Aquaculture

MEXICO - The Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA) has put into operation the first Quarantine National Aquaculture Centre in the community of Costa de Hermosillo, Sonora, with the aim of boosting the production of farmed shrimp that are of high quality and free of pathogens (such as white spot virus).
This work should help to ensure the availability of shrimp which has a high market demand.
Through work with the United States, Mexico will produce shrimp which are resistant to white spot virus.
Thus, shrimp farms, receive certified and fully healthy larvae.
The CEO of the Aquaculture Research INAPESCA, Marco Linné Unzueta, said the Institute is working on the application of scientific knowledge and the use of technology to get higher quality and to improve availability levels of aquaculture products.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has reported that out of more than 4,000 samples collected and tested in British Columbia last year, all tested negative for infectious salmon anaemia (ISA).
In 2012, 4,175 wild salmon samples were collected directly from BC waters, processing plants and enhancement hatcheries as part of a surveillance initiative. All of these samples were tested for the ISA virus and either haematopoietic necrosis (IHN) or infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) – and all came back negative.
A variety of salmon species were tested, including those that could carry infection without showing signs of disease. In 2013, this surveillance program is expected to test approximately 5,000 samples.
IHN, IPN and ISA are contagious and can cause disease and mortality in salmon. IHN is known to exist in certain species and populations of wild finfish in BC. IPN and ISA have not been confirmed in the province.

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The Chilean government has just provided CLP 50 million (USD 99,400) to fund the Northern scallop production between 2013 and 2014. This money will be helpful to fund the final phase of the project that will allow the Association of Fishermen of Tongoy to ensure production of this mollusc.
This financial support, granted by the head of the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Subpesca), Pablo Galilea, and the Fisheries zonal director of Regions III and IV, Andres Hoyl, is intended to reinvigorate the aquaculture sector in the Region of Coquimbo.
In this regard, Galilea recalled that the industry had to face the global economic crisis and the Peruvian scallop aggressive entry into the international market.
As a result of these circumstances, several farms in the area were closed.
In addition, mussel producers had to face the tides that occurred in March 2011 because of the tsunami that struck Japan.
Tongoy area was severely affected, especially the farms belonging to the fishermen's association, Subpesca reported.
In order to improve the situation of the sector, the Fisheries Administration Fund (FAP) approved the funding granted to the Association of Fishermen of Tongoy for the project 'Recovery Plan of the Northern Scallop aquaculture for the Professional Association of Divers, Fishermen and Related Artisanal Activities in Tongoy, Coquimbo Region.'
The contribution granted, amounting to CLP 100 million (USD 198,800), has made it possible to strengthen the scallop seed collection, which maintained the production of 2013 and 2014.
"In addition, in order to supplement this initial injection of resources and fulfill the complete cycle of crop development, we have also funded the acquisition of fine farming trays, where the seed growth process takes place," said Galilea.
The seeds are then transferred into lanterns, until they reach the commercial size to enable them to comply with the resource production cycle.
At this time, the Trade Association is positioned as one of the best examples nationally in the enterprise development in the aquaculture area.
It is also a pioneer in the Northern scallop aquaculture development in the country and achieved the consolidation of more than 10 artisanal fishermen's companies.
According to the latest Report on the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector issued by Subpesca, Northern scallop harvest levels totalled 1,400 tonnes up to April 2013, representing 29.8 per cent less than in the same period in 2012.
The resource was harvested between the regions of Coquimbo and Atacama, with 793 and 657 tonnes, respectively.
"We are confident that this investment makes it possible for this important productive activity to recover and reach those levels achieved in previous years," concluded Galilea.
Related article:
- Mussel farmers concerned about low seed collection
By Analia Murias

United States
Ocean acidification could have a drastic impact on the squid worldwide, warns a group of researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. This is so due to the ecological and commercial importance of these cephalopods

US - Scientists in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University have developed a new, inexpensive and precise way to detect the toxin secreted by Vibrio tubiashii, a bacterial disease that a few years ago caused millions of dollars in losses to the oyster aquaculture industry in the Pacific Northwest.
When perfected and commercialised, the new test should give oyster growers an early warning system to tell when they have a problem with high levels of this toxin and must take quick steps to address it. 
V. tubiashii has caused major problems for oyster growers in recent years, especially in 2007 when a major outbreak almost crippled the industry. When the bacteria and the toxin it produces reach unacceptably high levels, they can kill the tiny seed oysters before they have a chance to grow.
"We still need to improve the sensitivity of the test and better quantify results, but it should provide information in about 30 minutes that used to take three or four days," said Frances Biel, a faculty research assistant in the OSU Department of Biomedical Sciences. "That type of rapid detection will let oyster growers know they have a problem while they can still do something about it."
The oyster die-offs that began happening in the late 2000s appear to have various causes, researchers say, including changes in ocean acidification. Some measures were taken to help deal with the acidification, but widespread die-offs continued to occur that couldn't be linked to that problem.
The vibriosis disease caused by this bacteria was found to be a major concern. The largest shellfish hatchery on the West Coast, in Oregon's Netarts Bay, faced near closure as a result of this crisis.
"Shockingly little was known about V. tubiashii at first, and the toxins that it produces," said Claudia Hase, an OSU associate professor of veterinary medicine. "It secretes a zinc-metalloprotease compound that's toxic to shellfish, and that's what our new assay is able to detect."
Besides oysters, this bacteria and toxin can also affect shrimp, clams and other marine species important to aquaculture.
The new assay uses a "dipstick" that has proven superior to another approach which was tested, and conceptually it's similar to a human pregnancy test. It uses monoclonal antibodies that recognize the particular toxic protein of concern.
Marine food farming around the world depends on hatchery and nursery production of large quantities of high quality, disease-free larvae, experts said. Vibriosis in various species has been linked to major problems around the world since the late 1970s. This and other research at OSU has made significant progress in understanding the pathogenicity and toxicity of V. tubiashii.
Aside from farmed oysters and other seafood, there have also been declines of wild shellfish in some locations in recent years on the West Coast. It's likely that increasing levels of vibriosis are related to that, researchers said. Declining coral reefs also suffer from a closely related bacterial species. This research was supported by the US Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Findings were published in the Journal of Microbiological Methods.
TheFishSite News Desk
Fish Health, Biosecurity and Hygiene, Markets and Economics, Oysters, Training and Development, Aquaculture

Scientists in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University (OSU) have developed a new, inexpensive and precise way to detect the toxin secreted by Vibrio tubiashii, a bacterial disease that a few years ago caused millions of dollars in losses to the oyster aquaculture industry in the Pacific Northwest.
When perfected and commercialized, the new assay should give oyster growers an early warning system to tell when they have a problem with high levels of this toxin and must take quick steps to address it. Findings were just published in the Journal of Microbiological Methods.
V. tubiashii has caused major problems for oyster growers in recent years, especially in 2007 when a major outbreak almost crippled the industry. When the bacteria and the toxin it produces reach unacceptably high levels, they can kill the tiny seed oysters before they have a chance to grow.
"We still need to improve the sensitivity of the test and better quantify results, but it should provide information in about 30 minutes that used to take three or four days," said Frances Biel, a faculty research assistant in the OSU Department of Biomedical Sciences. "That type of rapid detection will let oyster growers know they have a problem while they can still do something about it."
The oyster die-offs that began happening in the late 2000s appear to have various causes, researchers say, including changes in ocean acidification. Some measures were taken to help deal with the acidification, but widespread die-offs continued to occur that couldn't be linked to that problem.
The vibriosis disease caused by this bacteria was found to be a major concern. The largest shellfish hatchery on the West Coast, in Oregon's Netarts Bay, faced near closure as a result of this crisis.
"Shockingly little was known about V. tubiashii at first, and the toxins that it produces," said Claudia Hase, an OSU associate professor of veterinary medicine. "It secretes a zinc-metalloprotease compound that's toxic to shellfish, and that's what our new assay is able to detect."
Besides oysters, this bacteria and toxin can also affect shrimp, clams and other marine species important to aquaculture.
The new assay uses a "dipstick" that has proven superior to another approach which was tested, and conceptually it's similar to a human pregnancy test. It uses monoclonal antibodies that recognize the particular toxic protein of concern.
Marine food farming around the world depends on hatchery and nursery production of large quantities of high quality, disease-free larvae, experts said. Vibriosis in various species has been linked to major problems around the world since the late 1970s. This and other research at OSU has made significant progress in understanding the pathogenicity and toxicity of V. tubiashii.
Aside from farmed oysters and other seafood, there have also been declines of wild shellfish in some locations in recent years on the West Coast. It's likely that increasing levels of vibriosis are related to that, researchers said. Declining coral reefs also suffer from a closely related bacterial species.

United States
Ocean acidification could have a drastic impact on the squid worldwide, warns a group of researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. This is so due to the ecological and commercial importance of these cephalopods

National Prawn Company has stepped a steady foot in the aquaculture field aiming at maintaining a more balanced marine life by farming this highly valued species, the Sea Cucumber (Holothuria Scabra); and to meet market's huge demand for nutritional products.

After 3 years of research and development the most outstanding issue is the achievement of a biological cycle of sea cucumber in harvest conditions, therefore we can say that the company has ensured the sustainability of this business.
In Saudi Arabia a one of its kind project is growing and investing in technology and research. The Sea Cucumber is an excellent example on this effort and comes with high expectations. 90 tons of Holothuria Scabra, known as sea cucumber, is expected to be harvested within the first year.
This huge success took place after overcoming a long process of investigation, development and careful monitoring. NPC workers have put their hearts and set their minds and determination on this project which will guarantee a sustainable marine base production (Marine culture) to fulfill market's needs and maintain a balanced marine life.
Pointing out this achievement, Engineer Ahmad R. Al-Ballaa, Managing Director of NPC and board chairman of Saudi Aquaculture Society, said, "We own the pride of achieving such a big project which is one of its kind in the region. It has consumed more than 3 years of constant researching and experimenting carried by a team of professionals in the field of aquaculture. Thanks God for this additional achievement added to our series of the like in this domain."
He adds, "Our first steps and achievements on this long path were the ones towards a successful shrimp project which are followed by the fish projects that are getting thumbs up worldwide. An additional milestone in this journey in the Saudi land known for its fertile nature would be the Sea Cucumber brood stock's ability to lay its eggs, producing herewith 23 million larvae. This will ensure availability of a stock for coming years of wild mothers, which are belonging to the different strains that has been collected from different places in coasts of KSA."
In the same context, Manager of sea cucumber project, Mr. Mario Umundab, said, "Breeding Sea Cucumber in such high saline water and a very hot environment was never an easy task. Attentive monitoring on a daily basis for three consecutive years was a mandatory task that played a major role in guaranteeing its survival. It was a major reward for quite a hardworking and sacrificing team that has set a sustainable marine life development as one of its main goals."
Sea cucumber products are not known by Saudi society, in spite of its various medical and environmental benefits. It is not traded in the local market yet, and that is why the company is currently targeting the international markets with their increasing demand for sea cucumber, including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore and much more.
As for its environmental benefit, an adult Sea Cucumber is capable of cleaning/purifying 4 tons of sand each year as whirling the sand to find its daily supply of food is its natural way of hunting and survival, which in turn is the best way to purify the sand and facilitating its process of getting rid of organic residues. Its twirling and daily journey of food hunting maintains a balanced PH rate in seawater and plays a vital role in separating petroleum waste, gathering it in small dumplings that descend to the sea core.

PANGASINAN'S shrimp industry, which has basically been producing enough for local household consumption, can soon aim for the global market with the use of a mechanized system introduced by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) center based in Dagupan City.
Dr. Westly Rosario, chief of the BFAR center, announced that last month's testing of a mechanized system has proven effective in increasing production of shrimps by as much five times using a especially-designed aerator.
Rosario said shrimp growers can use the mechanism for "smart farming and for the Philippines to be globally competitive" in the shrimp industry.
"We want to promote this mechanized farming system for better fish production per unit area," Rosario said.
"With the aerator, mechanically, we inject oxygen," he said.
Rosario lamented that Pangasinan which is gifted by nature with aquaculture potentials with hundreds of fishponds, produces shrimps to meet demands for household consumption only.
He noted that the machine, donated to the BFAR, is already being used in other countries for high-value fish, but it's proven that it's equally ideal for vannamei shrimps in the Philippines.
COST-EFFICIENT
Rosario explained that the machine, which creates micro bubbles for faster transfer of oxygen from the air to the water that is vital for shrimp survival, is cost-efficient because it will allow a higher yield per unit area.
"Normally without aeration, you're lucky if you produce one ton per hectare using the present system like (the traditional) 'blind' system of culture," Rosario said.
He said the use of this technology is the right response to proper and more profitable shrimp growing especially in the face of climate change.
Some fish farmers have the wrong notion about they have to use the machine 24 hours, he said.
He explained that from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., dissolved oxygen of fishponds is at its highest level and slowly declines later and its lowest is 4:00 a.m. to 9 or 10 a.m.  and it increases again.
With this mechanically-injected oxygen, there would be 24-hour assurance of enough oxygen supply for the shrimps, he said.
He noted that in countries like Vietnam and Thailand that use the machine, farmers are able to produce 10 tons in a 2,500 square meter pond without running it for 24 hours.
Rosario also stressed that he is not promoting a particular brand even if he was introduced to the aerator by an American company whose representative visited Pangasinan to explore a possible tie-up with a local fish grower for importation of shrimp products to Vietnam.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Rosario also said the machine helps address the problems brought about by climate change to pond operators.
"Before we had luxury of area (of fishponds) but there is now a reversed situation because there is flooding so it's better to have small area with bigger production," he said.
Rosario also said the Philippines can take advantage of the current Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) that affects shrimps in some countries, particularly Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and China.
The Philippines, which is still a shrimp importer, has not been affected by the disease.
"The Philippines has no EMS so we can really promote culture of shrimps because first we are importer and second we can be exporter," Rosario said.
Pangasinan is particularly safe from the threat EMS because the BFAR center in Dagupan has a molecular pathology laboratory which detects at a very early stage when a shrimp is a virus-carrier.
He said Pangasinan is ready because of the existing molecular pathology laboratory at the BFAR Center here which detects at very early stage when a shrimp is already a virus-carrier.
"So our only problem now is how to teach these farmers of culturing shrimps that would not be stricken with diseases and how to maximize use of their fishponds related to production," Rosario said.
He said there nine private hatcheries availing themselves of the services of the laboratory to ensure they grow disease-free shrimp fry.
BFAR is ready to refer interested shrimp growers to these reputable hatcheries certified free of any known diseases- Eva Visperas

Oslo, Norway – The Office of the Auditor General of Norway has published a highly critical report on the state of the Norwegian salmon farming industry including problems with escapes, sea lice, pollution offences and diseased farmed salmon. 
This unprecedented public criticism follows a ground-breaking report last year by the Green Warriors of Norway which exposed the horrors of Norwegian salmon farming. 
Meanwhile, a delegation of Norwegian MPs and the leader of the Sami Parliament are in Canada this week in an attempt to promote the beleaguered industry.  
"The Auditor General's report echoes what the Green Warriors have been arguing for decades – that Norwegian salmon farming is unsustainable and a pollution hazard.  Consumers around the world should rise up in protest against this filthy industry and boycott Norwegian farmed salmon.  This report is one more nail in the coffin of the disease-ridden Norwegian salmon farming industry." 
Don Staniford, global coordinator for the Green Warriors of Norway, said:
"Green Warriors of the World must unite to fight the Norwegian fish farming menace.  Norwegian-owned salmon farming is spreading infectious diseases, genetic pollution and toxic wastes all over the globe as well as at home in Norway.  The salmon farming industry is an international embarrassment to Norway and is threatening Norway's green and clean image abroad."
Alexandra Morton, a critic of salmon farming in British Columbia, wrote in an open letter to the Norwegian delegation:
"We understand the BC feedlots are your gateway into China, since China refuses Norwegian salmon and so you come to Quadra Island to protect the interests of your corporations; Marine Harvest, Cermaq and Grieg. However, we see serious problems arising for us from your industry and we are not prepared to sacrifice wild salmon to profit Norway.  Please understand that the fight against what we see as an invasion of salmon feedlots into one of the most important wild salmon migration routes left on earth has only begun."

Mr Hicks said the industry had been aware of a Cawthron report on toxic algal blooms in the Marlborough Sounds and effects on shellfish since it was released in July last year.
Authors of the report predicted that algal blooms could regularly shut down shellfish harvesting from late summer until early autumn and these were likely to spread from Queen Charlotte Sound and Tory Channel.
Blooms of Alexandrium catenella algae has so far stopped shellfish harvesting in Queen Charlotte Sound for two months this year and for up to 97 days in 2011.
Mr Hicks said the industry would draw on a 40-year history of innovation, overcoming challenges and a strong science focus to respond to any future production challenges.
"Marine farmers, like all farmers, depend on favourable weather and environmental conditions to produce quality harvests."
The industry continued to closely monitor growing waters with world-class testing systems and had stringent food-safety assurance programmes in place, he said.
When asked for Aquaculture New Zealand's response to Cawthron's call for international research to study links between fish farming and harmful algal blooms, Mr Hicks said scientists had not linked algal blooms and fish farming.
Talking about the two (algal blooms and fish farming) in one article could lead people to assume the two were linked, which was not proven, he said.
Last week, Cawthron made its request for research to a Unesco-supported organisation that co-ordinates international research on harmful algal blooms.

"This government recognises that the aquaculture industry is an important part of rural communities. By developing strong regulations and enforcement we will help the industry grow in a way that balances economic development and environmental protection."
The work will be led by Dalhousie University law professors and environmental law experts Meinhard Doelle and William Lahey. They will be advised by an advisory committee chosen to represent stakeholders and community interests including the Mi'kmaq, Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Salmon Association, Nova Scotia Fisheries Sector Council, Ecology Action Centre and the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities.
"We look forward to working with the advisory committee, key stakeholders, scientific experts, and members of the public to develop a regulatory framework for aquaculture that best serves the long-term social, environmental and economic interests of the province," said Mr Doelle.
Mr Doelle and Mr Lahey, assisted by the advisory committee and a scientific advisory committee to be struck later, will consider a full range of impacts, benefits and risks that should be addressed through regulation.
They will use a multi-phased process of public and stakeholder consultation, the first phase of which will begin this summer.
"Our members are committed to farming responsibly in Nova Scotia," said Bruce Hancock, executive director of the Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia. "We believe that clearly written regulations are an important part of sustainable expansion of aquaculture in Nova Scotia and will help build public confidence in our industry."
It is anticipated the department will receive recommendations to develop regulations by the end of 2014.
"From our vantage point, aquaculture regulations are failing to protect Nova Scotian communities and the environment and thus we welcome a comprehensive review of the regulatory system and options going forward," said Ecology Action Centre policy director Mark Butler. "There are sustainable opportunities in aquaculture, but they must not come at the expense of the ecosystem or other marine industries."
The development of regulations for the aquaculture industry was part of the action plan from the province's first aquaculture strategy, released in May 2012. The aquaculture industry generates about C$50 million annually.
"Investment in aquaculture can provide meaningful work that will sustain rural communities and maintain their quality of life. It could mean the difference for young people and families who want to remain and thrive in rural and coastal Nova Scotia," said Mr Belliveau.