-density (HD) - that they use. Regardless of the tool, the application of DNA technology adds precision to a selection decision. The Top 3 Tools (genomics and bioinformatics) that any aquaculture producer should consider investing in are discussed in this article.

he aquaculture industry is ripe for the uptake of DNA-based technologies, also known as genomics. The sector has observed and, therefore, learned lessons from the livestock industry where DNA tools are heavily applied, and genetic gains are no longer simulations on a computer screen. Many aquaculture producers have questions and are seeking guidance to improve their genetics. Before I charge ahead with my recommendations, I want to emphasize that the use of genomics will not make the need for collecting phenotypes or the need to improve

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a management system go away. Economically important traits are complex in nature, which means that part of their outcome originates from improvements in genetics - through the observation of measurable traits and other breeding records - and part from improvements in management (i.e., health, nutrition), so investing in one while ignoring the other will not solve all your problems. Genomics is just one tool in the box and does not replace good husbandry practices and a commitment at all levels of an organization to supporting the genetic improvement program.

The Difference Between Genetics and Genomics Let me first make the distinction between the terms “genetics” and “genomics”. These are different terms, but they complement each other when we talk about a breeding program. A seller of broodstock will say, “I sell genetics”. A geneticist will say genetics in terms of genetic merit (breeding values). Different roles, different definitions but all correct, in their own way. Genomics, on the other hand, is a term associated with the DNA structure (i.e., the bases: As, Ts, Cs, and Gs), and the tools that allow us APRIL-MAY 2021

The use of genomics will not

make the need for collecting phenotypes or the need to improve a management system go away.

to profile the DNA are defined as genomics tools. Every producer will benefit from using DNA technology in their breeding program. The level of benefit and the type of return on investment will depend on the tool – whether low density (LD), medium-density (MD), or high-density (HD) - that they use. Regardless of the tool, the application of DNA technology adds precision to a selection decision. The type of tool to use is a function of how producers have structured their breeding programs, for example, if they have been collecting phenotypes and maintaining breeding records. APRIL-MAY 2021

Below are the Top 3 Tools (genomics and bioinformatics) that any aquaculture producer should consider investing in.

breeding values), which is another way of saying genetic merit. Each species has its own LD panel. 2. Medium-Density (MD): if you have been investing in high-density (HD) genotyping (see below) for a while and you have a solid knowledge of how your population is structured (i.e. level of linkage disequilibrium), then you should start thinking about a medium-density panel that can be imputed to your HD dataset to save cost while maintaining precision.

The Top 3 AquaArray Genomics Tools: 1. Low Density (LD): for those dipping their toes in genomics without any knowledge of which populations they have (i.e., species or strains), we recommend a panel with less than 200 SNPs. It provides insights into the genetic architecture of the population and a basis for relatedness and 3. High-Density (HD): the most inbreeding. This panel also allows for parentage testing, an important step powerful tool for a full-throttle, highin the calculation of EBVs (estimated speed genetic improvement program.

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ARTICLE

These panels have around 50,000 markers and can be used for parentage testing, genomic selection, marker-assisted selection, etc. Producers that have been, and are committed to, collecting phenotypic data are in the sweet spot for the use of this HD tool,

Genomics is just one tool in

the box and does not replace good husbandry practices and a commitment at all levels of an organization to supporting the genetic improvement program.

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The Top 3 Bioinformatics Tools: The bioinformatics tools provide actionable insights needed to move ahead, and without them, the tools I listed above are just a bunch of As, Ts, Cs, and Gs.

2. Parentage Analysis: this analysis defines the pedigree of your animals, and it is - after you have been collecting phenotypic data – the first step for the calculation EBVs (genetic merit). It requires samples from the broodstock and its progeny. 3. Genomic Selection: at this stage, the pedigree information and phenotypic data have been collected over many generations. Here we assign a value (+ or -) for each of the thousands of markers obtained from the HD SNP panel, and that information is then added to the genetic evaluation. You may have heard of the term GE-EBVs (genomic-enhanced estimated breeding values). This is a more precise estimate of the genetic merit because of the power added by the DNA information.

Below is a list of analysis and application coming from these genomics tools. 1. A Genetic Overview (GO) Analysis: a powerful analysis that provides insights on the diversity and level of inbreeding between animals of a population. When combined with a strain ID analysis - it enables the differentiation between animals used in different production systems and markets. For example, Tilapia What’s next? (the Nile vs. Mozambique), Large- Once you have decided which gemouth Bass (Florida vs. Northern). nomics tool best fits your needs,

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or you may also want to email us at info@aquatechcenter.com to discuss more, it is time to collect a biological sample. This step cannot be ignored, and a misstep here can often mean low quality DNA yield and, therefore, no results. Fin clips (for fin fish) or pleopods (for shrimp) are a great source of DNA. We guide our clients throughout sample collection and submission to ensure that we generate usable results.

What’s your weakest link? A genomic tool will only be as good as your weakest link. So, if you have not already done so, there will come a time when you need to upgrade your management program (i.e., invest in better feed, monitor for pathogens, buy bigger or more tanks, modify your layout). To put it into layman’s terms, do not expect APRIL-MAY 2021

to reach the finish line by putting Porsche tires (HD tool) on your Volkswagen Beetle. If your weakest link right now is in pathogen detection and monitoring, the best way is to couple one of the genomic tools above (LD, MD, or HD) with a panel for pathogen detection where you can choose which pathogen to test for. You may not need all of them, so it is important that you have an à al carte option rather than an “all you can eat” buffet. And, if you are noticing that you need help in multiple levels of your business (health, nutrition, genetics, genomics), an annual breeding contract that carries custom made recommendations would likely serve you better and qualified professionals are out there to help new entrants wade through all their options!

*Dr. Elisa Marques has spent the last 15 years vigorously applying genomics tools in genetic improvement programs around North and South America. She is currently holding the Senior Director of Business Development position at the Center for Aquaculture Technologies (CAT) - the contract R&D organization that provides innovative solutions in the Health, Nutrition, and Genetic Improvement of aquatic species. For further information, please visit: https://aquatechcenter.com/

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LATIN AMERICA REPORT

Latin America Report: Recent News and Events By: Aquaculture Magazine Staff *

Venezuela seeks to propel national aquaculture The government is working to make Venezuela a fishing and aquaculture power house, and in this way is aiming to optimize the distribution of seafood to the population. To achieve these goals, President Nicolás Maduro, announced the appointment of Gilberto Pinto as Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, with the mission to boost national fish production, reports PrenzaLatina. According to the president, Mr. Pinto, who served as Commander General of the Bolivarian Navy, as well as deputy to the National Assembly for the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, will be responsible for making Venezuela a leader in fishing and aquaculture in the Caribbean. Mr. Maduro said that the development will not only enhance fishing activity but will also promote aquaculture on a large scale in landlocked states. Skretting invests $US6.1 million in construction of new shrimp research facility in Ecuador The new facility, named Skretting ARC Guayas Research Station, will be located next to the recently completed Skretting Ecuador feed manufacturing plant. The new R&D facility, centrally coordinated by Skretting ARC in Norway, will comprise fully equipped laboratories and state-of-the art experimental units to carry out trials under controlled conditions. In addition, green-water tanks will ensure maximum applicability under production conditions. “We are committed to supporting the growth of the shrimp industry globally,” says Alex Obach, Skretting 64 »

R&D Director. “We also know the importance of optimal diets, combined with high post-larvae quality and professional farming practices. The development of solutions requires worldclass R&D facilities, combined with local expertise.” Carlos Miranda, Skretting LatAm General Manager says, “In Ecuador, Skretting is recognised by our customers for our high performance diets and expert technical service, including our Skretting 360+ program. We have best-in-class feed facilities, supported by the best R&D; not to mention a world-class genetics program together

with Hendrix Genetics and supported by Nutreco. However, we do not rest. We are serious about our commitment to drive the Ecuadorian shrimp industry further and help our clients deliver to the most demanding global shrimp markets.” Skretting ARC currently has research facilities in Norway, Italy, Japan, Chile and China, and additional validation facilities around the globe. With experts in the field of shrimp research, a team of 140 highly skilled specialists and an annual R&D investment of $18 million, Skretting ARC is perfectly positioned to drive innovation in the sector even further. “Over the years our scientists, together with our extensive research network, have contributed to the launch of important feed solutions for all the shrimp life stages,” continues Obach. “Now, we want to go further. This new world-class shrimp research facility will drive our knowledge of shrimp nutrition in Skretting and deliver new solutions to improve shrimp performance: faster growth, shorter production cycles and higher survival rates. We are excited to see where our curiosity takes us on the next part of our journey.”

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OUT AND ABOUT

Welcome, Seaspiricy! By: Salvador Meza *

This documentary has to come that shows us what people outside these industries see when they lookout, and that we no longer see.

or those dedicated to fishing and aquaculture, the first thing we should ask ourselves after watching the Netflix documentary “Seaspiricy” is: how we got into this chaos? Because the truth is: • Yes, there is overfishing • Yes, there are commercial interests behind some certifiers • Yes, there are commercial interests behind some NGOs • Yes, there is some level of slavery or forced labor in fishing and the process of fish and aquaculture products • Yes, aquaculture farms have deforested mangroves

• Yes, there is excessive use of antibiotics in aquaculture • Yes, there is a substitution of fish and shellfish in the market • People in many places buy fish and shellfish with a net weight less than they think it is No person who is dedicated to fishing or aquaculture in the world can deny these truths. This documentary has to come that shows us what people outside these industries see when they lookout, and that we no longer see. Efforts have been made to seek the sustainability of fishing and aquaculture, and there are honest certifi-

ers and NGOs that seek and support that sustainability. Still, it has not been enough, and it will not be enough for the time we have left. In the end, it is a problem that falls on the attitude and action of each person involved in the issue, but since it is impossible to get into people’s minds and change them just like that, the problem then falls on the governance of each State, which has to issue the appropriate laws to compel all these people to comply. But the State does not have the support of civil society to confront the inertia of economic, legal, and non-legal interests behind this whole story. For this reason, regardless of the particular interests and inaccuracies that may Seaspiracy have, I welcome its accomplishment. I am glad that civil society’s interest, especially young people, is awakened to get involved in fish and shellfish production. They need to take action on the matter, and they need to demand their governments to carry out genuinely sustainable management of these resources, with scientifically and technically trained personnel, and with the adequate budget to carry out successful management with tangible results. Hopefully, behind Seaspiracy, many more documentaries will come, and more, until the sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture is a reality, not just a marketing statement.

Salvador Meza is Editor & Publisher of Aquaculture Magazine, and of the Spanish language industry magazine Panorama Acuicola.

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DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MARKETING BYTES

Five Digital Marketing Topics to Watch in 2021 By: Sarah Cornelisse*

Technology, social media, and the online landscape constantly evolve,

making it a business’s responsibility to stay updated on pertinent issues as those issues may not just influence but also determine the actions a business takes online.

echnology, social media, and the online landscape are ever-evolving. It can be a challenge to remain current on new and updated platform features, changing audience trends, and societal and regulatory issues. With that in mind, discussed below are five topics that businesses should consider regarding their online strategy.

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Social Commerce Why look at using social commerce when you may already have an online store on your website? When surveyed, consumers consistently rank learning about and researching products as one of the top reasons they follow a business on social media. Given this, social commerce can help lower the barrier to purchase by lessening the number of steps that a

customer has to go through to purchase a product featured in social media posts. Social commerce features on platforms including Facebook and Instagram allow for photo and video posts to be tagged with a link taking the customer directly to that product on an online store. The customer does not have to open a new browser page, navigate to the business’s website, find the item they saw in the post, and, depending on the e-commerce platform used; they may not need to add it to their checkout cart. These actions are bundled in one step for them. Furthermore, consider how people shop in person. Impulse purchasing is not uncommon. Information from Statista shows that

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The technology landscape is

evolving to benefit once again businesses that collect and maintain their own lists for direct customer communication.

the share of purchases made on impulse ranges from 35% for those 65 and over to 49% for 18 to 24 years old. And while purchasing via social commerce is not yet widespread, surveys show that younger individuals have most often purchased via social commerce and are most interested in social commerce. So, consider the makeup of your customer base, your ideal customer segment, and their use of social media when evaluating whether to adopt social commerce.

Privacy Privacy continues to be an important concern for consumers and businesses alike. According to the Pew Research Center, 63% know little about current privacy laws & regulations, 72% believe online activities are being tracked, and 79% are concerned about what is done with data collected on them. Privacy concerns hit the headlines in the United States when, in 2016, Cambridge Analytica, a political data firm, was able to access private information on millions of Facebook users. This information APRIL-MAY 2021

“included details on users’ identities, friend networks, and likes” (New York Times, 2018). Then, in 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was enacted in the European Union in response to privacy concerns. GDPR provided EU residents with the right to know about and control the data that businesses collect and hold on them. “The minute such a business captures an email address of an EU resident with an intent to communicate with him and track his response that business becomes subject to GDPR, regardless of where the business, server, or subject is located at the time” (Arke website, 2018). Most recently, Apple has announced its intention to implement Identifier for Advertisers (IDFA) to bring greater transparency to application users. According to CNBC news, the setting to opt-in to data tracking will be presented to users in a pop-up window when the app is first launched rather than providing an opt-out setting that users have to navigate to in-app on their own. User data collected by social media platforms is then used within a platform’s advertising branch by

businesses to target their advertising campaigns. This has led to Facebook arguing that the likely outcome of IDFA will be an increase in app users opting out of tracking, leading to less data and, therefore, decreased ad effectiveness for small businesses that rely on that data when configuring their advertising campaigns. The technology landscape is evolving to benefit once again businesses that collect and maintain their own lists for direct customer communication. In doing so, however, it will be crucial to highlight the business’s position on transparency and customer and follower control regarding data use.

User-generated Content The ability of businesses to project authenticity and build trust with their online audience continues to be important. Research has shown that consumers trust recommendations from friends and family. With that in mind, businesses have increasingly turned to curating and sharing content highlighting their products or business that was created and first posted by their audience members » 69

DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MARKETING BYTES

or customers. Doing so, however, risks entrance into a potential legal minefield of content ownership. Businesses that wish to share others’ content should take steps to acquire permission from the original creator. Doing so ensures that copyright is not violated and that the creator/ owner is comfortable with and approves the content’s intended use.

Social Consciousness Businesses have become comfortable telling their story through their online presence by sharing the business’s history, providing a look “behind the curtain,” or profiling the owners and employees – just to name a few examples – to establish a more personal connection with consumers. However, as consumers increasingly express their desire to connect with and support businesses that they identify with or that support issues important to them, sharing of business and owner values has become more important. Some of these values include the business’s own support of their local community or charities, sustainability practices, inclusiveness, and more. While a certain degree of risk

comes with sharing more personal and deeply held values, done sensitively and respectfully, businesses can take advantage of consumers’ desire to connect with like-minded companies by sharing their positions on relevant topics.

Virtual Experiences Over the past year, virtual events and experiences such as online tours, tasting events, and so forth have become vital to many businesses, both those that direct market and those that do not. Moving forward, it is anticipated that virtual experiences will continue to be offered at some level now that consumers and businesses are comfortable with the format. Virtual experiences, however, cannot replace the in-person experience. Therefore, it is crucial to determine objectives and identify customer expectations. When planning a virtual experience, businesses should: • Match the format of the experience and the platform used with objectives. • Ensure that customer expectations are set appropriately when marketing virtual experiences.

• Consider the number of participants hosted for individual events. While offering virtual events allows a business to reach larger audiences, consider whether customer experience will be sacrificed. • Always test the technology platform and equipment that will be used. While most consumers understand technical glitches, they still expect that when businesses are offering virtual experiences, particularly for a fee, there is a reasonable knowledge of how to use the technology and equipment. • Ensure that the surroundings and the environment are conducive and appropriate for the virtual event. • Consider the length of time that the virtual experience will take. The length of time spent on an in-person activity or experience may not translate well to a virtual experience. The technological landscape is continually changing, and with it, businesses’ options for using that technology. Social and legal landscapes evolve as well, making it a business’s responsibility to stay updated on pertinent issues as those issues may not just influence, but determine the actions a business takes online.

References cited by the author available under previous request to our editorial team. *Sarah Cornelisse is a Senior Extension Associate of agricultural entrepreneurship and business management at Penn State University in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology and Education. Sarah has expertise in direct marketing, valueadded dairy entrepreneurship and marketing, the use of digital and social media for agricultural farm and food business marketing, and business and marketing planning and decision making. Originally from New York State, she has a B.A in mathematics from the State University of New York at Geneseo, and M.S. degrees in Agricultural Economics and Animal Science, both from Penn State University. Correspondence email: sar243@psu.edu Editor’s note: references cited by the author within the text are available under previous request to our editorial team.

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TECHNICAL GURU

Dissolved Oxygen Instruments by Amy Stone*

Dissolved oxygen levels in water are dependent on several environmental factors, including temperature, altitude (barometric pressure), and salinity. There are a variety of meter types available for use in the field these days, from the simple dissolved oxygen and temperature to the all-inclusive multi-parameter units.

et’s talk dissolved oxygen. It is, without a doubt, one of the most important water quality parameters to follow in aquaculture systems. The technology has come a long way, from the radio box-looking analog meters that I started out using to the newer optical meters with immediate readings and require very little maintenance. There are a variety of brands out there. However, this article will focus on the types of meters and probes that are currently available. In the early days of aquaculture, there were not a lot of options for measuring dissolved oxygen. Readings were made via wet chemistry. As things progressed, electrochemistry meters became available such as the Model 51 from YSI. These were analog meters and were workhorses for several decades before the more modern digital meters started coming available. Dissolved oxygen levels in water are dependent on several environmental factors, including temperature, altitude (barometric pressure), and salinity. Early versions of DO meters required manual compensation for these. Today’s models almost always include temperature compensation and can consist of salinity and altitude compensation. As the industry grew, so too did the investment from several companies back into better technologies for farmers and environmentalists to use. There are a variety of meter types available for use in the field these days, from the simple dissolved oxygen and temperature to the all-inclusive multi-parameter units.

Sensor Styles One of the factors to consider when purchasing a DO meter is what style sensor will be used. There are the older style electrochemical-based galvanic and polarographic sensors and the newer optical-based sensor. 72 »

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The probe emits a pulsing light that causes the sensor cap to phosphoresce based on the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the water. Meters that use this style of sensor have calibration memory that requires very little calibration and doesn’t react to dissolved gases in the water source. These are more expensive than traditional sensors, but the readings are more stable, require less calibration and maintenance, and do not require flow or the user to agitate the water around the probe. These are great options for meters that are in constant use in the field.

Polarographic Sensor Style Polarographic sensors are the original electrochemistry sensor. This style probe uses a silver metal anode and a gold metal cathode. Polarographic sensors require the user to allow the sensor to warm up or polarize. Once the sensor is warmed up or polarized, the meter’s readings are quick. Galvanic Sensor Style Galvanic sensors generally use a lead-based anode and silver cathode. These sensors are self-polarizing and require very little warm-up time, so they do not require a warm-up period.

Both Galvanic and Polarographic require flow past the membrane to provide accurate readings. Both style sensors use a removable membrane that the oxygen passes through to react with the sensor to determine oxygen concentration through a chemical reduction reaction. Both styles require periodic membrane and solution changes and need to be calibrated often. Thankfully, most sensor manufacturers have adopted a screw cap membrane that is much easier to change than the oldstyle membrane and O-ring. The probe must be appropriately maintained to have accurate readings. This includes scouring the probes’ exterior portions to remove any build-up and making sure the new membrane is completely full of the probe solution with no air bubbles.

Optical Sensor Style These have become all the rage for some very good reasons! The optical style sensors use a phosphorescence coating on the sensor cap.

The meter side… All of these probes are available with several options in terms of the user interface. Some of the more economical ones are not waterproof, while the more expensive models include waterproof casings, internal memory, and optional downloads to software that help keep the trending information available, allowing for better management of aquatic systems. Higher-end models include additional sensors such as pH, ORP, Conductivity, and other common water quality parameters. The ultimate decision on which model to choose depends on the application. At the end of the day, it is very important that facilities have a way of tracking oxygen in their systems to help avoid catastrophic losses due to variable DO in their systems.

Amy Riedel Stone is President and Owner at Aquatic Equipment and Design, Inc. She was formerly a Manager at Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems, and she studied Agriculture at Purdue University. She can be reached at amy@aquaticed.com

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THE FISHMONGER

Are you in the box seat? By: The fishmonger *

The world is coming through the COVID-19 impacts in various ways. Some countries are doing better than others. Some industry sectors have thrived, some have survived, and sadly many have disappeared. Seafood has had both good and bad outcomes, but the most important aspect is if you have survived the global pandemic, then you need to be getting organized for your next chapter and ensure you are in the box seat.

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here is no single seafood industry COVID-19 story. The degree of exposure, impact, and recovery for sectors and businesses, whether wildcaught or farmed or where you are in the supply chain, varies from positive, neutral, negative, and in a few cases, catastrophic. The closer you were to your market, likely the better outcome you have had. The longer the supply chain, the more you probably suffered from the logistical nightmares that were experienced. If your emphasis was on highvalued white tablecloth restaurant trade, you would have suffered more than those engaged in retail/supermarket sales. Success stories strongly highlighted producers’ ability to be fleet of foot and be prepared to adapt and change to alternative markets. Conversely, if you were locked into only exporting live and fresh products, you would have been sucked into a negative vacuum.

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In Australia, the pandemic effects

on aquaculture production and value were not as harmful as they could have been as the sector has a lower exposure to live export markets and a greater focus on retail markets.

In Australia, it has been reported that those supplying domestic retail and takeaway foodservice markets, which normally compete with fresh international imports, experienced a rise in demand and, in some cases, price. As a result, the value of these types of domestically sold products generally remained relatively stable, with any decline in production volumes offset by rising domestic prices. At the opposite end of that positive scenario, we find the live and fresh export products negatively impacted due to a decline in price and volume. Noting particularly that the value of Lobster and Abalone exports declined by 45%, while live and fresh seafood exports overall declined in value by 32% compared with the five-year average for the same period. No matter where you are on the chain, you likely experienced substantial transaction costs because of adaptation to ensure business continuity, such as new laws reacting to C-19; higher levels to ensure food safety; increased logistical costs; improving packaging; labour issues such as physical distancing and other preventative health measures including COVID-19 safety planning and biosecurity requirements for imported and exported products, etc. APRIL-MAY 2021

Governments across the world have struggled to find perfect solutions which is not unexpected in the circumstances. Some have dug deep to implement grants/loans and programs, but it has been hit or miss, and impacts will be felt for many years. In Australia, the pandemic effects on aquaculture production and value were not as harmful as they could have been as the sector has a lower exposure to live export markets and a greater focus on retail markets. Additionally, the production is not large by world standards, and quantities cannot be rapidly adjusted in response to disruptions. Of course, those engaged in exports such as Oyster and Abalone growers did experience interruption and impact. Imported seafood is important to Australia’s seafood industry as they contribute approximately 65% of Australian seafood domestic consumption. China, Thailand, Vietnam, New Zealand (NZ) and Indonesia are the top five countries by value from which Australia imports seafood, which leads the frozen and canned sectors. Overall, both have done very well throughout the pandemic period. This is especially so in lower pricepoint fish sold by foodservice businesses, including fish and chip shops, Asian style food-court vendors, and

the lower tier dine-in outlets, such as cafes, pubs, and clubs. Imports are also important in the food catering sector, which services accommodation and travel, hospitals, aged care, prisons, cruise ships, etc. These sectors rely on affordable, shelf-stable, ready to use, portion-controlled, no waste products, typically frozen cartons of processed seafood – requiring form and volumes not produced in Australia. Clearly an opportunity for future thinking in Australia. Retailers have benefited from selling imported frozen products (thawed) at wet fish counters. Those nimble operators who invested time and effort into changing packaging to enable wholesale products intended for the food service to be split into retail-ready packs found life profitable. Being adaptable saw more versatile companies seizing new opportunities by diverting products destined for restaurants to be sold at wet fish counters, thus eliminating potential losses. The pandemic has seen a change in direct sales from producers to final consumers, and whilst small in a proportion of total sales by volume, this may be an area for future expansion. In Australia, the market was affected by the disruption to export and competing import markets for live Australian seafood and by COVID-19 pre» 75

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Our industry is subjected to a

wide range of cost variables, many of which are not easily controlled, and the pandemic has become another of these creating ‘the perfect storm’ to deal with.

References cited by the author available under previous request to our editorial team.

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THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY

Investing in aquaculture: a good idea or not? “Caveat emptor”- let the buyer beware

With a 6 to 8% projected annual growth rate into the foreseeable future,

aquaculture will offer good investment opportunities. However, just like any other endeavor, there are some very good reasons why what some see as a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is empty. There are many exciting opportunities in aquaculture globally. Approaching them cautiously and ensuring that somewhere in the evaluation process there are voices that think about the upsides and understand the potential By Stephen G. Newman Ph.D. * President and CEO, AquaInTech Inc.

downsides is critical.

quaculture is the farming of animals and plants that require water to be grown in. It is water-based agriculture. It is an ancient form of agriculture and has a history that stretches far into the past. It is the last major global shift from a hunting (fishing) to a farming paradigm. It encompasses hundreds of species, including fish species, many crustaceans (shrimp and crabs), other invertebrates (oysters and clams), and aquatic plants (algae). This sector has grown rapidly for decades and is expected to continue to do so for many years to come. With a current global population approaching 8 billion people and a predicted increase to more than 10 billion within the next three decades, aquaculture is held by many to be the only way to meet the demand for high-quality sustainable protein to feed the masses. For much of history, China has been the world’s leading country for the production of protein by aquaculture, at times representing more than 50% of the total global production. Since adopting capitalism over the last three decades, their burgeoning middle class has driven huge increases in

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Aquaculture is going to continue to grow for many years to come and there are going to be many good opportunities to invest.

the demand for quality seafood products. Demand for seafood is increasing globally and can only be met via aquaculture. The fishery cannot meet the demand, and there are legitimate concerns that even with tight restrictions, many fisheries are in decline. With a 6 to 8% projected annual growth rate into the foreseeable future, aquaculture will offer good investment opportunities. However, just like any other endeavor, there are some very good reasons why what some see as a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is empty. There are several important things that investors should consider before investing. Relatively few companies are in the public sector, although this is increasing as inexorable market forces drive consolidation. Consolidation is inevitable and the more than likely the only way that sustainability can be assured in the long run. Poverty-driven farming by its very nature, i.e., seriously resourcelimited, is not a viable long-term (i.e., sustainable) production paradigm. It is unfortunate that there have been a number of highly visible problems with publicly traded companies that have created some distrust. However, I believe that there are ways to invest that will protect investments and ensure that the chances of gaining adequate returns and achieving success with your investments in aquaculture projects are maximized. APRIL-MAY 2021

I have been working with aquaculturists for more than 40 years in dozens of countries on many different species. This industry is one of change, and the changes keep coming. What should you be looking for to make money? Many factors can contribute to success, and these together can maximize your chances of longterm success. Sustainability is the big catchphrase today. When and if the US government finalizes organic standards for aquaculture products, we will see a new catchphrase. The quandary is that organic is a legal definition which makes compliance relatively straightforward. Sustainability has no legal definition, and anybody can say that their product is sustainable, and many do, even when it is not likely that the product is truly sustainable. Sustain-

ability is actually a fairly simple concept, though, as with many other things of this nature, the devil is in the details. Farmers should be farming using techniques and technologies that minimize environmental impacts that will prevent future farmers from being as, if not more, productive. One sentence summary: Aquaculture is going to continue to grow for many years to come and there are going to be many good opportunities to invest.

Sustainability/ Certification Not too many years ago, certification of aquaculture operations was nonexistent. Today, many certification schemes in differing stages of evolution are being touted as paths to sustainability. These are, for the most part, largely business driven with retailers being sold on various pro-

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Do your homework! Sustainability and certification are not necessarily the same thing.

grams by those who have developed the programs or by other NGOs that believe that they should advise retailers what programs actually are sustainable. Like all other activities, the process of certification has some good elements and some bad elements. Since there is no universally accepted definition of what actually constitutes sustainability, each group believes that their espoused cultural practices constitute sustainability. In reality, this is not quite true. While it is laudable that some degree of cohesiveness has been brought to the myriad of practices that constitute aquaculture, the reality is that in large parts of the world aquaculture is being driven by poverty. In those areas where this is not the case, and corporate farms exist or are becoming the norm, the wide divergence of practices does not favor one scheme over the other. Farms will choose the schemes that the retailers tell them to have. The retailers may rely on NGOs with specific biases to assist them in determining what programs are the “best”. This does not allow one to equate certification with sustainability automatically. In fact, when programs focus on non-issues such as the use of fish meal in aquaculture feeds, the use of GMO feed ingredients, etc., they stray away from sustainability and become little more than venues 80 »

for interest groups to promulgate specific agendas. So do not be fooled into thinking that because a project has been “certified” that its operating practices are necessarily any better or worse than projects that have not been certified. One sentence summary: Do your homework! Sustainability and certification are not necessarily the same thing.

Profitability The underlying reason for any business enterprise to exist is to generate revenue (profit) above and beyond the cost of running the business. For small operations, the profit is the paycheck that the owner/operators take home. For corporate operations, profits are typically dividends payable to shareholders, or an increase in the value of the stock. For investors, the

best companies are those that generate a consistent profit. In aquaculture operations, this is not typically the norm. Since the end product is a commodity, supply-side economics operate. Sharp deviations in supply and demand impact pricing, and even small changes can result in fluctuating prices. Production is rarely consistent from cycle to cycle, and survivals, animal quality, and the cost of inputs (specifically feed) must be considered as well. So typically, there are good and bad years, and the hope is that the good years more than adequately make up for the lean years. Historically there have been times when the price of shrimp commanded pond side was so high that even marginal farmers who can manage to get their crops to harvest can make money. This is part of a cycle and will not persist. The reasons for this consistent lack of profitability are APRIL-MAY 2021

complex and differ from business to business although they typically boil down to a few common issues.

1.Management incompetency Aquaculture is not as straightforward as terrestrial agriculture. The immediate production environment (water) adds a large number of variables to the culture process that can complicate matters. This includes water chemistry, animal health, stress mitigation, animal nutrition, and animal physiology, among others. Few managers have a handle on all of these. Production of shrimp (and fish) is a multistage process and starts with broodstock production and continues through the processing plant to the consumer’s hands. As an example, routinely, I see shrimp hatcheries run by experienced personnel who think that 50-60% survivals are indicative of success. Some believe that they can justify this by arguing that it is survival of the fittest, and others cite these survivals as being normal. The truth is that a successful hatchery should be routinely getting 80% or higher survivals. Survival of the fittest has nothing to do with production and is an excuse to cover up poor management. The ability to manage variables and lessen the risks to animal health determines success, not solely whose diet is being used or how much water you push through your system, etc. 2. Ownership complacency Owners are not always farmers (except for smaller privately held farms). They are typically businessmen. While they may understand the nature of business and the need to generate a profit, they typically place a lot of faith in the biologists in charge of their farms and at times do not provide adequate support to ensure that managers do not find themselves in catch 22 situations. Managers typically blame others for problems when they may be the underlying cause of the issues themselves. I could write a book about this, but one anecdote serves to make my point. A few years ago, I was APRIL-MAY 2021

asked to audit a farm under construction financed jointly by locals in South America (Surinam), a Canadian company with local interests and a branch of an international bank (South African). There were significant cost overruns in the early stages of construction, and part of what I was asked to do was to determine what was happening and advise the investors. Management was in place, but it was recognized that a third party might see things differently. During the course of my operational audit, I noted that the broodstock to be used in the project were being sourced from the wild. While this is not a preferable practice, the logistics and nature of the project dictated this. I inquired as to the degree of testing being done on the adults prior to using them as a source of seed for the farm. I was told that statistical sampling had been done and that they were evidently free of any of the viruses that are typically thought to be potentially problematic. To the manager, a knowledgeable and experienced individual, this appeared to be adequate. After all, the broodstock were being held in quarantine for a month prior to being spawned. As an individual who thinks outside of the box, I voiced the concern that the animals needed to be tested individually and not as a group (statistical sampling relies on random sampling of the population at levels that have been determined to provide

a 90 to 98% chance of finding a specific pathogen being looked for but only if the testing technology is 100% reliable-which it cannot be and the sample is really “random”). The cost of this was brought up as an objection until I explained that the cost of not doing it would be much greater if they introduced a virus into their population and wiped the farm out from the start. The animals were screened individually, and testing showed that they were carrying, albeit at a very low level, a virus that could have easily damaged productivity from the start. This could have killed the project and resulted in losses of more than 20 million dollars. Just about the same time, I was made aware of a project in Africa that was being decimated by viral diseases where the staff and support failed to conduct adequate (any?) testing of wild broodstock and basically wiped out a $30 million investment. One project was stopped before it reached the point of a blowout, and the other caused severe financial damage. The management team for this latter project dispersed to the wind and many of them are working on projects where their role in the failure has been minimized and even denied.

3. The Science of Aquaculture I tell my clients that aquaculture is half art and half science and that if you get one right and do not get the other right, you can still lose your crop. » 81

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY

Sort of like the person who has a green thumb and who can keep plants alive no matter how much he abuses them contrasted with the person who has a black thumb who will kill crops just by thinking about them. In reality, much of what goes on is sciencebased. It is just that we do not always fully understand or appreciate the science involved. An example is the role of stress in productivity. Dogmatic approaches towards production are all too common and unfortunately, often the norm. Yet, in many ways, failure to question these approaches can result in catastrophes. For many years managers and owners touted that shrimp could tolerate low levels of oxygen and that even when there were anoxic events (shrimp would be at the surface gasping for air) that the shrimp could handle it. They justified this from observations and from economics. Observing that there were no apparent untoward effects on the shrimp in the days following the event meant that it was not a problem. The cost of additional aeration equipment and the infrastructure required to produce the electricity required to run the equipment all would add to production costs. When the animals seemed to be OK, why bother? For years, scientists have known that stress from low dissolved oxygen levels has a dramatic impact on animal physiology and weakens animals in many different ways. Cumulative stressors result in slower growth rates, higher feed costs because of poorer utilization of nu82 »

trients, and increased disease susceptibility. Many farms who believe that low dissolved oxygen levels are inherent parts of production routinely have survivals that are under 60%, and staff cannot identify the underlying reason for even the death of a single shrimp! Farms that understand this and that invest in the needed tools to maintain oxygen levels at five parts per million or higher at all times are much more likely to have fewer problems. Shrimp grow better, feed conversion ratios are lower (less feed per shrimp) and survivals are higher. All of this equates with higher profits. I have seen farms that thrive, yet the staff do not know the basics. They know to stock, feed, watch and harvest. When problems occur, they are usually the farms that have the worst problems. This is a single example. In fact, this is not even the tip of a vast iceberg. Pseudoscientific practices are common, and farmers are easy prey. Managers are sold on technologies where their arrogance and ignorance are exploited, and in many countries, their incomes are supplemented by the purveyors of these technologies. So, when there are problems, they are not going to tell the boss that the company that is giving them a kickback is selling them a product that does not do what it claims. They will find someone to blame, and rarely is it actually who is responsible.

4. Disease By far, the largest impact on productivity is disease. In fact, bacterial prob-

lems due to commonly occurring bacteria are a cause of significant losses at all stages of culture. This is unfortunate as a large number of these deaths are preventable by following a few sample strategies. Nothing could be clearer regarding this than the current problems with a strain of Vibrio parahaemolyticus that is causing what has been characterized as Early Mortality Syndrome or Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis. This bacterium is wreaking havoc in many production areas. The problems that one typically hears about though, are the viral diseases. For fish in SE Asia, iridovirus and viral necrosis are big ones. For salmon, Infectious Salmon Anemia (ISA), a disease that has been around for a long time is once again killing fish. For shrimp, there seems to be an endless cycle, and in 2010 infectious myonecrosis virus (IMNV) was killing large numbers of shrimp in Indonesia, and there are patterns of mortality in China and Vietnam that suggest another as of yet uncharacterized virus may be at work. You can bet that there will be another “new” virus that causes serious problems in the near future. Cultural practices in many areas are conducive to widespread viral disease outbreaks, and the diseases that are certain to affect stocks in the future are already present, waiting for the opportune time to begin the global march once again. For every one of these problems there are a hundred (if not a thousand) snake oil salesmen, many operating with a veneer of acceptability ofAPRIL-MAY 2021

fering solutions and readily misleading owners with fancy presentations and verbose arguments. Disease poses the greatest risk to an aquaculture investment and this is not going to change any time in the near future. Moving to systems that seek to control as many of the variables as can be costeffectively controlled will, in some parts of the world, mitigate the risks. Unfortunately, in some areas the economics do not make sense, and risky cultural practices will continue. The good news though, is that using the right tools and a modicum of common sense, the impact of disease can be lessened. After all, even though diseases may be impacting animals with regularity at all phases of production, the overall trend is for production to increase, so things must be working at some level.

stantial risk to consumers in systems that are properly managed and monitored.

Summary Many things can and do affect production that proper management can mitigate. These include failure to check on managers track records, a universal mindset that blames others for problems, a failure to understand that ignoring the science of aquaculture is not consistent with true sustainability, the intimate connection of stress and disease, and a total blind eye to the proliferation of strains (of algae and bacteria) in production systems that produce a variety of potent toxins. Over the years, I have been asked by investors about what the steps are that they should be taking to ensure that their investment is a wise one. They want to back people who will make their investment worthwhile 5. Harmful toxins An area that is largely ignored in pond- and increase in value for their clients. based culture production systems is I tell them to pay attention to the bathe risks to consumers from harm- sics outlined above and make sure that ful algal species present in ponds or the people that they are investing in in the immediate environment. This understand the importance and limitaincludes toxins from fungi (mycotox- tions. The first thing to do is to make sure ins) that might end up in feed. There are many species that produce potent that you have an independent third toxins that are present as normal in- party look at what is being offered or habitants in aquatic ecosystems. While what you are planning on doing. Paymany have been characterized, there ing attention to detail is critical and are many more that have not. These using knowledgeable and experienced third-party trouble shooters whose are not routinely screened for. A single event that is wide publi- role it is to find and fix problems at cized will do an untold amount of the behest of the investors (which damage to the industry. The very na- prevents counterproductive interferture of shrimp and fishpond-based ence from management) is an element production systems is conducive to of a successful strategy as well. This should be someone who the growth of many strains that prounderstands the risks and is honest duce toxins. Failing to take this into account, enough to not fear the at times negawhich is almost universal at this time, tive impressions that can come into is the Achilles heel of the industry. play when the truth is put forth. Take the time to have a cold hard The risks are the greatest in traditional production systems that totally ignore look at what is being done. You get what you pay for. Taking shortcuts the science of aquaculture. Often times production systems leads to problems. The business plan are consistent with the presence of tells one side of the story. Avoid these toxins, and there is little doubt academics with little real-world exthat not only is there a huge direct ef- perience (I am not saying that this is fect on the farmed animals but a sub- typical of all academics) and avoid yes APRIL-MAY 2021

men who will tell you what they think you want to hear. So, I would encourage you to consider investing in aquaculture projects that make sense. Look for projects that have the elements of success and that have realistic business plans that clearly outline the risks. Install your own representatives into the process to ensure that you have the assurances that you need to be aware of problems as they occur but also to work with management to come up with productive and economically viable solutions. Be proactive about this and do not rely solely on management representations. You have little to lose from taking this approach, and in the end, stacking the deck in your favor will greatly increase the chances of success while lessening the potential of failures. There are many exciting opportunities in aquaculture globally. Approaching them cautiously and ensuring that somewhere in the evaluation process there are voices that think about the upsides and understand the potential downsides is critical. It is rare that a project, regardless of whether it is an existing operation, one in various stages of development, or even still in the early planning stages, does not have some aspects to it that can confound the process to varying degrees.

Stephen G. Newman has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland in Conservation and Resource Management (ecology) and a Ph.D. from the University of Miami, in Marine Microbiology. He has over 40 years of experience working within a range of topics and approaches on aquaculture such as water quality, animal health, biosecurity with special focus on shrimp and salmonids. He founded Aquaintech in 1996 and continues to be CEO of this company to the present day. It is heavily focused on providing consulting services around the world on microbial technologies and biosecurity issues. sgnewm@aqua-in-tech.com www.aqua-in-tech.com www.bioremediationaquaculture.com www.sustainablegreenaquaculture.com

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Aquaculture Magazine April-May 2021 Vol. 47 No. 2

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GREENHOUSES AND POND LINERS

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