The Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) recently announced that Heartland Catfish, the largest live catfish farming company in the USA, based in Itta Bena, Mississippi has attained Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification.
BAP certification an international certification program based on achievable, science-based and continuously improved performance standards for the entire aquaculture supply chain.
BAP certification an international certification program based on achievable, science-based and continuously improved performance standards for the entire aquaculture supply chain.
Heartland Catfish processes 60 million to 75 million pounds (27 million to 34 million kilograms) of live fish per year from farms located in Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas, USA.
Scientists at the British agricultural research institution Rothamsted Research, have engineered a way to utilise the metabolic processes of plant seeds to produce Omega-3 fatty acids.
The research was a result of the ever-increasing demand for fish oils - a demand that's putting pressure on the natural marine resources - and highlights the need to identify alternative sustainable sources of Omega-3.
Currently, the primary source for docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) - the essential fatty acids that make up Omega-3 fat - is usually found in cold water fish.
However, the scientists have successfully engineered the metabolic processes in false fax seeds (Camelina sativa) to produce up to 12% EPA and 14% DHA. Amounts very similar to those found in fish oil.
Full report available here...
The research was a result of the ever-increasing demand for fish oils - a demand that's putting pressure on the natural marine resources - and highlights the need to identify alternative sustainable sources of Omega-3.
Currently, the primary source for docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) - the essential fatty acids that make up Omega-3 fat - is usually found in cold water fish.
However, the scientists have successfully engineered the metabolic processes in false fax seeds (Camelina sativa) to produce up to 12% EPA and 14% DHA. Amounts very similar to those found in fish oil.
Full report available here...
Fish farmers are discovering a new, natural way to tackle sealice, which affects farmed and wild salmon.
For four years now, Alastair Barge, director of Otter Ferry Seafish Ltd., Scotland, UK has been rearing ballan wrasse on a commercial scale.
According to Barge, Ballan wrasse love eating sea lice. That useful behaviour is now being harnessed to create a natural defence.
"It is quite an old idea. At the beginning of salmon farming, people seemed to realise that wrasse were a potential cleaner fish. But they are quite tricky to rear, so that's why the idea went on the back-burner at that stage. Studies have found they will pick sea lice off farmed salmon, without harming the salmon." added Barge.
For four years now, Alastair Barge, director of Otter Ferry Seafish Ltd., Scotland, UK has been rearing ballan wrasse on a commercial scale.
According to Barge, Ballan wrasse love eating sea lice. That useful behaviour is now being harnessed to create a natural defence.
"It is quite an old idea. At the beginning of salmon farming, people seemed to realise that wrasse were a potential cleaner fish. But they are quite tricky to rear, so that's why the idea went on the back-burner at that stage. Studies have found they will pick sea lice off farmed salmon, without harming the salmon." added Barge.
Full story available here...
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| Ballan Wrasse (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
