Compared with other aquatic species, formulating shrimp feed is based more on experience then on exact science. The optimal nutrient profile of a shrimp feed will depend on many factors, including the culture density, environmental conditions (temperature, salinity, oxygen, etc.), productivity of the pond water, the stability of the feed, feeding method and frequency, etc. The present study investigated the different nutritional strategies in commercial shrimp feeds during 2016

Scottish Sea Farms is seeing one of its current crops outperform all previous years following the introduction of new anti-sea lice shields. Specially engineered to suit Scottish marine conditions, each shield consists of a permeable fabric that lets water and oxygen move freely into fish pens whilst keeping natural health threats out. This fabric fully encases the pen to a depth of 6m, providing a barrier against sea lice which are most commonly found in the first few meters below the water’s surface.

Following the recent opening of the first fish feed plant in Vijayawada, Cargill has opened its Technology Application Center (TAC) in Kaikaluru. The center encompasses 3.60 hectares and 20 fish and shrimp ponds. It also features a training facility and research station that supports innovation in aquatic feed development. \"This center will enable Cargill to speed up the pace of product development and deliver better feed solutions to shrimp and fish farmers alongside our new fish feed plant.\"

Vietnam is the leading country in Asia and the 10th in the world in animal feed production. However, the rapid expansion of foreign producers in Vietnam is posing threat to local firms. According to Hoang Huong Giang from the ministry’s Animal Husbandry Department, there are 218 animal feed plants Vietnam, with an average monthly capacity of 28,200 tonnes. Of these, 71 are foreign firms, with an average monthly capacity of more than 15,700 tonnes and hold a market share of some 65 per cent.

With salmon prices soaring, producers are turning to lasers, automation and artificial intelligence to boost production and cut costs. New technology includes a hydro-acoustic system that listens to salmon feeding to determine when they are satiated. \"I think it could improve [expenditure] by about 5%. That could be between $900,000-$1.3m for our firm.\"

The GAA and IFFO project to improve the understanding of the South East Asia fisheries supplying raw material for fishmeal production has completed the first six months of data gathering and has made contact with government agencies and businesses. "The fisheries in tropical Asia are quite different from those that supply fishmeal in other parts of the world and this has required some new approaches which are in development. We want to see industry’s leadership role expanded to help ensure that fisheries are responsibly managed wherever in the world they occur.”

Lallemand Animal Nutrition has announced the addition of Nicole Walrod as a Territory Business Manager for North America. In addition, Wendy Hushon joins the global silage team as Strategic Marketing Manager, Forage Additives. \"What makes these individuals unique is their passion for the industry. I am confident our customers will see the results that come from combining excellent products with top-notch people.”

Researchers have found that by-products in Scottish salmon farming are generally well utilized, but total by-product value output could be improved by 803% (£23.7 million), adding 5.5% value to the salmon industry. The recently-published study, funded by IFFO, investigated how value could be added to aquaculture through better utilization of by-products, by maximizing edible yields and better separation at the processing stage, looking at the Scottish salmon farming industry as a case study.

A team of researchers from Biomin have published the most recent conclusions of their mycotoxin survey study on plant-based meals and finished feeds in SE Asian aquaculture. 175 samples of different plant proteins, aquaculture/fishery by-products and finished aquaculture feeds were analyzed, and only 4% were free of detectable mycotoxins. Eight percent of the samples had one mycotoxin and 88% of the samples were contaminated with more than one mycotoxin. The current work showed that mycotoxin occurrence in plant-meals, and consequently in finished feeds, is quite variable and confirms that AF is not the main mycotoxin in aquafeeds.

Australian regulators have announced that Nuseed’s omega-3 canola has been approved for cultivation and use in animal feed. This omega-3 canola is the world’s first plant-based source of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, and it is anticipated that one hectare has the potential to provide the omega-3 yield from 10,000 kilograms of wild caught fish. “The Nuseed project team, and our collaboration partners, have met a major objective in bringing pioneering technology from concept stage to first approval in a relatively short period and are to be congratulated on this milestone.”

Nebraska Soybean Board members and staff saw firsthand how soy grown in Nebraska contributes to seafood production worldwide at the United States Soybean Export Council’s Aquaculture Education Opportunity in Campeche, Mexico. “We get to learn what their needs are, and that helps us decide what projects to fund and what direction we need to be focusing our research on.\"

A new report has identified alternative aquaculture technology as an important tool in reducing overfishing, and as a big business opportunity. Calysta\'s FeedKind is included in a list of products and companies that are highlighted for their economic potential and impact on preserving the ocean.

Cargill has deployed a research team to work with farmers in Montana state on sowing a genetically-modified canola plant that yields both docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) fatty acids. “Of all the fish oil alternatives coming to market today, plant based sources are likely the most economical.\"

IFFO Director General Andrew Mallison has released a statement in response to the recent article in National Geographic on the use of insects in aquaculture feeds. "The practice of feeding fish to fish is labelled as both inefficient and unsustainable in the article, but I would argue that responsibly sourced and used strategically, fishmeal and fish oil are both an efficient and sustainable feed choice."

Traditionally aquaculture professionals have given more importance to hatchery feeds as they deal with highly sensitive larval/fry and post-larval stages of fish and shrimp. With the growing intensification of aquaculture systems and moving indoors, there has arisen the need for feeding specialty diets for the nursery stages as well. To accomplish this, they have to move over from standard pelleted and crumbled feeds to high quality complete extruded diets.

Aquaculture is showing signs of recovery in the EU after more than a decade of stagnation. The sector had 4 percent growth in volume and 8 percent in value between 2014 and 2015, and its profits exceeded EUR 400 million euro. “Aquaculture can deliver local food and local jobs in an environment-friendly way. The planning, authorization, and ultimately the success of aquaculture in the EU lie in the hands of our regions and Member States. We count on you to support investment in this promising industry.\"

The world's first insect-fed salmon is now available, ushering in a new era of sustainable aquaculture. 'The Friendly Salmon' is raised on natural and circular proteins made from insects. Protix developed the insect-based ProteinX ingredient, and together with their partners developed a well-balanced feed that entirely replaces fishmeal. Protix will hold a launch event on February 27 in Bergen to mark the occasion.

NOAA has announced “phase 1” of its new Fisheries website is now complete. NOAA has begun and will continue migrating 20 separate websites and platforms into one national website to reduce redundant content and make it easier to find information without having to jump from website to website.  

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have called into question the validity of the means by which FCR is measured, suggesting aquaculture does not stack up as well against terrestrial livestock as we like to think. FCR is a limited measure of efficiency, they argue, because it only accounts for the weight of feed inputs and not the nutritional content of the feed, the portion of the animal that is inedible, or the nutritional quality of the final product. ““Based on our review, a more precise measure than FCR is the efficiency with which an animal converts nutrients in feed into nutrients for the human food supply. Fed aquaculture requires more highly nutrient-dense feed than livestock production (i.e. higher in protein and calories), and results in a loss of most protein (81%) and calories (90%) during production.”

Ridley Corporation has broken ground and begun construction of its new aqua feed mill in Westbury, Tasmania. The mill will have a 50,000 tonne capacity to manufacture and supply feed primarily to the Tasmanian salmon industry, as well as other aquaculture species on the mainland and in New Zealand. "It will have the latest milling technology and will provide a platform for our customers that is globally cutting edge.”