Tag - environment

WWF Research Finds Improved Environmental Performance is Good for Shrimp Aquaculture Business

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More intensive shrimp farming can yield better environmental and economic results, according to a new study conducted by World Wildlife Fund in Vietnam and Thailand. By producing more shrimp per hectare of land, farmers can increase production to meet growing demand for shrimp without increasing pressure on the region’s natural resources. “Natural resources like land, water, wild fish and energy come with a price tag,” said Aaron McNevin, Ph.D., director of aquaculture for WWF’s Markets and Food program, and lead [...]

9 May
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Shrimp farming experience: Disease prevention or treatment?

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Shrimp is a lower animal without specific immune system. Thus, its ability to resist pathogens is poor. There is currently no vaccine for disease prevention in shrimp. Weak shrimp is easily susceptible to virus (e.g., white spot, Taura syndrome) and bacteria (e.g., Vibrio). If shrimp has serious disease, farmers have to not only deal with reduced yield, even face lost, but also pay for the expensive cost of pond treatment. Shrimp body temperature varies based on temperature of the surrounding [...]

8 May
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Is It Time To Re-examine the Requirements for Shrimp Farm Certification? – Part 2

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Wild Fish Use Shrimp feeds usually contain between 15 and 20% fish meal. This makes it difficult for producers to achieve a fish in – fish out ratio of 1.0 or less. Because shrimp aquaculture consumes a large amount of fish meal – about 27% of total aquaculture use in 2006 (Tacon and Metain 2008) – reduction in fish meal use should be a major concern in certification. A great dilemma exists with respect to the amount of fish meal actually [...]

7 May
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Aquaculture Feed Composition Helps Define Potential For Water Pollution

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Summary: A study found that feed for salmon and trout had higher organic carbon concentrations than did catfish, shrimp and tilapia feeds. Nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were similar among salmon, trout and shrimp feeds, and higher than those in catfish and tilapia feeds. Whole body concentrations of organic carbon were greater in salmon and trout than in the other species. Salmon and shrimp had the highest whole body nitrogen concentrations. Phosphorus concentrations were greater in catfish and tilapia than [...]

5 May
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Feeding Trays: Advantages and Disadvantages

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Feeding trays are typically used to avoid overfeeding in aquaculture production systems.  They are sometimes used to deliver 100% of the feed and other times to evaluate broadcast feeding efficiency with a small number of trays.  They are credited with reducing feed cost per unit of production, but there is seldom mention of their effects on overall crop profitability. Advantages of Feeding Trays • Reduced feed-conversion ratios. • Reduced feed costs. • Improved growth, frequently. • Improved water quality, which supports increased stocking density, [...]

4 May
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Smart floating farm concept ponders agriculture in a world of 9.1 billion

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Given current trends, it’s estimated the world’s population will reach 9.1 billion by 2050, which will in turn rise food demand by up to 70%. the planet’s nations are already facing extreme challenges in the business and practicalities of feeding their peoples, made worse by an increasingly agitated, erratic global climate. society’s dependence on fossil fuel technologies, paired with a universally homogenized palate will inevitably be our downfall. moving forward, horticulture needs to focus less on increasing production, and [...]

4 May
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Recirculating Aquaculture Technology – Part I. Starting Biofilters

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Summary: Biological filtration is one of the critical required unit processes in recirculating aquaculture systems. Non-corrosive filter media with large amounts of surface provides area for nitrifying bacteria cells to colonize. “Starting” a biofilter means managing the seeding of bacteria on the media. Bacteria can be introduced with water or biofilter media from an active system, with sediment from a pond or with small numbers of “starter” animals. Commercial bacterial cultures, which shorten the starting process, are essential for [...]

3 May
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SFP announces aquaculture projects in partnership with Walmart

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The Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) announced a series of aquaculture improvement projects in Indonesia, China and Thailand. In partnership with the Walmart Foundation, SFP is helping tilapia and shrimp farmers in various countries receive training and knowledge on aquaculture. The projects also aim to manage and improve water quality while reducing disease outbreaks. SFP’s plans include creating a zonal approach to form local management groups for greater sustainability in fish-farming. “We look for opportunities to bring together projects that improve livelihoods [...]

2 May
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India, Tamil Nadu – Big Problems

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Durai Balasubramanian, secretary of the Pattukottai Shrimp Farmers Association (4,000 members) in the state of Tamil Nadu, reports: There are many reports about the dramatic expansion of shrimp farming in India, but the truth is that farmers in the state of Tamil Nadu have big problems. • In the last year, feed costs have risen 23%, from $1.00 a kilo to $1.31 per kilo. • Over the past two years, seedstock costs have risen 60%. • Farmers have survivals of 80% for the first [...]

2 May
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Ecuador thrives with low-density, sustainable shrimp farming model

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White spot devastated Ecuador’s shrimp farming industry more than a decade ago, and recovery has been slow. But today the country’s farmers have found a new formula for success — and it seems to be working. The lowest density shrimp producer in the world Ecuador has, for several years, been taking advantage of its sustainable credentials in the wake of Early Mortality Syndrome’s to sweep of its competitors. The big hole in the shrimp market led the country to increase production by nearly 30 [...]

1 May
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