A detailed assessment of consumers’ most common protein choices shows salmon raised in the ocean have the lowest overall cost to the environment. A new study prepared for the BC Salmon Farmers Association by Ottawa based RIAS Inc. examines the evidence from life-cycle analyses in the literature on the environmental footprint of BC farm-raised salmon compared to production of other food proteins including beef, chicken, and pork. The most common indicators in an ISO standardized method for measuring a “cradle-to-farm gate” approach across the animal or crop’s life are: energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, eutrophication potential, water use and land use.

A new report on the innovation needs of the Scottish aquaculture sector was launched at the first meeting of the Industry Leadership Group (ILG) in Inverness. The report – ‘Scottish aquaculture: a view towards 2030’ – follows a six-month scoping study into the innovation needs of the sector. The study used a combination of desk research, data from two key industry events, and targeted interviews with industry leaders and regulators to inform an innovation roadmap that sets out the needs of the sector according to urgency and impact, and recommends a pathway of actions through to 2030.

A study at Auburn University has evaluated inclusion rates for bacterial, dried fermented biomass for Florida pompano feed. Previous research has shown that, for pompano diets, fishmeal can be partially replaced with many plant and animal proteins without affecting fish growth rates, and that amino acid supplementation improves growth performance.

Start-up company MicroSynbiotiX has won the final of the Nutreco Feed Tech Challenge Event. The event took place on February 22 and 23 and consisted of several challenge rounds during which 10 contestants competed. According to the jury report, the innovation of MicroSynbiotiX had the best fit with the challenge profile: a real game changer with high potential, operating in an area where few other companies are active. MicroSynbiotiX has developed a novel method of producing oral vaccines to combat diseases and infections in aquaculture.

The American Feed Industry Association has released a statement on the appointment of Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. \"It is important for Sec. Ross to understand how international markets are key for continued development and success of the U.S. feed industry. The agriculture industry, specifically the animal food sector, must be a priority when determining administrative trade policy. If not, our ability to advance will be diminished.\"

The F3 Fish-Free Feed Challenge announced today the first sales results for the multi-stage contest to innovate and sell fish-free feed for the aquaculture industry.

Koudijs Kapo Feed, a joint venture with the Dutch group De Heus, will open its first fish feed factory in Alexandria, Egypt, with a capacity to produce up to 150,000 tonnes per year. The modern plant, located in Borg Al-Arab, covers 12,000 square meters and is considered one of Egypt\'s largest fish feed factories.

The Scottish Highland Council has approved Marine Harvest’s request to build a new feed mill on the island of Skye. Projected annual output from the plant is 170,000 tons, requiring a large-scale operation on just under 5 acres. “The proposed development represents a significant and welcome investment.”

New Security Beat sat down with Han Han, founder of China Blue, the first Chinese NGO committed to promoting sustainable fishery and aquaculture, to discuss the potential of turning the tide on China’s unsustainable fish supply chains. "Using algae or aquaculture byproducts will help reduce the burden of wild fishmeal. These types of technologies have shown us that we are not in bad shape, even though the size of agriculture production is certainly daunting. We see that the recycling of nutrient waste could also improve these systems, and overall we hope to see these new technologies replace outdated systems."

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved taurine for use in fish feed. NOAA released a ‘Q & A’ interview with Michael Rust, science advisor for NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Aquaculture, to discuss why taurine approval is such good news for U.S. fish farmers and seafood lovers.

NOAA has released a Request for Proposals for integrated projects to increase aquaculture production and projects to address impediments to aquaculture opportunities. Depending on appropriations, NOAA Sea Grant expects to have available a total of $10,000,000-$12,000,000 across fiscal years 2017, 2018, and 2019 for a national initiative to increase aquaculture production in the short-term (2-4 years), and a total of $3,000,000 between fiscal years 2017 and 2018 for a national initiative focused on answering key questions impeding the development and expansion of sustainable United States marine, coastal, and Great Lakes aquaculture.

Last week, IFFO released a response to a series of media articles focusing on the marine ingredients and aquaculture industries. \"The information presented on fishmeal production completely misses the point that the (fishmeal) industry is highly regulated, heavily engaged with sustainability agenda, and is a sector where annual volumes of certification of the product is at a high level relative to other feed ingredients.\"

Evonik has released the “Europe Raw Material Crop Report 2016,” which contains information about the nutrient content of major feed ingredients, as well as regional variation for the 2016 harvest. The fifth issue of Evonik’s Crop Report includes analyses of 4,364 samples of common European crops such as barley, rapeseed, corn, sunflower and wheat. The samples were collected in 14 countries across the continent.

NorFeed plans to bring plantbased, antibiotic alternatives to the US market. “NorFeed is still a small company so we have to focus commercially on some territories more than others. We have the ambition to create a few NorFeed [branches]. Not to cover the world, but to make the NorFeed flag be visible.”

Major salmon farmer Marine Harvest has expressed concern about the use of chemicals to combat fish diseases, after data from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) show that about 20 million liters of hydrogen were dumped in Scottish waters. This chemical compound is frequently used to treat topical skin and gill infections. According to SEPA, more than 160 farms resorted to the chemical in 2015 to tackle parasites such as sea lice. However, there is evidence that the chemical harms fish.

Aquaculture is a fast growing industry along the Mekong River, offering locals new opportunities to earn income and improve their standards of living. The River was once home to abundant fisheries, which have been affected by overfishing, illegal fishing, and drought, among other issues. This article dives into the emergence of fish farming in the region.

The 2016 Biomin Mycotoxin Survey found that mycotoxin-related threats to livestock production are higher this year than in the past. Globally, the average risk level was 62%—meaning that nearly two-thirds of samples had at least one mycotoxin above the threshold levels. On a regional basis, risk levels ranged from a low of 46% in the Middle East to a high of 80% in Asia. “Risk levels reflect the probability that producers confront mycotoxin contamination in their operations. These results suggest that producers everywhere should be vigilant in monitoring raw commodities and feed for mycotoxin contamination, and consider implementing a robust mycotoxin risk management program.”

Two different bills have been introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives that prohibit aquaculture under specific but significant circumstances. The Ban Aquaculture in the Great Lakes Act (HR 961) intends to authorize the Department of Interior to prohibit aquaculture in the Great Lakes. The Preserve Fishing on Wild and Scenic River Act (HR 962) intends to authorize the Department of the Interior to prohibit operation of aquaculture facilities that contribute to pollution of wild and scenic rivers “unless the Secretary of the Interior has certified that such operation will not discharge a pollutant into a river any segment of which is a wild and scenic river.”

Enterra Feed Corporation has received approval from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to sell its Whole Dried Black Soldier Fly Larvae as a feed ingredient for salmonids, including farmed salmon, trout and arctic char. This is the first Canadian approval of an insect-based aquaculture feed ingredient, and follows the CFIA\'s approval using this same product in feed for chicken broilers last year. Enterra received a similar U.S. approval for use in salmonid feeds in 2016. \"Aquaculture feed producers have been keenly awaiting this approval and we look forward to supplying their needs immediately. Fish eat insects in their natural environment and our product is a healthy, digestible and renewable source of protein and fat that can replace less sustainable ingredients, including fish meal and soybean meal.\"

Using a high-tech blueprint developed with Christof Industries, AgriProtein plans to roll out 100 factories by 2024 and a further 100 by 2027 (200 in total). The USD 10 million partnership will help bring insect protein into the mainstream of feeds used in aquaculture, poultry farming and petfood.
 
“Waste-to-nutrient technology is starting to get traction and price per tonne is key in the fight to replace fishmeal. Christof’s expertise has enabled us to boost output and reduce costs, making us even more competitive and giving us a sound model for rapid global expansion.”