Features

Cultured marine fish larvae are most often fed rotifers (Brachionus sp.) the first few weeks after first-feeding. However the nutritional value of rotifers is generally inferior to the natural diet of marine fish larvae which is comprised of zooplankton, mostl…

Scientists have solved a longstanding mystery about how some fish seem to disappear from predators in the open waters of the ocean, a discovery that could help materials scientists and military technologists create more effective methods of ocean camouflage.

This article shows the retention efficiency of nutrients from feed resources to final product in Norwegian salmon production, including limiting resources such as the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA and phosphorous. It is highly relevant to compare the efficie…

In early 2014, a trial to evaluate the effects of a mixture of Bacillus strains on early mortality syndrome bacteria during the larviculture and nursery phases for shrimp was carried out at a commercial hatchery in Mexico, write Oliver Decamp et al, INVE Aquac…

The main objective of this study by Hooi Ling Khaw et al, Wageningen University, Netherlands, is to quantify the genetic and non-genetic indirect effects for harvest weight in the GIFT strain of Nile tilapia.

Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS),1 or exopolymers, play vital roles in the productivity of commercial hatcheries, yet have received little attention in aquaculture outside of their role in the biofilters of recirculating systems, write A. Joycea and S.…

This article will show different behaviours of oxidative disinfectants in corrosivity and efficacy under soiled conditions.

Research by Phuthongphan Rattayaporn, Srianek Patipon, Roeland Wouters, Geert Rombaut and Olivier Decamp, INVE Aquaculture, discovered increased palatability of shrimp feed when it was coated with a specific probiotic.

Research by Anna K. Farmery et al, University of Tasmania, Australia, has found that the distance seafood is transported is not the main determinant of food sustainability. Despite the increased distance between production and consumption, carbon footprints of…

Sub-Saharan Africa presents a solid marketing opportunity for tilapia producers, processers and traders, particularly in view of the dwindling nature of traditional sources of fish, population growth, and rising incomes. However, it is important to first under…

This article by Dr Abdel Raheam H. A. El-Bassir and colleagues from Sudan explores the effects of preserving fish using salt on its nutritional properties.

On hot, humid days, you might jump into water to cool down, but for the tiny mangrove rivulus fish, cooling down means jumping out of water, according to a new study from the University of Guelph.

When it comes to catching elusive prey, many fishes rely on a special trick: protruding jaws that quickly extend their reach to snap up that next meal. Now, researchers reporting in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on October 8 have found a clever way to…

Achieving better growth rates or improved efficiency relies on good gut performance in aquaculture species, write Rui Gonalves, Gonalo Santos..

Scientists looking at the fecal material of 12 Baleen whales of three different species found some surprises. While Baleen whales are carnivores, feeding on fish and crustaceans, the microbes found in their guts the so-called whale microbiome share characteris…

This article offers an introduction to the new environmentally friendly and highly productive closed fish farming systems, by Jacob Bregnballe, FAO.

Aquaculture certification programs essentially mark milestones on the journey toward more sustainable practices. There is a role for a clearly defined starting point of minimum acceptable standards, but it is equally important to create incentive structures to…

The aim of this guide from the Irish Sea Fisheries Board (BIM) is to provide practical and contemporary guidelines on the handling and quality of herring, at all stages, from capture to the first point of sale.

IRTA researcher Enric Gisbert explains what the Feed Conversion Ratio is, how to calculate it and its importance for fish production.

For lovers of sushi, or those living in Asia, the sight of algae in a meal is not uncommon. Humans around the globe have consumed wild algae for centuries, but it is in Japan that the first farming of algae is believed to have begun.

Poxviruses are large DNA viruses of vertebrates and insects causing disease in many animal species, including reptiles, birds, and mammals. Although poxvirus-like particles were detected in diseased farmed koi carp, ayu and Atlantic salmon, their genetic relat…

Since the worlds first government-sponsored ecolabel The Blue Angel (Der Blaue Engel) was launched in Germany in 1978, ecolabels have become increasingly more commonplace.

Obligate and opportunistic parasites play a critical role in determining the productivity, sustainability and economic viability of global finfish aquaculture enterprises. Without stringent and appropriate control measures, the impact of these pathogens can of…

Consumer awareness of sustainable aquaculture production has led to increased interest in certification for sustainable aquaculture practices. In contrast to common belief, this certification encompasses a broader scope than just environmental issues. It also …

The aim of this guide from the Irish Sea Fisheries Board (BIM) is to provide practical and contemporary guidelines on the handling and quality of Blue Whiting, at all stages, from capture to the first point of sale.

A new technology promises to revolutionize the simultaneous detection of mycotoxins and greatly expand our scientific knowledge. Several cases in the field along with the 2014 BIOMIN Mycotoxin Survey results reveal the value of multiple mycotoxin detection in …

Dr Bob Carling writes about the influential ideas of economist Nicholas Stern on the value that we place on biodiversity.

The aim of this guide from the Irish Sea Fisheries Board (BIM) is to provide practical and contemporary guidelines on the handling and quality of hake, at all stages, from capture to the first point of sale.

The ecosystem approach to fisheries is a general approach to fisheries management that essentially balances the aims for human and ecological well-being under the broad concept of sustainable development in a fisheries context.

This article is the second in a two-part series about Japan's Kinki University Fisheries Laboratory. The first article looked at the history of the facility and how tuna is being farmed. This article focuses on the challenges the Laboratory faces, and some fut…

The Fisheries Laboratory of Kinki University in Japan has found a possible way to address the problem of declining tuna stocks by cultivating completely farm-raised Pacific bluefin tuna. In the first of two articles, Bonnie Waycott explains how it's done.

A new aquaponics farming company, VertiCulture Farms, is being developed in Brooklyn, New York. With public help, enough money has now been raised to fund an idea for a research and development farm on the roof of the old Pfizer building. Once they prove their…

Wild salmon that are damaged due to poor handling diminish the reputation of the entire fishery. Supplying the market with a consistent high quality product is vital for the wild salmon industry to thrive. The aim of this guide from the Irish Sea Fisheries Boa…

Both climate change and ocean acidification are going to present challenges for the mariculture industry. Even if we were to immediately cease CO2 production, the time lag between alteration of CO2 concentrations and climatic response is not expected to be see…

Increased aquaculture production will be needed in future to improve food security, but what role can genetically improved farmed fish species play in increasing productivity? This study from Ingrid Olesen and colleagues investigates.

The aim of this guide from the Irish Sea Fisheries Board (BIM) is to provide practical and contemporary guidelines on the handling and quality of plaice, black sole and lemon sole, at all stages, from capture to the first point of sale.

July 2015 saw atmospheric CO2 reach average monthly level of 401.30 parts per million, a huge increase on levels recorded in 1959 the first year with full high precision instrument data measurements of 315.97 ppm, and a vast increase on pre-industrial levels o…

Maintaining good water quality and strict biosecurity measures can help pangasius farms remain productive and profitable.

The aim of this guide from the Irish Sea Fisheries Board (BIM) is to provide practical and contemporary guidelines on the handling and quality of cod, haddock and whiting, at all stages, from capture to the first point of sale.

Though pangasius can thrive in a variety of culture conditions, its nutrition is critical to successful farming.