New Wave Foods has opened a seed round aimed at developing seafood that is healthier for humans and the planet. Efficient Capacity kicked off the round and New Crop Capital provided additional funding. New Wave Foods uses plant-based ingredients, such as red algae, to engineer new edible materials that replicate the taste and texture of fish and shellfish while improving their nutritional profiles. Its first product, which has already been served in Google’s cafeterias, will be a sustainable shrimp, the company said.

In controlling both feed quality and feed intake in shrimp grown in Ecuador and across Latin America, Skretting has detailed evidence that confirms so far it has been able to reduce the feed conversion ratio of 1.8 by around 50%, that it has doubled the growth to 2 grams per week and that it has also increased the survival from 50% to 85%. “This innovative feeding breakthrough could revolutionize shrimp production in many production regions.”

Several narrow, advanced fields of study that examine the cellular metabolism of living organisms are setting the foundations for genuine innovation relating to gut health and performance in animal production in the years ahead. Breakthroughs may help define future nutrition strategies and the substitution of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs). “Areas of study including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics, colloquially referred to as the ‘-Omics’ fields, are gaining importance in livestock sciences, particularly because they are applicable to both the gut microbiome and the host tissue,” according to Franz Waxenecker, Development Director at BIOMIN.

New technological developments allow for a significant decrease in the resources necessary for microalgae production. The so called “Porous Substrate Bioreactor” (PSBR), also known as the twin-layer system, allows for a significant reduction in energy and for an increase in the portfolio of algae that can be cultivated. Microlagae have a wide range of applications, including the sustainable production of natural pigments and antioxidants such as beta-carotene and astaxanthin.

Nearly 25,000 species of fish live on our planet, and a University of Washington professor is working to scan and digitize them all. Most scientists using the 3-D fish data available from the project appear to be interested in measuring morphology — the length of a particular bone, for example — or looking for an aspect of anatomy never seen before. The scans allow you to zoom in digitally at many different angles, or print life-sized or larger plastic replicas of a fish.

Melanie Siggs has joined GAA in the newly created position of Director of Strategic Engagements, and Chris Keller has been named director of Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) market development for the Americas.

According to a study published in the journal Nature Biotechnology, researchers at Dow AgroSciences have engineered a vegetable oil that contains a high level of omega-3 fatty acids. The group used genes from macroalgae to enhance the fatty acid profile of canola oil, and tested production on a commercial scale.

Western Australian authorities announced the launch of a AUD 1.66 million (USD 1.26 million) project to develop an ‘investment ready’ aquaculture zone in coastal waters on the south coast. “Investing in developing strategic assessments at a zone level removes the uncertainty felt by potential developers and investors and reduces start-up time and financial outlay.\"

Agro-industrial conglomerate Mong Reththy Group is constructing a new $10 million feed mill to supply its own livestock operations as well as the domestic market, the group’s eponymous president and CEO said yesterday. “We will focus on producing feed for pigs, fish, chickens and ducks as an initial step.\"

USDA AMS is seeking feedback from stakeholders to develop a standard and a voluntary grading program for catfish. The agency is particularly interested in research, industry data, and background information from catfish producers, suppliers, processors, retailers, and foodservice operators, as well as comments related to the catfish quality standard that is currently implemented by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).

The Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) has for the first time worldwide closed the life cycle of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) in captivity. On July 1, some 50,000 fertile eggs were collected inside an aquaculture cage containing broodstock established from eggs collected in 2011, 2012, and 2013. This milestone will enable faster development of integrated aquaculture of this iconic species.

According to data featured in the latest issue of EUMOFA Monthly Highlights, the high market value of bluefin tuna, combined with stagnation in wild fishery yield and issues with stocks, have increased interest in aquaculture. Malta, Spain and Croatia, with the largest bluefin aquaculture facilities, accounted for more than 95% of volume of bluefin exported from the EU in 2015. Exports have increased more than 50% since 2010 – increases that are expected to continue.

On Monday July 18th, the Sea Shepherd Society fronted by celebrity activist Pamela Anderson, along with anti-salmon farming activist Alexandra Morton, launched a new campaign entitled “Operation Virus Hunter” which they say will be investigating the lawfulness of the salmon farming industry in British Columbia. “We’re disappointed that this latest publicity stunt is attempting to paint a misleading picture of· an industry that provides a healthy, sustainable product that feeds millions of people.\"

The report serves as a public account of FEFAC’s activities over the past year. In the introduction, FEFAC President Ruud Tijssens earmarked the past year as very challenging for the feed industry’s customers and highlighted the predicaments around the EU’s GMO policy as an additional threat to competitiveness. The report also has several pages dedicated to the FEFAC 2030 Animal Feed Industry Vision.

NOAA has announced several staff changes to the aquaculture team at NMFS. The new staff members, featured in this article, replace former staff who have retired or moved on to new challenges over the past two years.

Fishmeal and fish oil industry is again gaining strength in Angola, which in 1974 positioned itself among the top exporters of these products but then this industry collapsed for several reasons. As a result of an incentive policy for private investment, the sector has started to recover and in 2014 it managed to reach a production level that has led it to regain the strength of the old days. According to the Ministry of Fisheries, that year fishmeal production reached 4,744 tonnes, and in 2015 it amounted to 10,874 tonnes, which implies an increase of 129.2 per cent.

Commissioner Ron Crosby granted Dutch-owned company Skretting Ltd permission to establish the facility in Okiwi Bay in a 71-page decision, released on July 7. The Marlborough District Council initially received 219 submissions in relation to the application, of which 10 were in support and 209 were opposed. Marlborough Research Centre chief executive Gerald Hope said he was sure, as long as the conditions of the consent were complied with, Okiwi Bay residents would learn to live alongside the aquaculture industry.

According to the newly released FAO State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) 2016, per capita fish consumption has risen to above 20 kilograms per year. Data shows the global supply of fish for human consumption has outpaced population growth in the past five decades, due in large measure to growth in aquaculture. While China remains the leading nation for aquaculture, it is expanding even faster elsewhere, the report notes. In Nigeria, aquaculture output is up almost 20-fold over the past two decades, and all of sub-Saharan Africa is not far behind. Chile and Indonesia have also posted remarkable growth, as have Norway and Vietnam - now the world\'s No. 2 and No. 3 fish exporters.

Sustainability is a key driver when it comes to buying seafood, new research has found. According to the consumer perceptions survey - the largest ever global analysis of attitudes to seafood consumption, where over 16,000 seafood consumers in 21 countries took part in the research - sustainability is rated more highly than price and brand, with nearly three-quarters (72%) of seafood consumers agreeing that in order to save the oceans, shoppers should only consume seafood from sustainable sources.

Nutreco has entered into an agreement to acquire Advit, a premix and feed additive company headquartered in Johannesburg that produces a wide range of premixes, farm minerals and animal health products.“With the acquisition of Advit we further strengthen our presence on the African continent. The company already has a strong position and reputation in the market. We can help it grow further using the Trouw Nutrition market approach of combining technical and application know-how with innovative products, models and services.”