Production systems

Tran Van Van swapped a career as a civil engineer for one in aquaculture, founding the Minh Phu International Joint Stock Company, which produces tilapia, catfish and mitten crabs.

Despite the struggles of some of barramundi’s most ambitious farmers, production of the species continues to grow, as does innovation in the sector.

Callum Mackenzie, co-founder and managing director of the non-profit Yunus Thailand, explains the organisation’s ambitions to develop a seaweed-based social business economy to solve both social and environmental challenges.

The recent purchase of a neighbouring farm means that the Moretti family are now farming mussels, oysters and kelp in Maine’s Casco Bay.

Lana Fish Company produces tilapia, carp, ornamental fish and even rainbow trout – despite being located in the Saudi Arabian desert – as executive director, Ibrahim Al-Madbouly, explains.

Sean Crosby gives a behind-the-scenes look at the Kachemak Shellfish Growers’ oyster hatchery in Homer, Alaska – an operation that’s helping to fuel the state’s mariculture boom.

The salmon farming sector will need to be smart to stay ahead of environmental challenges, according to Ben Perry, head of sales at Ace Aquatech.

Professor Kevin Fitzsimmons has an optimistic outlook for the global aquaculture sector, especially in terms of alternative aquafeed ingredients, but is deeply concerned how plans to raise import tariffs in the US will impact both the domestic seafood market a…

Steve Sutton, founder of the up-and-coming shrimp producing company TransparentSea, explains his vision for establishing an indoor shrimp farm to supply the high-value Californian market.

Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) present a promising pathway for sustainable seafood production, yet there are still numerous uncertainties – both for operators and potential investors – which urgently need to be overcome.

Despite being relative newcomers to the salmon sector, the new generation of hybrid flow-through systems (HFTS) are making profits and showing huge potential, in marked contrast to the struggling RAS sector.

Jeff Hetrick, director of the Alutiiq Pride Marine Institute, a tribally managed marine research facility in Seward, Southeast Alaska, offers insights into the potential offered by the state’s growing mariculture sector, and the pitfalls it needs to overcome.

Mazen Elsawaf, technical director of Maher fish farm in Saudi Arabia and a strong advocate of RAS, represents a new generation of ambitious young Egyptians in aquaculture.