Volume 14 Issue 6 2011 - Perendale Publishers Ltd. · PDF fileVolume 14 Issue 6 2011 ... extrusion of aquafeed BIOMET Zn Aqua: ... Borregaard LignoTech expands in the Middle East and

Volume 14 I s sue 6 2 011

the international magazine for the aquaculture feed industry

Broodstock feeds: with added crude palm oil enhances tilapia

egg and larva production

Energy efficiency improving and pellet uniformity control in the

extrusion of aquafeed

BIOMET Zn Aqua:A organic zinc source for aquaculture practices

Challenges associated with carrying out a meta-analysis

of essential amino acid requirements of fish

Volume 14 / Issue 6 / November-December 2011 / © Copyright Perendale Publishers Ltd 2011 / All rights reserved

aquaI n t e r n a t I o n a l

feedAn internAtionAl mAgAzine for the AquAculture feed industryCONTENTS

International Aquafeed is published six times a year by Perendale Publishers Ltd of the United Kingdom.All data is published in good faith, based on information received, and while every care is taken to prevent inaccuracies, the publishers accept no liability for any errors or omissions or for the consequences of action taken on the basis of information published. ©Copyright 2011 Perendale Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior permission of the copyright owner. Printed by Perendale Publishers Ltd. ISSN: 1464-0058

Volume 14 / Issue 6 / November-December 2011 / © Copyright Perendale Publishers Ltd 2011 / All rights reserved

EDITOR’S DESK 2

Aqua NewsAquaculture centre welcomes CFP reforms 3Strong profile in the global feed business joins Hamlet Protein 3Commitment to deliver innovative solutions 4Borregaard LignoTech expands in the Middle East and India 4Animal nutrition company Gold Coin acquires SyAqua Shrimp Genetic 5New managing director at Inve Aquaculture 5Aquaculture technology deployed in Turkey to combat difficult weather conditions and biofouling issues 6

F: Broodstock feedsBroodstock feeds with added crude palm oil enhances tilapia egg and larva production 8

F: larval dietsPartial replacement of artemia: Evaluation of formulated larval diets for giant freshwater prawn macrobrachium rosenbergii 12

F: Pellet uniformityEnergy efficiency improving and pellet uniformity control in the extrusion of aquafeed 18

F: ZincBIOMET Zn Aqua - A organic zinc source for aquaculture practices 22

F: Amino acidChallenges associated with carrying out a meta-analysis of essential amino acid requirements of fish 28

F: FormulationFeed formulation flexibility - Understanding the specific nutrient requirements of shrimp enables feed formulation flexibility in times of challenging commodity pricing 32

F: Aquate ShrimpAquate Shrimp - helps provide economic benefit to shrimp farmers in Honduras 36

Feed Management

Book reviewFish Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment 42Catfishes as a case study 42Pathogens of Wild and Farmed Fish: sea lice 43

ClaSSIfIED aDvERTS 44

EvEnTS 46

EDITOR’S DESK W

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Croeso and welcome again

This mid- summer edition finds us all very busy with meetings and visits to facilities and workshops around the world. Dr Daniel Merrifield, my colleague and editorial panel member, has recently returned from the very successful WAS 2011 meeting in Natal, Brazil having been a key-note

speaker on his subject specialisation of probiotics in fish production.

There he met with many students, technical personnel and management from international agencies and companies as well as our Spanish translation group.

Here in Plymouth we had a delegation of city councillors and MPs from parliament interested in the business sector with innovation and enterprise being at the centre of a recovery package for the UK with marine sciences and bioscience particularly in focus.

This too is going to be at the central agenda in the BioMarine Business Convention to be held in Nantes, France next month and I will be in attendance at this prestigious venue along with his Serene Highness, Prince Albert II of Monaco who takes a strong interest in this sector and we hope to hear his views in our next edition.

In this issueIn this issue we have all our regular features with an excellent photo shoot of the new commercial laboratories of Astec Business and Science Centre in Northumberland who will embark on research and development concepts and innovations in aquaculture offering a specialised facility and range of equipment at their unique site near the shore with heated sea water.

I am delighted to receive an article from Dr Guillaume Saltze and workers, on amino acid require-ments of fish, based on a new approach (meta-analysis), which will provide a more refined allowance strategy prior to fish, feed formulations.

This is of particular interest to me in my area of research assessing novel protein sources. Protein and essential amino acid requirements are fundamental to fish and crustacean nutrition and more information is always useful for maximising efficiency.

We report on latest developments on tilapia brood stock feeds from Malaysia where palm oil supplementation seems to enhance egg quality for this species. From Bangladesh we have a feature on the replacement of artemia as live feed for giant prawn larval stages with particulate formulated meals.

Enjoy reading this edition along with all our regular features, blogs and news reports.

November-December 2011

What is this? This is a QR (Quick Reference) graphic that is unique and scannable using a free application on

any smartphone or tablet. QRs - although around for some years - have come of age as portable hand-held devices have become increasingly popular. We are adding QRs to major features and will be supplying QRs to our advertisers to place in their advertisements if they wish. They can be pointed to any url or digital destination - and can be changed at any time in the future meaning related information can be kept up-to-date. Perendale generates and manages QRs for all it customers and authors free-of-charge! For more information visit www.aquafeed.co.uk/qr, or scan the qr above with your smart phone

November-December 2011 | INterNatIoNal AquAFeed | 32 | INterNatIoNal AquAFeed | November-December 2011

EditorProfessor Simon DaviesEmail: [email protected]

Associate EditorProfessor Krishen RanaEmail: [email protected]

Editorial ManagerNicky BarnesEmail: [email protected]

Editorial Advisory Panel:• Abdel-Fattah M. El-Sayed (Egypt)• Professor António Gouveia (Portugal)• Professor Charles Bai (Korea)• Colin Mair (UK)• Dr Daniel Merrifield (UK)• Dr Dominique Bureau (Canada)• Dr Elizabeth Sweetman (Greece)• Dr Kim Jauncey (UK)• Eric De Muylder (Belgium)

• Dr Pedro Encarnação (Singapore)

Subscription & CirculationTuti TanEmail: [email protected]

Design & Page LayoutJames TaylorEmail: [email protected]

International Marketing Team

Caroline WearnEmail: [email protected]

Sabby MajorEmail: [email protected]

Lee BastinEmail: [email protected]

Latin American Office

Ivàn MarquettiEmail: [email protected]

More information: International Aquafeed7 St George's Terrace, St James' SquareCheltenham, GL50 3PT United Kingdom

Tel: +44 1242 267706Website: www.aquafeed.co.uk

In our next issue:

November | December 2011

Nutrition/ingredient focus: Enzymes, Probiotics

Process focus: Cages & nets

Industry focus: Tuna farming in the USA

November-December 2011 | INterNatIoNal AquAFeed | 3

4 | INterNatIoNal AquAFeed | November-December 2011

Aqua News


I had the pleasure as the Editor of IAF and Professor at Plymouth University to attend this prestig-ious meeting in early September

held at Nantes, France, which attract-ed more than 500 people from across the world to discuss the opportunities presented by the marine environment for a vast array of products within the marine biotechnology field.

BioMarine is a private Canadian and French initiative acclaimed by the French Presidency in 2008 as a platform for eco-nomic valorisation in the marine sectors.

Therefore, its core mission is to pro-mote the interaction of science, industry and finance to accelerate economic devel-opment within the bio-marine sciences and associated industries.

This conference was superbly organised by Pierre and Veronique Erwes and was distinguished by the presence of his HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco who gave a pas-sionate speech on the importance of con-serving our oceans precious bio-resources and a briefing on the excellent work of his foundation and continued commitment to the marine sciences.

This high level business convention was primarily focused on the commercial utilisa-tion of marine bio- resources targeted to NGO’s, executives, marketing and sales, business development and R&D specialists, technology transfer as well as regulatory agencies and many other stake-holders. There were a large number of CEO’s of established biotechnology companies, public and private equity investors, research analysts, and investment bankers all focused on applications within the marine bio-resource sector.

The meeting included a trade show and stands, supporting a range of interests with several new SME companies and local education institutions also being present.

I was privileged to be a panellist to contribute to our two sessions on both aquaculture and sustainability and feeds (prebiotics, probiotics and nucleotides) that was full to capacity with observers. This was expertly chaired by Roy Palmer from the Australian Seafood Cooperative Research Centre and ‘Aquaculture Without Frontiers’

who collated our views into a final docu-ment, Think Tank on Aquaculture- ‘Building the production to meet the increasing demand’ and functional feed additives for aquaculture.

Sea food was recognised as an important part of the diet and that aquaculture must further increase to satisfy demand. Cultural changes are required across disciplines and we need to share knowledge and experi-ence to enhance opportunities. There were three pillars of sustainability highlighted: environment, economic and social.

There was a clear need to promote the benefits of aquaculture products with the example of the essential omega- 3 fatty acids and essential nutrients such as trace elements and protein. The production of finfish raised on novel feed ingredients such as algae needed to be promoted over the use of terrestrial plant protein sources and especially the continued dependence on fishmeal.

I mentioned the potential of revisiting the use of animal proteins for carnivorous fish species and that this needed to be conveyed to the wider public and their concerns addressed in the light of previous problems associated with the usage of such ingredients in Europe.

The specific details of environmental sustainable management were discussed. The term ‘sustainability warranted a better definition when applied to aquaculture. The inputs and outputs need to be qualitative and quantified methods based on more rigorous inspection was deemed necessary.

The other session concerning aqua-culture was specifically focussed on the role of peptides, probiotics, prebiotics and nucleotides as new technologies to enhance fish disease resistance, promote superior fish growth performance and feed efficiency.

We were joined by Fancisco Gomes of Novus International, USA, Peter Mussell of Blue Wave Marine ingredients, Peru, George Marco and Stéphane Frouel of Aquativ, Diana, France with Jean- Michel Pommet CEO Gate2Tech and Chairman of Probiotech, France as our session moderator.

This lively debate highlighted the wide expertise in the room concerning the application of functional feed additives and

supplements for the benefit of aquaculture animal production.

Peptides have been shown to promote appetite and assist immune modulation in many fish and crustacean species from recent scientific research. These can be derived from the waste trimmings of fish resulting from the canning industry after being subjected to controlled enzymatic hydrolysis. These mixed peptides are then carefully spray dried and may have potent properties in feeds at low inclusion levels when introduced into complete commercial feeds for fish and shrimp.

Francisco Gomes predicted that aqua-culture will differ considerably from rumi-nant production in that high value feed will become the preferred vector for the delivery of health to the animal.

He believed that both probiotics and prebiotics offered great potential in modu-lating gut bacteria, improving and protect-ing intestinal morphology and integrity. Stéphane Frouel reiterated that although probiotics were useful and had confirmed prophylactic advantages, they were none-theless not a ‘magic bullet’ and in the last resort of persistent disease outbreak, antibiotics would remain a final solution.

I was able to explain the mechanism by which prebiotics produced from a vari-ety of sources may work at a physiological level in aquatic animals based mainly on their complex carbohydrate type struc-tures. Many originate from yeast cell wall extracts and some of these glucans possess immune-modulatory capabilities or prefer-entially serve as substrates for commensal microbial metabolism and production thus steering the gut microbiota in the right direction promoting tolerance and ton-ing the digestive system towards optimal conditions.

To conclude the BioMarine 2011 meet-ing, an excellent gala dinner was held in the presence of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco at the Château de la Pigossière. The proceeds were all in support of the Albert II Foundation for commitment to marine pro-tected areas and research into the health of our oceans. As Prince Albert has remarked ‘nothing is as contagious as example’ and his foundation is an excellent platform and conduit to build trust and engagement for

Bio Marine Business Convention - Nantes, France September 7-9th 2011

4 | INterNatIoNal AquAFeed | November-December 2011 November-December 2011 | INterNatIoNal AquAFeed | 5

F: Feature

Aquaculture of pelagic species, such as the bluefin tuna, would be a great step forward. In the meantime, this should not prevent us from paying particular attention to fishing quotas so that there is no risk of this emblematic species of the Mediterranean becoming extinct.

SD: We need to promote our oceanic bio-resources as attributes to human well- being and health (for example: omega 3 rich oils from fish are essential to cardiovascular and neurological health). Are there any other topics you feel to be very important in this area by which investments in marine biotechnology can support and bring to market?

HSH: Marine bio-resources will very likely show significant growth potential in the years to come. Whether in the pharmaceutical or para-pharmaceutical sec-tor – in the biofilm industry enabling us to substitute chemical antifouling, micro-algae for the food industry and for biofuel...the list is long and augurs extremely well for future development. Let us focus first and foremost on preserving such potential. Let us ensure that it is naturally replenished and make certain beforehand that such promising prospects do not present any environmental risks.

SD: Could Monaco rival Singapore in the future as Europe’s leading base for busi-ness centres, company headquarters etc to locate as gateways for both the aquaculture and marine biotechnology sectors? Would there be an incentive for such ventures?

HSH: Due to its position in the Mediterranean, Monaco has a role to play in the marine and maritime economy. By launching the Monaco Blue Initiative, I was eager to get investors, industrialists and sci-entists to reflect upon and become involved in common projects. I am convinced that environmental protection is not incompat-ible with the economic development of off-shore activities. Our Principality has a large number of important assets to attract blue economy entrepreneurs and industrialists.

SD: Being a small state, Monaco does not currently have an aquaculture presence on the global stage. As such, are there any plans to initiate educational and training schemes within schools and colleges as well as research institutions to promote the interdisciplinary sciences underpinning aquaculture and fish farming? How can other countries help Monaco in this regard?

species: the bluefin tuna of course, but also across every sea, the various shark species and the list does not stop there.

Moreover, ocean acidification is also a major concern for crucial marine eco-systems preservation. Our understanding of the effects of ocean acidification is uncertain due to the difficulty of evaluating ocean acidification conditions in situ.

Therefore, my Foundation lent its sup-port to a project run by the IAEA in partnership with the Plymouth University to measure at two different levels, fields of assignments and laboratory testing, the impact of this phenomenon on key Mediterranean species.

SD: Aquaculture is recognised as the fastest growing sector of agribusiness with a global value of over US$106 billion. 47 percent of our sea food is derived from aquaculture. This industry is highly depend-ent upon quality protein rich feeds which have typically included by-products from marine sources:

Are you, therefore, aware of the tech-nological advances and challenges required to address these issues in order to make this industry more environmentally accept-able and what are your overall views on aquaculture?

HSH: Aquaculture is a fantastic oppor-tunity for providing the planet with food. However, intensive aquaculture, in particu-lar of carnivorous fish, can create pressure on fisheries, as some species are used to produce fishmeal. I think it would be worthwhile seeing how aquaculture could develop by giving priority to herbivorous species and above all by developing the use of plant-based protein from algae. As far as the environmental aspects are concerned, we had the opportunity of broaching this subject at the second edition of the Monaco Blue Initiative and I feel that aquaculture fully fits into an ethical environmental model.

SD: I note that you have a strong com-mitment for the European Blue Fin tuna fishery; do you believe that aquaculture can play a positive role in this context for conservation of stocks?

HSH: This is an issue that I hold close to my heart since, as you know, Monaco suggested that the bluefin tuna be added to appendix I of CITES in Doha in March 2010. I am aware of the cultural and traditional habits that exist in bluefin tuna consump-tion - therefore I hope that we can swiftly find a way to breed this fish in captivity.

the governance of our planets primary resource- i.e. the ocean.

IAF: Nov/December 2011Title: FTIAFInterview1106 Deadline: September 23, 2011Words: 1023Photos: Notes: James this needs to be dealt with

separately from the editorial. There should also be pictures of Simon and Prince Albert together. If not in already please email Simon for them.

Captions:

Interview with His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco by Professor Simon Davies, Editor of International Aquafeed

I was introduced to His Serene Highness, Prince Albert II of Monaco in a private meeting in the Nantes convention centre and we discussed several issues relating mainly to the current global fisheries situ-ation and the emergence of aquaculture as an important food industry.

The Prince was most informed on these matters and was keenly interested in the aquaculture sector and the associ-ated developments in nutrition and feeding of cultured fish species. Prince Albert’s Foundation is actively engaged in numer-ous projects that serve to increase our understanding of the oceans, the conserva-tion of marine resources and their use to benefit humans in wealth, health and socio-economic development.

The following questions formed the basis of our interview:

Simon Davies (SD): You have a passionate commitment to sustainability in relation to the marine environment: What is your main perception today of the problems of overfishing and what counter- measures do you think are needed to protect our vital fish stocks in the future?

His Serene Highness (HSH): Overfishing is a complex global problem. Subsistence fishing is an important factor in maintaining the coastal ecosystems. Fishing, or sadly very often industrial overfishing, must be controlled in such a way as to enable the natural replenishment of species.

Whatever the case, protective measures need to be taken with regard to deep-sea trawling and efforts pushed even further, even though we are beginning to take steps in the right direction to save endangered


F: Feature


Probiotics are well known and routinely used additives in the main livestock species. They claim to improve gut

health by stabilising gut flora being their effect reflected in a better overall health status, welfare and per-formance of the animals.

However, their use in fish production is still scarce, being nowadays only one addi-tive registered to be used in the European Union.

Different factors might be behind the lack of this type of products for aquaculture:

1) Gut microbiota and physiology of fishes cultured are still being studied and seems to differ in a high extent from one species to another

2) Probiotics used in monogastric and ruminants available nowadays are mainly based on bacteria or yeast that need tem-perature enough to develop in the animals’ gut. It can be difficult to reach taking into account that fish are poiquiloterms and in some specific productions water tempera-ture is extremely low

3) Up today, it is not well known if the microorganisms from probiotics can develop multiply as well as modify fish gut flora in these environmental and gut conditions

4) Feed fish processing is extremely hard in terms of temperature and pressure so, how to apply these alive micro-organisms to fish pellets is still being studied. Their inclusion by coating after pelleting can be the solution, although the stabil-ity of this microorganism in this oily solutions as well as once reach water in tanks or sea needs still to be demonstrated

Despite all this, and tak-ing into account the increasing importance of fish production all over the world, Rubinum SA is investing a lot of effort in this field. In this regard, it recently ran a trial in collaboration with IRTA to study the effect of the probiotic Bacillus cereus var. toyoi on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fingerlings.

In the trial, fingerlings of rainbow trout (4.2 ± 0.1g) were fed two diets, a commer-cial diet (Aller FuturaTM from AllerAqua, Denmark) and the same diet containing the probiotic B. cereus var. toyoi at the final concentration of 2*104 UFC/g, during 93 days.

Each treatment was tested in triplicate

(400-L tank, 125 fish/tank, initial density: 1.3kg/m3). During the trial, water tempera-ture, conductivity, pH and dissolved oxygen were 13.2 ± 0.2ºC, 1800 ± 200 µS/cm, 7.5 ± 0.01 and 8.0 ± 0.3 mg/L (mean ± S.D.), respectively.

Tanks were connected to a recircula-tion system (IRTAMAR®) which maintained adequate water quality parameters. Fish were fed at apparent satiation (3.3 per-cent) with automatic feeders (ARVO-TEC

Use of probiotics in aquaculture: can these additives be useful? by E Gisbert, DVM, PhD, researcher at Irta Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Spain and M Castillo, DVM, PhD, R&D and Customer Support Manager at Rubinum SA, Spain


F: Probiotics

T-Drum-2000TM, Finland). The proximate biochemical composition of diets was 64 percent protein, 12 percent fat and 11 percent ash (2.0 mm pellet size).

All fish from each tank were measured for their body size, and 45 specimens per condition (15 per replicate) sacrificed for histology (size of intestinal villi and number of goblet cells), assessment of digestive system functionality and quantification of the intestinal microbiota by RFLP.

ResultsAt the end of the trial, fish fed the

diet containing the probiotic were slightly significantly heavier and longer (43.9 ± 9.1 g, 14.4 ± 1.1cm) than those fed the control diet (42.5 ± 7.6g, 14.1 ± 1.1; n = 276).

Distribution of size classes in body weight were also affected by the incorpora-tion of the probiotic in the diet.

The frequency of fish belonging to the 51-70g size class was higher in the group fed the probiotic (53.6 ± 1.1 vs. 47.1± 2.2%; t-test, P < 0.05; n = 3; see figure 1 and 2), whereas those trouts fed the control diet showed a higher frequency of smaller individuals (6.9 ± 0.5 vs 3.6 ± 0.7%; t-test, P < 0.05; n = 3).

The percentage of fish with intermediate weights (41-50 g) was also significantly higher among those fish fed the probiotic (16.2 ± 0.5 vs. 13.0 ± 1.5; t-test, P < 0.05; n = 3).

The above-mentioned changes in growth

and size classes did not affect the proximal composition of fish fed both diets (protein: 40.0 ± 2.2%, lipids: 20.5 ± 2.0%, ash: 1.8 ± 0.5%).

The inclusion of the pro-biotic into the control diet did not affect the functional-ity of the digestive system, as indicated by the absence of significant differences in the specific activity of pancreatic (trypsin, chymotrypsin, total protease) and intestinal brush border (alkaline phosphatase, aminopeptidase-N, maltase) enzymes.

However, the number of goblet cells (1.6 ± 0.1 vs. 1.3 ± 0.2 cells/100 µm; n = 15) and height of villi (928.5 ± 137 vs. 527 ± 130 µm; t-test, P < 0.001; n = 15; see figure 3 and 4) in the intestinal mucosa was significantly higher in those fish fed the diet containing the pro-biotic. Goblet cells, or so-called mucous cells, reside through-

out the intestine and are the main source of mucins produc-tion in the gut.

Mucins are considered to play impor-tant roles in host defense by forming a physical barrier between the host and the contents of the intestinal lumen.

Thus, these results indi-cated that the inclusion of the probiotic in the diet promoted goblet cell p ro l i fe ra t ion and possibly the immune response in the intestinal mucosa.

In addition, the intestinal microbiota was also affected by the diet, show-ing different

RFLP results (clades) depending on the tested dietary group. These results indicate that the inclusion of the probiotic in the diet was able to modulate host microbiota, although the molecular techniques used in this study did not allow the identification of the bacterial genus or species.

Beneficial and advantageousIn conclusion, the inclusion of B.

cereus var. toyoi at the final concentra-tion of 2*104 UFC/g in a commercial diet promoted growth in rainbow trout fingerlings, as well as the organisation of the intestinal mucosa (number of goblet cells and villi height), whereas did not affect the specific activity of selected pancreatic and intestinal diges-tive enzymes.

Therefore, the inclusion of this probiotic in trout feeds could be beneficial and advan-tageous in terms of the fish host, as well as for the intensive production of the species, although more studies are needed to study mode of action of Gram negative bacteria in the gut as well as the correct dosage to administer.


F: Probiotics

Aquaculture nowadays is facing a number of chal-lenges: high stocking den-sities and the consequent

proneness to pathogen transmission, the increasing limited - or even banned - use of antibiotics and the feeding of less degradable plant-based diets.

As a result reduced survival, as well as lower efficiencies and growth, lead to unprofitable aquaculture practices.

When confronting this situation the inclusion of Ecobiol Aqua in both fish and shrimp diets stands out as a natural tool to stimulate health and growth in aquaculture practices.

A probiotic application for aquaculture practices can be defined as a live microbial supplement that administered via feed or directly into the rearing water, provides a benefit to the animals by enhancing nutrient utilisation, health status, stress response, disease resistance and performance and

this is in part achieved by optimizing the microbial balance within the animals and water environment (Merrifield et al. 2010).

A list of characteristics for potential probiotic bacteria has been reported by several authors (Farzanfar, 2006; Gómez and Balcazar, 2008; Vine et al. 2006) and extended by Merrifield et al. (2010).

Among them; essential properties as being a non-pathogenic microorganism, being free of plasmid-encoded antibiotic resistance genes, and being resistant to bile salts and low pH. Other favourable properties are adequate and rapid growth at host rearing temperature, antagonistic properties against key pathogens, capac-ity to produce extracellular enzymes that improve feed utilisation, viability under normal storage conditions, and acceptable survival under processing conditions.

Ecobiol Aqua, which contains spores of a strain of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, follows the above-mentioned criteria of selection. When compared to other probiotics con-taining Bacillus spp, two properties make

Ecobiol a unique product; first, a higher survival rate of the sporu-lated form after pelleting (see Table 1), making Ecobiol Aqua an excel-lent alternative for shrimp feed production and second, a faster activation and high multiplication rate of the vegetative form (see Figure 1).

Depending on processing condi-tions, farm management and pur-pose of application, Ecobiol Aqua can be added directly to the mash, mixed with oil and coated after

heat treatment, or being administered via the rearing water.

When applied in feed, some probiotic will leach from feed and feces and will provide a benefit on the water environment, while when added directly into the water, some probiotic will reach the gastrointestinal tract of the cultured animal. A wide range of modes of action have been described for Ecobiol Aqua; it is the combination of all of them what results in animal benefit.

Modes of action

Antimicrobial propertiesProbiotics release chemical compounds

that may have bacteriostatic or bacteri-cidal effects on the pathogenic population. Ecobiol Aqua is capable to secrete 0.9g of lactic acid per gram of sugar present in the media.

Within the gastrointestinal tract of the animal, this lactic acid will reduce patho-genic bacteria while is used by beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus as substrate to grow.

In addition, the vegetative form of B. amyloliquefaciens produces barnase, a bac-teriocine. These effects have been revealed in an in vitro experiment conducted by Katsetsart University (Thailand), in which Ecobiol Aqua showed inhibitory activity against Aeromonas hydrophila and Vibrio parahameolyticus at different pH’s (Data presented at WAS 2011 conference).

At the same time, this inhibitory activity reduces nutrient competition and avoids pathogen colonization of the gut, leading to improved absorptive surface area.

Digestion enhancerIt is also known that pro-

biotic bacteria can release extracellular enzymes that help in the digestion proc-ess. In a study conducted by the University of Sonora (Mexico), the protease activity in hepatopancreas of shrimp was measured when Ecobiol Aqua was supplemented at 1kg/tonne of feed (see Figure 2).

Ecobiol Aqua – A unique and highly effective single strain probiotic by Waldo G Nuez-Ortín, DVM, MSc, Aquaculture Technical Manager at NOREL S.A, Spain, Email: [email protected] Website: www.norel.es

Figure 2: Enzymatic and growing response of Litopenaeus vannamaei to a diet containing ECOBIOL Aqua

Figure 1: Multiplication rate of Ecobiol Aqua as opposed to other strains of Bacillus (measured by optical density)


F: Feature


Results showed increased enzymatic activity during the first four hours after feed intake, suggesting enhanced digestibility and consequently better growth performance. Secretion of amylases, cellulases and xyla-nases has also been reported for Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (data presented at ASAIM Southeast Asia Aquaculture conference 2010).

Other benefitsAnother mode of action reported in

Bacillus spp is the ability to stimulate the non-specific immunity by increasing the activity of phagocityc cells and lysozyme

(Y-Z Sun et al 2010). Probiotics are also used as bioremedia-

tion agents. Bacillus spp. have been demon-strated to be efficient convertors of organic matter back into CO2, especially when administered directly into the water. In the case of Ecobiol Aqua, this benefit can be explained by the secretion of exo-enzymes that help in organic matter degradation. The result is greater penetration of oxygen into the sediments, making burrowing by shrimp easier. At the same time, probiotic bacteria are eaten by zooplankton, which is eventu-ally grazed by shrimp or fish.

Trial dataThe efficacy of dietary supplementation

of Ecobiol Aqua on performance parameters at a commercial scale has been evaluated in shrimp. In a trial carried out in semi-intensive

farm located in Peninsula de Villamoros (Mexico), the shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) diets were sup-plemented with one kg Ecobiol Aqua per tonne of feed. Results (see Table 2) showed significant improvements in survival (+3.7 percent), average weight gain at 95 days (+4 percent), and income (+12 percent) relative to the non-supplemented diet. The same dosage was used in a second trial conducted in semi-intensive culture of Litopenaeus vannamei in Sinaloa (Mexico). As shown in Table 3, Ecobiol Aqua enhanced average weekly gain (+ 13.5 percent), size (+8.4 percent), final biomass (+6.9 percent) and income (+7.2 percent).

ConclusionC u r r e n t

a q u a c u l t u r e practices are exposed to high risk of disease and reduced performance due to the high stocking densities and use of plant-based diets.

Thus, aquafeed formulations must focus not only on nutritional specifications but also on the health status of the animal and an adequate feed utilisation.

Ecobiol Aqua is a natural alternative that by providing an inhibitory effect against

pathogenic microorganisms, by enhancing the digestion process and by likely having a beneficial effect on the immune system and the pond environment, facilitates the maximum performance to the animal, lead-ing to safe and profitable practices.

ReferencesAvailable upon request

Table 1: ecobiol aqua survival after processing (90° during one minute)

Mash(UFC/g feed)

Pellet(UFC/g feed)

2.60 x 106 2.25 x 106

1.68 x 106 1.50 x 106

1.27 x 106 1.36 x 106

Table 2: Performance parameters in litopenaeus vannamaei supplemented with 1kg ecobiol aqua/ton feed (trial conducted in a semi-intensive culture in Peninsula de Villamoros)

Control eCoBIol aqua

Difference (%)

Number of ponds 4 4 -

Total surface (ha) 33.02 20.40 -

Total animals 2,727,600 1,836,000 -

Density (shrimp/ m2) 8.26 9.00 9.0

Total days cultivation 101 97 - 4.0

Survival (%) 80.90 83.90 + 3.7

Biomass (kg/ha) 986.90 1,110.20 + 12.5

Average weight at 95 days (g) 13.30 13.83 + 4.0

FCR 1.18 1.19 + 0.8

Feed costs (US$/Ha) 1070.7 1162.6 - 8.0

Income (US$/Ha) 3245.2 3618,8 + 11.4

Table 3: Performance parameters in litopenaeus vannamaei supplemented with 1kg ecobiol aqua/ton feed (trial conducted in a semi-intensive culture in Sinaloa)

Control eCoBIol aqua

Difference (%)

Culture days 80 80

Average weekly gain (g) 1.33 1.51 + 13.5

Size 15.4 16.7 + 8.4

Survival (%) 67.5 66.5 - 1.5

Biomass (kg/Ha) 829 887 + 6.9

Classification Large Large -

Sales price (US$/kg) 3.56 3.56 -

Feed (US$/Ha) 887,8 898,4 + 1.1

Income (US$/Ha) 2,841.0 3,046.4 + 7.2


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With the rapid devel-opments in aquacul-ture fish and shrimp farming industries

are constantly under threat due to the outbreak of infectious diseases.

Members of the genus Vibrio and Aeromonas have been described as being among the most common pathogenic spe-cies in shrimp and fish causing serious losses in larval and growout phases throughout the world. Use of antibiotics to control these agents has led to problems of drug resistance and resulted in trade restrictions in export markets.

As an alternative strategy to these antimicrobial compounds, the prophylactic use of beneficial bacteria (probiotics) has emerged to improve health and zootechni-cal performances such as survival, produc-

tion, feed conversion and growth rates of cultured aquatic species.

Probiotic bacteria are a sustainable approach to modulate the gut microflora towards a favorable composition, which is of utmost importance since the digestive system of fish and shrimp is an important entrance point for infections. Hence, selec-tion criteria of probiotics for aquaculture should be based on their antagonism towards pathogens (through competitive exclusion), their growth, attachment to intestinal mucus and production of benefi-cial compounds (Vine et al., 2004).

Since fish and shrimp are cultured under different conditions the optimum tem-perature range should also be considered

for selection of the right probiotic strain. Another important factor is that probiotics always lack pathogenicity.

After all, probiotics should contribute to efficient production in a sustainable way, promoting healthy and robust animals (Brittain et al., 2002).

Potential probiotic candidates

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are potential probiotic candidates in aquaculture and are also known to be present in the intestine of healthy fish. Enterococcus faecium is one of the most commonly used lactic acid producing bacteria in animal nutrition and has become a focus of attention for use in com-mercially farmed aquatic species.

Enterococci are Gram-positive, facultative anaerobic bacteria which are widely distributed in nature and considered as bacteria of low patho-genicity (Klare et al., 2003).

Probiotic enterococci infections have not been reported in the veteri-nary medicine, so the risk appears to be limited (Rinkinen et al., 2003). Eaton and Gasson (2001) found that E. faecium strains were also generally free of virulence determinants. Concerning pos-sible acquired antibiotic resistances, testing the antibiotic profile of enterococci used as probiotics is of relevance.

However, these antibiotic resistances are species- or genus-specific properties (Klare et al., 2003). Once the probiotic enterococci are accurately identified, they can be tested for specific resistances.

Several important ways in which pro-biotics producing lactic acid (such as E. faecium) can provide a performance benefit are improving intestinal microbial balance (Fuller, 1989), stimulating the immune sys-

tem and decreasing pH as well as the release of bacteriocins (Rolfe, 2000).

Bacteriocins are small peptides which are characterized by their ability to inhibit pathogenic bacteria; whereas, some have a narrow spectrum of activity while others inhibit a wide variety of bacteria.

The use of the bacteriocin-producing E. faecium with probiotic properties alone or in combination with other beneficial intestinal bacteria was investigated in dif-ferent studies.

In vitro studies using the agar spot method (Rosskopf, 2010) have shown that Enterococcus faecium (strain IMB 52) has inhibition properties against a wide spec-

trum of aquatic pathogens including Yersinia ruckeri, Vibrio harveyi, Streptococcus agalactiae and Aeromonas veronii.

Similar observation was made by Swain et al. (2009) who proved the inhibi-tory activity of E. faecium isolated from brackishwater fish against V. harveyi and V. parahaemolyticus. This demonstrates the potential applications of E. faecium from fish intestine for controlling pathogenic vibriosis in shrimp culture. It has also been reported that survival rates of European eels (Anguilla Anguilla L.) fed with E. faecium were significantly higher than in the control groups after challenged with Edwardsiella tarda (Chang and Liu, 2002).

Wang et al. (2008) demonstrated that the addition of E. faecium (1 x 107 CFU/

Application of Enterococcus faecium as probiotic strain in aquatic species

by Elisabeth Mayer MSc, Biomin, Austria


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mL) in aquaria water could significantly increase final weight and daily weight gain

(DWG) of tilapia. Since certain immuno-logical parameters (myeloperoxidase and respiratory burst activity) of tilapia were improved as well, the increased growth performance might be attributed to less bacterial challenge, confirming the benefit for the non-specific innate immunity of this kind of fish.

Panigrahi et al. (2007) examined immune modulation including cytokine gene expres-sions of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and demonstrated that these param-eters were improved by probiotic feeding of freeze-dried Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Enterococcus faecium or Bacillus subtilis (109 CFU/g) after 45 days. Particularly the fish fed the E. faecium strain showed better performance which could possibly be linked to the suitable ambient temperature condi-tions of this strain.

Temperature is a major environmental factor controlling microbial growth and the ideal conditions differ among microorgan-isms. E. faecium was found to be more psychrotolerant than the other two bac-teria, growing well at temperatures ranging from 12 to 30 °C. Rosskopf (2010) showed that the optimum temperature range for E. faecium (strain IMB 52) reaches as far as to 37 °C.

Using the fluorescence in situ hybridiza-tion (FISH) technique, Supamattaya et al. (2005, 2006) have demonstrated in a series of in vivo studies that E. faecium (strain IMB 52) is also able to populate the intestine of white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and

Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) (see Picture 3 and Table 1) and induce a positive impact on bacterial ecology of the gut by inhibiting Vibrio spp. through competitive exclusion.

E. faecium was even detected in the fish gut and faeces 10 days after product administration. In addition, it was observed that dietary application of E. faecium (strain IMB 52) alone or in combination can improve growth performance, enhance the immune response (by increasing granu-lar hemocytes level) (Supamattaya et al., 2005) and increase survival rate in shrimp contaminated with Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Krummenauer et al., 2009).

Means ± SD. Using Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), 5 - 15 microscopic fields were counted.

From these studies it was concluded that Enterococcus faecium (strain IMB 52) is a safe and promising probiotic candi-date for aquatic species which can be applied in different combinations.

ConclusionMaintaining

the balance of critical parameters and effective disease control remain f u n d a m e n t a l requ i rements for successful a q u a c u l t u r e . In order to withstand the high stock-ing densities in shrimp and fish production

probiotics are a promising feed additive to stimulate animal growth and advance disease resistance.

Enterococcus faecium as probiotic strain in aquatic species is increasingly recognized as safe and can be applied in different combinations. E. faecium can grow at a wide range of temperatures and thus has an advantage over other bacteria considering that fish and shrimp are reared at different temperatures and conditions.

The current paper illustrated with in vitro studies and performance trials the potential benefits of E. faecium as probiotic feed additive for fish and shrimp, either by stimulating the development of a healthy gut microflora or by inhibiting pathogenic

Table 1: E. faecium in tilapia´s intestine and faeces at day one and day 10 after stopping to feed probiotics including this probiotic strain

Experimental group E. faecium in tilapia´s intestine (x 108 cell/g intestine)

Day 1 Day 10

: Intestine with faecal materials : Faecal material : Intestine w/o faeces

Control group 0 0 0

Probiotic group 1.37 ± 0.85 1.52 ± 0.98 1.33 ± 0.28

bacteria like Vibrio spp., Yersinia spp. and Aeromonas spp.

ReferencesAvailable on request


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Freshwater fish culture has traditionally been dominated by various carp species but recently tilapia production

has increased significantly; as a result tilapia are currently being cultured in 74 countries with an estimated annual output of over three million tonnes (FAO, 2010).

This rapid growth suggests that tilapia may become one of the most important cultured fish species in the future.

Although tilapia are relatively resistant to infection and disease compared to other finfish, intensification of tilapia production has resulted in an increase of bacterial infec-tions which frequently causes mass mor-talities, leading to severe economic losses in major fish producing countries.

Traditional practices involve using antimicrobial compounds to treat disease outbreaks and control infections in aquatic animals.

However, a number of issues exist with these measures, namely the increasing problem of emerging antibiotic resistant pathogens with the threat of resistance transfer to human pathogens as well as food and environmental contamination.

Consequently, in recent years there has been considerable effort to evaluate the feasibility of using alternative methods, particularly probiotics to enhance growth, stimulate the innate immune system and/or prevent disease in the host.

Probiotics are live microorganisms, including many yeasts and bacteria, which when administered in adequate amounts can enhance the growth and health of the host, as well as the quality of its ambient environment beyond inherent basic nutri-tion (Fuller, 1989; Merrifield et al., 2010a). These measures help facilitate consumer perceptions of bio-security and eco-friendly aquaculture.

Aquatic animals are constantly in contact with the composition and changes in their surrounding environment.

Potential pathogens are able to maintain themselves in the external medium and proliferate independently of the host caus-ing disease or rendering aquatic animals immunocompromised.

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is one of the key sites of interaction with the external world and is considered one of the major portals for pathogenic invasion in fish (Ringø et al., 2007). The GI microbiota provide a number of functions that benefit the health of the host by promoting nutri-ent and enzyme supply, enhancing innate immune function, preventing colonisation of pathogenic microbes (by either competition or production of inhibitory compounds), energy homeostasis and are also involved in localised morphological development and maturation of the intestine.

Culture dependent and independent studies indicate that bacteria are the main colonisers of the GI tract with early studies recording the predominance of anaerobes in the GI tract of tilapia (Sugita et al., 1989).

We now know that in freshwater fish, Vibrio spp., Aeromonas spp., Pseudomonas spp. and Cetobacterium somereae are major colonisers of the intestine followed by Pleisomonas spp., Enterobacteriaceae, Micrococcus spp., Actinobacter spp., Clostridium spp., Bacteroides spp. and Fusarium spp.. Also present in tilapia intestine are Burkholderia spp., Chromobacterium, spp. Citrobacter spp. and Flavimonas spp. (Molinari et al., 2003). Despite being preva-lent in mammalian and avian intestines lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are present, but gener-ally sub-dominant, in fish.

Modification of microbial composition

The GI tract is available to microbial

colonisers upon opening of the mouth of larval fish.

In this sense the commensal microbiota reflects the microbiota of the eggs, rearing water and the microbiota of any dietary intake during the first-feeding. It has been proposed that any probiotic supplementa-tion at this stage has a significant advantage, whereby good microbes ‘get there first’.

However, at any developmental stage the microbiota can shift as a result of farming practices, rearing environment, seasonality and diet. Furthermore, the administration of a probiotic may also cause a shift in the microbial composition.

For example, O. niloticus fed a diet supplemented with a mixture of S. cer-evisiae and Bacillus subtillus showed an altered composition, lacking Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Klebsiella spp. and Pseudomonas fluorescens which were present in control fish (Marzouk et al., 2008).

Ferguson et al. (2010) used more accu-rate and reliable molecular techniques to demonstrate that diets supplemented with Pediococcus acidilactici exhibited altera-tions in GI microbiota. PCR-DGGE revealed direct antagonism of P. acidilactici with an uncultured bacterium (closest known rela-tive was a bacterial clone isolated from the intestine of Atlantic salmon) during a period of reverting to nonsupplemented feeding.

Recent work conducted at the Aquaculture and Fish Nutrition Research Aquarium, University of Plymouth supports this (see Figure 1). Here fish fed a P. acidi-lactici supplemented diet exhibited con-siderably higher lactic acid bacteria (LAB) populations in their digesta, which, were identified as P. acidilactici. This colonisation of the GI tract (at least during continual supplementation) is thought to be a major advantage for potential probionts.

Evaluation of probiotic bacteria in tilapia production

by Benedict Standen & Ali Abid, Aquatic Animal Nutrition and Health Research Group, The University of Plymouth, United Kingdom


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Growth performance and effect on digestion and nutrient utilisation

Improved growth performance has been observed in tilapia fed diets supplemented with a number of probiotics including S. cerevisiae, Micrococcus luteus, B. subtilis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Bacillus pumilus, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Streptococcus faecium as well as various mixtures of these candidates.

However, other studies have failed to show a difference in growth parameters with the use of various probiotics. Contradictor results may reflect the differences in rearing conditions and diet where fish reared under near optimal conditions are unlikely to benefit from probiotic applications.

Probiotics can improve growth perform-ance by increasing nutrient utilisation and uptake, production of enzymes, amino acids, short-chain fatty acids and vitamins.

However, the specific mechanisms in scientific evaluations are often hard to elucidate, due in part to the ethical and methodological limitations of animal stud-ies, together with complex relationships between possible modes of action.

Bacteria commonly found in the gut, including Aeromonads, are known to pro-duce proteases and other gut microbes produce amino acids which could be used by the host.

This helps to explain the findings of Newsome et al. (2011) who showed that tilapia can obtain their essential amino acid requirements from GI microbiota alone when dietary sources are low or absent.

Other authors have isolated gut microbes that can produce other enzymes involved in digestion (carbohydrases, esterases, lipases, phosphatases, peptidases, cellulases), some of which are being assessed as potential probiotics.

Anaerobic microbes can produce short-chain fatty acids (which can elevate gut motility and be used energy purposes or further lipid synthesis) by fermenting dietary carbohydrates. Obligate anaer-obes, primarily Cetobacterium somereae and Chlostridium spp. can produce large amounts of vitamin B12, thus tilapia do not require a dietary source of this vita-min because of the microbial production capability. Another mechanism which may improve digestive function is the enhance-ment of the morphology of the GI tract.

Morphological effects on the intestine

It has been reported that probiotics can affect fish GI function and morphology. In this respect, a study by Pirarat et al (2011) demonstrated that L. rhamnosus application as a dietary supplement encouraged the development of the intestinal structure of Nile tilapia.

The authors found the length of villous in the proximal and middle sections of the intestine were greater in the group of fish fed the probiotic. On the contrary, Nile tilapia that were fed P. acidilactici at 107 CFU /g for 32 days (Ferguson et al., 2010) showed no gross morphological differences in the intestine of fish fed the probiotic in comparison with the control group of fish.

However, a study with rainbow trout showed that dietary P. acidilactici may improve microvilli length and enterocyte endocytic activity (Merrifield et al. 2010b), which has yet to be studied in tilapia.

Stimulating the innate immune response

It is well documented that the modula-tion of the nonspecific immune system is one of the most important modes of action for probiotics.

In general, growth inhibitors, natural antibodies, cytokines, antibacterial peptides, chemokines, various lytic enzymes and components of the complement pathways are considered to be components of humoral parameters of the innate immune system whereas nonspecific cytotoxic cells and phagocytes constitute innate cellular components (Magnadóttir, 2006, Gómez and Balcázar, 2008).

Previous studies, have generally dem-onstrated some visible benefits on either the immune function, disease resistance, or both.

In order to explore an improvement of the immune system due to probiotic appli-cation, Ferguson et al (2010) confirmed that some aspects of the nonspecific immune response of Nile tilapia were positively affected by P. acidilactici.

The authors found that the serum lys-ozyme activity was significantly higher in the fish fed the probiotic diet in comparison with the control fish; furthermore, the total number of circulatory leucocytes was also elevated. In addition, another study examined the potential probiotic effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG on tilapia immunity.

After being fed a probiotic supplemented diet for 30 days, nonspecific parameters were significantly enhanced in the probiotic

group (Pirarat et al., 2011). It is noteworthy that the activity of innate immune param-eters can be affected by several external and internal aspects, including handling, crowding stress and temperature changes.

The dietary supplementation of pro-biotics can enhance both systematic and localised immunity in a wide range of fish including tilapia, rainbow trout, gilthead seabream, European seabass and grouper.

The effectiveness of probiotics in terms of protection against infectious pathogens is often attributed to elevated immunity. In tilapia, numerous probiotics have shown increased protection to Edwardsiella tarda and Aeromonas hydrophila infections. In other aquaculture species, protection against enteric red mouth disease, edwards-iellosis, furunculosis, lactococcosis and sev-eral other diseases have been documented with probiotic feeding.

Furthermore, probiotic treatment may provide ‘herd immunity’ from multiple dis-eases. Protection against viral and protozoan infections has also shown some successes in the fight to control Ichthyophthiriasis in rainbow trout and iridovirus in grouper.

ConclusionThe intensification of tilapia production

has caused an increase in bacterial infec-tions and issues associated with the over usage of antibiotics has highlighted the need to fight disease using more robust and sustainable methods, namely the administra-tion of probiotics.

Current literature clearly demonstrates that probiotics can benefit tilapia production.

Contrary results may stem from differ-ences in the species and strain of probiont, dosage, species and age/size of host fish, mode of application, feeding management, duration of supplementation, environmental conditions, farming practices and stocking densities.

Therefore, in order for the probiotics concept to be beneficial and cost-effective, future work must address these issues associated with the application methods and must be used in concert with suitable farm management.

ReferencesFAO (2010) The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2010 (Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 2010).

Ferguson RM, Merrifield DL, Harper GM, Rawling MD, Mustafa S, et al. (2010) The effect of Pediococcus acidilactici on the gut microbiota and immune status of on-growing red tilapia


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During the last 20 years, fishmeal and fish oil replacement has become a major concern for the

aquafeed industry to anticipate the exceptional aquaculture growth and the lack of marine raw materials availability forecasted for the coming years.

The dietary level of fishmeal remains a key driver of the feed performance, affect-ing feed palatability and feed utilization.

Year after year, the level of fishmeal in feeds designed for carnivorous species tends to decrease and is closed to reach a critical level for growth and feed utilisation. Plant and land-based feedstuffs are now commonly used in aquafeed formulations with success as an alternative to fishmeal but many studies have shown that balancing the dietary amino acid profile of plant rich diets to meet the fish amino acid requirements is not enough efficient to get satisfying fish and feed performances.

Fish are highly responsive to the low molecular weight nitrogen compounds coming from marine raw materials. They stimulate feed intake, growth and immune system.

Plant-based and land-based raw materi-als are poor in these highly soluble com-pounds which could explain their lack of performance when used at a high level of incorporation in diets. A solution to balance the level of soluble compounds and the feed protein molecular weight profile would be the incorporation of an adequate level of marine based protein hydrolysate.

Aquativ is specialised in the production of protein hydrolysate from raw materials

from different origin through controlled enzymatic hydrolysis. The core expertise of Aquativ makes possible to closely control the size of peptides generated during the process to reach the highest performance.

Many studies have been conducted by Aquativ to demonstrate the effectiveness of the application of hydrolysate at graded dietary level of fish meal. Some results are presented below.

Materials and methodsThree diets have been formulated to

contain a graded level of fish meal (five percent, 10 percent and 20 percent, cor-responding to diets FM5, FM10 and FM20 respectively) while meeting all the dietary requirements for European seabass (see Table 1). A fourth diet (FM5 + 5%MH) was formulated from the diet FM10, five percent powder marine hydrolysate replacing five percent fishmeal, both raw materials having the same nutritional profile (CP: 65 percent protein; crude fat: 12 percent). All the feeds had the following specifications: crude protein: 46±0.5 percent, crude fat: 16±0.5 percent, crude energy: 4900±50kcal/kg.

The trial was conducted in the experi-mental flow-through facilities of IFREMER, centre de Brest, France. Seawater (salinity: 35g/l) was filtered (high pressure sand filter) and thermoregulated (water temperature: 20 ± 1°C). Triplicate groups of 40 juvenile European seabass (initial mean body weight: 7.6±0.1g) were reared in 24 tanks of 80 one capacity (flow rate: three litres per minute; photoperiod: 12 hours light: 12 hours dark).

Three tanks were allotted at random to each diet.

The diets were distributed in excess to the fish, by automatic feeder (Arvotech, Finland), 10 times a day, for 56 days.

Uneaten feed were collected every day by home-made feed waste collectors, pooled and kept frozen till the end of the trial. Fish were counted and weighted at the beginning of the trial, every four weeks and at the end of the trial. Before every weigh-ing, fish were fasted for 24 hours. Survival was daily checked. Dead fish were counted and weighed.

Over the growth period, the following parameters were followed and calculated: survival, specific growth rate, voluntary feed intake and feed efficiency.

All data were analyzed by one-way analy-sis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Fisher test. Differences were considered significant at P<0.05.

Results and discussionNo significant difference in fish survival

was noticed at the end of the trial. Feed intake was not significantly influenced by the feed treatments (see Figure1).

After 56 days of trial, the growth per-formance was significantly decreased (see Figure 2) in fish fed the feed containing the lowest level of fishmeal (FM5).

This result is mainly explained by a significant deterioration of the feed utilisa-tion while the dietary fishmeal decreased (see Figure 3). Interestingly, the application of five percent marine hydrolysate allowed restoration of the growth performance at the same level than the feed containing the highest level of fish meal (FM20).

This gain is explained by an improvement of the feed utilisation compared to the treatments with no hydrolysate (FM5). In the same way, the substitution of five per-cent fishmeal by five percent of hydrolysate in the treatment FM10 resulted in a better feed utilisation but not significant.

Marine based protein hydrolysate improve the performance of feeds containing a low level of fish meal by V Fournier, M Herault, M Hervy, AQUATIV, ZA du Gohélis, 56250 Elven, France, Email: [email protected]


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If the marine hydrolysate and fishmeal have very closed amino acid profiles (see Figure 3), the analysis of the protein qual-ity of both raw materials showed that the soluble protein and peptide contribution are higher for the marine hydrolysate (see Figure 4).

The dietary inclusion of a high level of peptide had a clear positive effect on the feed utilization by the animal, demonstrating the importance of the protein molecular weight profile in the performance of raw materials and finished feeds

ConclusionsProtein hydrolysates represent key

ingredients to sustain the development of highly substituted fish meal feeds. It could enhance significantly the feed nutritional value, providing a high level of essential small soluble compounds not found in most of the non marine origin raw materials.

Table 1: Feed formulations

raw materials FM5 FM10 FM20 FM5 + 5%MH

Fish meal LT 5.00 10.00 20.00 5.00

Marine hydrolysate 0.00 0.00 0.00 5.00

Corn gluten meal 17.00 15.00 12.00 15.00

Wheat gluten meal 19.71 18.92 13.00 18.92

Rapeseed meal 11.15 9.00 7.00 9.00

Soyben meal (48 CP) 17.00 15.00 13.00 15.00

Wheat meal 10.00 12.83 17.68 12.83

DL methionine 0.57 0.53 0.47 0.53

Lysine HCL 1.58 1.44 1.09 1.44

Monocalcium phosphate 2.48 2.08 1.19 2.08

Fish oil 13.20 12.88 12.26 12.88

Premix 2.31 2.31 2.31 2.31


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Aquarium fish hobbyists can enjoy an impressive range of species, whose number is increasing every year.

In response to the growing aquarists’ needs manufacturers introduce foods with more and more sophisticated formulas. However, data concerning dietary habits of wild specimens are rudimentary and extremely hard to obtain. The knowledge about fish’s needs comes from observation rather than rigorous research.

Therefore, the common practice is to use research carried out on fish for human consumption instead despite the fact that it is not possible to create and maintain natural network of feeding relations in aquarium and many species-typical behavior patterns are simply not observed.

No wonder that a diet of aquarium fish is becoming more universal.

In the wild fish feed on insects, molluscs, crustaceans, fish, plants, algae, etc. These foods differ in terms of quality and quantity of nutrients.

In addition, fish’s diets vary throughout the year, as food availability varies depend-ing on the season. In the absence of their primary food, fish are forced to resort to less palatable alternatives, which they have declined so far.

It’s not possible to imitate natural liv-ing conditions of wild fish but you can compose a diet based on products with nutrient-rich compositions to diversify their diet, hence prevent nutritional deficiencies and numerous medical disorders. The most vulnerable is the hatch. Any deficiencies it experiences during this period can lead to deformities and developmental disorders.

For instance, Artemia nauplii, commonly used for rearing fry, lead to the decalcifica-tion of bones and reduction of the survival rate, if not supplemented by other foods.

Nutritional requirementsIn terms of their nutritional require-

ments ornamental fish can be divided into herbivores, omnivores and carnivores.

Prepared foods for herbivorous fish should be characterised with high content of plant material, including spirulina, chlo-rella, Kelp algae, spinach, nettle, etc. They should also be fed with fresh or frozen plants, mostly spinach, broccoli, zucchini, carrots, etc.

For carnivorous fish, which in the wild feed on fish, roe, fry and invertebrates, there’s a choice of frozen foods (krill, shrimps, fish fillets, squid, Daphnia pulex, Artemia, bloodworms, Tubifex etc.) and live foods (fish, Daphnia, Artemia, bloodworms, Tubifex, glassworm etc.) and multi-ingredi-ent and high-protein prepared foods.

Prepared foods for aquarium fish

Prepared foods available on the pet market can be divided into: multi-ingredient universal foods, used in feeding of most popular aquarium fish species and specialist foods, dedicated to particular species or groups of fish with sophisticated dietary demands, such as Tropheus cichlids, Malawi cichlids of mbuna group which feed on periphyton, breeding discus, goldfish, red parrots and algae-eaters from Loricariidae family etc.

A special group of foods are products enriched with various natural resources that improve fish’s health, enhance their coloration and increase their resistance to diseases.

The diversity of formulas is accompa-nied by a variety of forms in which prepared foods are available, so you can choose product perfectly adjusted to the size of your fish’s mouth and their way of feeding (from the surface of the water, its middle layers or from the bottom - see Figure 1).

The best feeding solution for bottom-feeders are granules and tablets. Fish feed-ing in the middle layers of the tank or at the bottom prefer slowly sinking granules, which turn out particularly effective in

multi-species tanks with fish eating in vari-ous parts of the aquarium.

Fish with small mouth eating under the surface of water will choose flakes, which prove highly effective in tanks where intraspecific competition takes place and weaker fish have a limited access to food. Flakes, floating all over the tank, are easily accessible even for smaller and weaker fish.

Tablets are recommended for timid fish, as they can be placed in fish’s favourite hiding places and for feeding the fry, due to the small particles that make up the tablet.

Immunity enhancing components

Prevention in fish is more effective than medical treatment. Well-nourished fish with a strong natural resistance to diseases is more likely to cope with stress (trans-port from farms to wholesalers, store, the customer’s home) and pathogens. In prepared foods for ornamental fish one can find numerous substances and resources, whose components enhance the immune system, for example stabilised vitamin C, beta-glucan, unsaturated fatty acids, spir-ulina, Kelp algae, chlorella, etc.

Stabilised vitamin C is a L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate resistant to high tempera-tures. Vitamin C reduces stress, stimulates the immune system, strengthens blood vessel’s walls and accelerates wound healing.

Unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs), including long-chain fatty acids Omega-3 and Omega-6, accelerate the regeneration of tissues, including skin, improving its function as a protective barrier.

Moreover, they are a building material of hormone-like cellular messengers - pros-taglandins and reproductive cells. Part of the demand for Omega-3 and Omega-6 fish cover themselves by producing them from simple UFAs, which they obtain from food.

However, carnivorous and marine fish should be supplied with Omega-3 fatty acids, because their ability to process them from simple UFAs is small.

Aquarium fish feeding by Aleksandra Kwaśniak-Placheta, * and Leszek Moscicki***Tropical - Tadeusz Ogrodnik, 25 Opolska Street, 41-507 Chorzow, Poland;**Lublin University of Life Sciences, 44 Doświadczalna Street, 20-280 Lublin, Poland


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Beta-1.3/1.6-glucan - a polysaccharide derived from yeast’s cell walls - is a natural immune stimulator that directly affects macrophages, increasing their capacity for phagocytosis of alien cells and their own cancer cells.

Extremely valuable components of foods for aquarium fish are algae and spirulina (Arthrospira platensis).

The share of the latter in fish feed depends on, inter alia, a very high protein content (55-70 percent) characterised by a high digestibility (90 percent).

In addition, protein of Spirulina contains most essential amino acids for fish (if not all).

The cell’s walls of this cyanobacteri-um are composed of mucopolysaccharides, which act as immunostimulators. In the cells of spirulina one should find three times more chlorophyll than in plants. Chlorophyll reduces the number of putre-factive bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. The high content of carotenoids, especially beta-carotene, makes foods with spirulina intensify coloration in fish, which is essen-tial in case of colourful breeding forms. Thanks to so many different substances spirulina enhances vitality and encourages the immune system.

Other relatively common algae supple-ments of aquafeed are chlorella and Kelp algae.

Chlorella is known for its high concen-tration of chlorophyll (seven percent in the dry matter) and large protein content (50 percent in the dry matter), rich in essential amino acids.

Health benefits are attributed to Chlorella Growth Factor, rich in nucleic acids. Kelp algae is a mixture of marine seaweed belonging to the brown algae, which are rich in minerals, including well-assimilable organic iodine compounds, UFAs, and vitamins. Their addition has a beneficial effect on metabolism and general condition of the fish.

Herbs in the aquariumNot only have the herbs been applied

to treat people, they are also commonly used as a dietary supplement in feeds for livestock and domestic pets. Herbs enhance food palatability, stimulate animals’ appetite, aid digestion and improve overall health.

They also act as an anti-inflammatory, antidiarrheal and bacteriostatic agents.

Herbs are also present in the aquarium. They play an important role in the prepara-

tion of water and are used as a component of both prepared foods and those produced in house conditions.

In Europe there are 25 species of basic herbal raw materials, including garlic and common nettle, which are used in foods for ornamental fish.

To manufacture prepared food produc-ers also use plants rich in the so called fitamins, which act on the body in a manner similar to vitamins. But unlike the vitamins, they do not have to be delivered each day. Fitamins are present in vegetable and herbal plants. They regulate metabolic proc-esses, detoxicate body and enhance overall condition. Fitamins include among others: polyphenols (flavonoids and phenolic acids), sulfur compounds (such as allin in garlic), tannins and carotenoids. The exceptional sources of fitamins in foods for fish are garlic, spinach, spirulina and Kelp algae.

Garlic (Allium sativum) is a well-known spice and herbal plant. Its cloves are com-posed of sulphur-containing compounds, inter alia, allin which becomes allicin when garlic is crushed. This is allicin to which garlic owes its strong antiseptic proper-ties and its characteristic flavour. Garlic also contains flavonoids, pectins, mucilages, several vitamins and trace elements.

Before it started to be widely used in prepared foods for fish, it had been added by fish enthusiasts to mixtures they had prepared in their homes, especially the ones for the discus, often targeted by gastrointes-tinal parasites.

Foods for ornamental fish also utilise nettle (Urtica dioica). The active substances in this plant are organic acids, flavonoids, carotenoids, tannins and others. Thanks to them, nettle regulates digestion. As a food supplement it has a beneficial influence on digestion and provides a number of fitamins, vitamins and trace elements.

Invertebrates used in feeding of ornamental fish

Before fish enthusiasts could take advantage of convenient and easy-to-store prepared foods, they had had to use natural foods, which they fished or bred themselves.

Despite many advantages the use of living organisms in the aquarium has one fundamental flaw – the organisms derived from nature can be a source of danger-ous pathogens. To avoid this threat you can chose frozen, dried and freeze-dried products. Invertebrates have also become the essential ingredient of prepared foods (see Table 1).

Antarctic Krill (Euphausia superba) is a source of easily-digestible protein, rich in essential amino acids. It is readily con-sumed by fish, especially in its processed form as an additive in flakes, granules and tablets. It is also characterized by a high palatability, resulting from the presence of amino acids (glycine, proline), nucleic acids and TMAO (trimethylamine oxide). These substances affect the taste and smell of the food. This is of particular importance in case of feeding wild caught specimens and com-mercial farming fish, which aren’t used to eat prepared foods and need encourage-ment. Apart from valuable protein Krill provides fish with unsaturated fatty acids, out of which 40 percent are PUFAs (polyun-saturated fatty acids), including 14.7 percent EPA and 8.3 percent DHA. Krill is also a great source of carotenoids ś natural pig-ments that enhance fish’s coloration.

Chironomids – red mosquito larvae – constitute a high-protein food, which contains around 60 percent crude protein and 10 percent fat in the dry matter. Due to the low content of unsaturated fatty acids (approximately 14 percent) and high con-tent of saturated fatty acids (approximately 28 percent of palmitic acid) the food cannot be used too often, because it can cause fatty degenerations and deficiency of PUFAs. Due to its high protein content it is a perfect food for spawners and fish weakened by illness or long transport, especially that fish take it very eagerly.

Tubifex (Tubifex tubifex) lives in bottom sediments, where they feed on organic matter, algae and bacteria that live in them. These organisms are very resistant to vari-ous pollutants that can accumulate in them.

However, using Tubifex from polluted environment can lead to poisoning of fish. Tubifex and chironomids are both added to prepared foods and subjected to freeze-drying process.

Daphnia is a source of protein and fat (including UFAs).

However, it contains a small number of highly unsaturated fatty acids: EPA and DHA. Protein content (20-25 percent) and fat content (2.4-20 percent) vary widely depending on the feed base of the tank, where crustaceans live and on the season.

The composition of Daphnia resembles freshwater shrimp: Gammarus pulex, which contains similar amount of valuable protein. It is a good source of unsaturated fatty acids, including n-3 acids, and carotenoids. One kilogram of dry matter of Gammarus


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fitaminy?, (in Polish), Postśpy Fitoterapii nr 6, (2-3);

Kibria G. et al., (1999), Utilization of wastewater-grown zooplankton: Nutritional quality of zooplankton and performance of silver perch Bidyanus fed on wastewater-grown zooplankton, Aquaculture Nutrition 5, 221-227;

Lu tomsk i J., (2001), Z n a c z e n i e ziół w terapii i dietetyce (in Polish), P o s t ś p y Fitoterapii 6, 2-3;

Opuszyśski K., (1979), P o d s t a w y biologii ryb (in Polish), PWR i L, Warszawa;

S u s h c h i k N.N. et al., (2003), Comparison of fatty acid composit ion

in major lipid classes of the dominant benthic invertebrates of the Yenisei river, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B 134, 111–122;

Tacon A.G.J., (1987), The nutrition and feeding of farmed fish and shrimp - a train-ing manual 2. Nutrient sources and compo-sition, A report prepared for the FAO Trust Fund GCP/RLA/075/ITA Project Support to the Regional Aquaculture Activities for Latin America and the Caribbean, Food And Agriculture Organization Of The United Nations, Brazil;

tations of the customers in this aspect are justifiably high as the options are impressive: containers acting as feeders, helping keep food in sterile conditions, transparent, but at the same time protected from ultraviolet radiation (see Figure 4). These challenges can be met only by few companies.

LiteratureBernard J.B., (1997), Feeding captive

insectivorous animals: nutritional aspects of insects as food, Nutrition Advisory Group Handbook, Fact Sheet 003;

Ciferri O., (1983), Spirulina, the edible microorganism, Microbiological Reviews, December, 551-578;

Clifford Chan, (2003), Exotic Discus of the World, Clean Ace Printing Press, Singapur;

Floreto E.A.T; Brown P.B.; Bayer R.C., (2001), The efects of krill hydrolysate-supplemented soya-bean based diets on the growth, colouration, amino and fatty acid profiles.; Aquaculture Nutrition 7; 33-43;

Gaillard M. et al., (2004), Carotenoids of two freshwater amphipod species (Gammarus pulex and G. roeseli) and their common acanthocephalan para-site Polymorphus minutus, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part B 139,129–136;

Ghioni C., Bell J.G., Sargent J.R., (1996), Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Neutral Lipids and Phospholipids of Some Freshwater Insects, Comp. Biochem. Physiol. Vol. l14B, No. 2, pp. 161-170;

Hasik J., (2001), Usprawnienia dietety-czne procesów metabolicznych. Co to sś

pulex contains about 700-800mg of carote-noids (with astaxanthin share of 40 percent).

Artemia salina (Artemia sp.) is a popular food for ornamental fish. It is used in its larval form (also independently hatched in house conditions), frozen or freeze-dried adult forms, or as an additive to pre-pared foods. Newly hatched larvae of Artemia contain 89 percent water, 6.7 percent crude protein, 2.1 percent fat, 1.1 percent ash and after drying ś 58 percent protein, 20 percent fat and 10 percent ash.

Adult Artemia contains 60 percent protein, 13 percent fat and 12 percent ash in the dry matter.

When compos-ing a diet for your fish, follow the basic nutritional princi-ples, taking into account the nutritional value of main nutrients. Compacted infor-mation concerning this issue is shown in Figures 2 and 3.

When composing a diet for your fish, take into account the proportions of multi-ingredient, vegetable and high-protein foods in the diagrams shown on Figure 3.

Conclusive remarksManufacture of aquaristic feeds which

meet high quality standards require an extensive know-how, the accuracy of processing and the use of a modern and sophisticated technological equipment.

It is much more complicated than the production of aquafeed for fish farming.

The quality of aquarium foods is imme-diately visible after the application, in the literal sense. Aquarist will immediately notice the loss of every single fish or the contamination of water in the tank caused by the dust from crumbled food, quickly decaying wastes or colorants.

Despite the wide range of various foods on the market, only few of the offered products meet the highest nutritional crite-ria, can guarantee safety of feeding and do not contaminate the aquatic environment.

The form and functionality of the packag-ing units are equally important. The expec-

Table 1: The content of crude protein, crude fat and ash in selected aquatic invertebrates (% of the dry matter)

Raw material C r u d e protein

Crude fat Ash

Artemia - adult form 60,0 13,0 12,0

Artemia larvae - nauplii 58,0 20,0 10,0

krill 70,0 10,4 12.6

Chironomidae 60,0 10,0 11,0

Daphnia 50,0 2,4 19,0

Tubifex 47,8 20,1 4,5


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THE AQUAFEED PHOTOSHOOT


THE AQUAFEED PHOTOSHOOT


Culture of uni-cellular algae is a pre-requisite for successful operations in hatchery practices for

shrimp, crab and most fish.

Problems with algal culture and inherent disadvantages are described here, with their advantages in many cases being overcome by these disadvantages. The current study describes a novel, industrialised approach to negate these disadvantages and to place hatchery culture methods on a more con-sistent and stable platform.

This strategy was designed and imple-mented by Meriden Animal Health of the UK and is presented in the form of the Phyconmmix range of products.

The important factorsIt is estimated that over 40 species of

uni-cellular algae are in use in the aquacul-ture sector. They are generally recognised as difficult to grow in mass culture, particularly in low light (cloudy) or rainy conditions. The most important factors to consider in algal culture are temperature, salinity, pH, light intensity, photoperiod and nutrient composition; the major expense in algal culture comes in the nutrient component.

Algae can require up to 17 different trace components in their culture medium.

The cost of production is further increased due to the requirement for specialist technicians. Large-scale culture increases the likelihood of breaches in bio-security, as pathogens can easily be transmitted from nearby culture tanks or via inadvertent introduction of insects etc.

Generally speaking, only one algal spe-

cies tends to be cultured per single farmed species, therefore nutrient composition becomes a critical factor especially when algae is entering its decline and death phases, and composition can therefore vary widely.

Since single species algae cannot provide all of the nutrients required by larval shrimp and fish, careful selection of a range of algal species which cover the spectrum of larval nutrient requirements would seem a logical progression. Said species of algae can be grown in a sterile, hermetically sealed, bio-secure environment, then harvested at pre-determined times during the log phase of growth to optimize nutrient quality and consistency.

Such algae can then be concentrated via centrifuge then packaged and stored prior to use.

Such a system is flexible in terms of algal composition in that formulations for fish and shrimp larvae can be tailored to meet the requirements of the larvae.

These concentrates are easily stored and applied to tanks and can also be used to enhance and enrich living feeds such as rotifers and Artemia nauplii. Its use reduces the need for mass culture tanks which can then be turned over to larval and nursery rearing and also reduces demand on labour time and equipment.

Larval quality is improved and develop-ment is accelerated, resulting in healthier, stronger larvae which can be sold at a premium, thereby improving returns on investment.

Materials and methodsA trial was run comparing live

Chaetoceros with a commercially available algal concentrate (Meridens Phyconmmix Shrimp ZM) as food sources for larvae of the white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in Thailand.

There were three control treatments and three test treatments in each study group, tank size was five tonne and stocking density at nauplius was 200/litre. As well as their conventional feeds the test groups were fed on Shrimp ZM two times/day to Mysis 3 and then three times/day to PL15 following the manufacturers feeding instructions.

Survival, length, weight, length/weight ratio, gut/muscle ratio, feed consumption, hepatopancreatic Vibrio count, formalin stress test were all recorded during this trial. Scanning Electron Microscope studies of the harvested post-larvae were also conducted.

The accumulated data allowed for a return on investment calculation to be made between the use of live and concen-trated algae during larval shrimp culture.

ResultsBy Zoea 2 an obvious size difference was

noted (Li, pers. Comm.). At the same time, controls experienced

an outbreak of Zoea 2 Syndrome and a significant mortality occurred. It was note-worthy that water quality in the test tanks was viewed as superior to that observed in live controls. This has been mirrored in other trials (Pota, pers comm.; Somhathai, pers.comm).

Figure 1 shows mean survival in the three concentrate treatments to be sig-nificantly higher than in the live controls.

Algal concentrates in hatchery culture by John S Clark PhD, Aquatic Animal Health and Nutrition Technical Consultant, Bangkok, Thailand


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Animals are significantly greater in length (see Figure 2) and significantly heavier (see Figure 3) than controls, which results in a significantly more favourable length/weight ratio (see Figure 4).

Similarly, feed utilisation seems superior in that the gut/muscle ratio favours muscle in the test groups (see Figure 5) and this is manifested as an increased Artemia nauplius and flake feed consumption (see Figures 6 and 7).

The final post-larvae are significantly stronger and more resistant to formalin stress as evinced by survival rates displayed in Figure 8. Scanning Electron Microscope studies show significant differences in exo-skeletal structure and strength (Plates 1 and 2) as well as in development rate of the compound eye (Plates 3 and 4).

Such differences in stress survival and the structural improvement in the animals fed concentrates has significance to the grow-out phase of farming operations.

Finally, cost and return on investment figure prominently in the vocabulary of any hatchery operator. It can be seen from Table 1 that use of concentrates does in fact lead to more profitable production of post-larvae and that this, coupled with the many advantages relating to ease of use make algal concentrates very attractive to hatchery operators.

DiscussionAnectodal evidence suggests that Zoea 2

Syndrome commonly experienced in many hatcheries is nutritional in origin but com-plicated by secondary invasion by bacteria or viruses (Li. Pers. Comm.). This study, in which no outbreak was experienced in the test groups, would tend to support that premise. The nutritional profile of a multi-algal species diet will be more complete than a single species diet and this will aid in the protection of target animals.

The improved water quality using con-centrates may simply be a function of improved shrimp larval health leading to improved vigour and appetite; it was noted feed consumption rates were higher but were non-detrimental to the larval environ-ment. In such an environment and with a much more complete, nutritionally balanced dietary regimen, it is not surprising that survival, growth, feed intake and resistance to stress are all significantly improved.

The developmental and structural advantages seen in the harvested post-larvae are of considerable interest to grow out farmers. In Plate 1 an examination of

the carapace by SEM reveals the carapace to be thin and pliable, and therefore more prone to damage. By contrast, the carapace of animals fed on concentrate appears much denser and stronger, and would therefore be capable of resisting much more handling stress. Such considerations are of vital importance to farmers.

Even in the case of the compound eye, the eye seems incomplete in the controls (Plate 3) and this will of course impact on feeding behavior. It seems in general the concentrate fed animals are more devel-oped than controls (Plate 4) and therefore more suited to the rigours of pond life. Advantages are therefore not restricted to simple survival and growth; there are many subtle advantages that may escape direct attention but become evident on deeper study.

This developmental advantage is also observed in trials with concentrates in the nutrition of larval fish. In a recent study on larval sea bass (Lates calcarifer) apart from the advantages in terms of survival and growth, significant developmental accel-eration was observed in development of dentition (Plate 5), taste bud (Plate 6) and buccal microbial flora (Plate 7).

When factors such as ease of storage, ease of use, nutritional consistency, absence of potential pathogens, reduced labour cost and freeing of tank space are considered alongside the aforementioned performance superiority, the future of algal concentrates as a significant tool in hatchery culture seems secure.

Acknowledgements The author would like to thank all

concerned for their support during the development of the products and those involved in the demonstration of the prod-uct performance.


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Increasingly, feed manufacturers are being required to address the issue of release of odour and harmful contaminants into the

surrounding community.

Local communities, special interest groups and government legislation all bring pressure to bear on factories to minimise real or perceived risks of contamination. There are no universally applied standards for odour or Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) emissions and to provide solu-tions that fit specific factory needs can be complex.

There is no single solution but under-standing the feed manufacturers problems certainly helps a great deal.

In recent years, there have been numer-ous changes regarding where production facilities are situated. Factory closures and relocation of manufacturing units has become commonplace. At the same time urban sprawl has resulted in residential areas being built closer to previously remote industrial areas.

Another pressure companies face is meeting local environmental needs.

So what does the industry need from its odour abatement equipment? This is a complex question and the answer needs to include:

• A compact design minimizing space

requirements• End of pipe solution• Low running cost• Minimal maintenance• Ability to operate at normal feed

manufacturing temperatures, to avoid cooling costs

• High odour removal efficiency• No chemical additions and need to

maintain chemistry• No liquid effluent waste• Instant on/off – no warm up time• Modular construction, ease of reloca-

tion if change of production location and ease the ability to add on modules according to required capacity

• Competitive capital costThis is a tall order but there is a technol-

ogy can answer most of these needs: Cold Plasma.

Direct Cold Plasma – A high-tech, high-voltage solution

In 2003 a global petfood manufacturer tested a new technology for odour removal, referred to as Direct Cold Plasma, on drier and extruder flash-off exhausts.

The technology had obvious advantages over more conventional solutions. As a result the petfood manufacturer looked for

a suitable technology partner for collabora-tion on the application of cold plasma on petfood applications.

In 2003 they formed such an agreement with APP (Applied Plasma Physics AS).

APP is both an R&D and equipment sup-ply company, specialising in the application of high voltage technology and non-thermal plasma systems for industrial processes. APP has now delivered more than 200 sys-tems, most running on difficult applications.

APP has experience on ultra-high odour applications – where odour levels can be over 200,000 odour units per m³ - and the company achieved odour removal efficien-cies of up to 97 percent. Another advantage that is unique for this specific technology is that both odour and dust are removed from the production emissions.

Cold Plasma Technology – Nature in a box

Odour bearing gases enter the cold plasma module, where care is taken to dis-tribute gases evenly as it enters the reaction chamber. The reaction chamber comprises a cluster of hexagonal cells. Running centrally through each cell is a corona wire, which is isolated from the rest of the chamber.

The high voltage generator distributes a modulating high voltage supply to each corona wire, and this process results in a

Direct Cold Plasma: The innovative answer to odour control in the food and feed industry by Havard Vetrhus, Director Sales & Marketing, Applied Plasma Physics AS, Norway, Tel: + 47 5160 2220, Email: [email protected]


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discharge between the corona wire and the cell wall. The discharge promotes the emission with high-speed electrons, which collide with background gas molecules cre-ating chemically active species known as radicals and charge carriers.

This is actually identical to what happens with pollution in the atmosphere. Reactions occur with the odour bearing compounds in the gas to be treated. Ambient air may be injected just prior to the reaction chamber to optimise humidity and temperature as well as adding ions to the gas stream.

In essence the cold plasma process encourages ‘oxidation’ of the odour bearing compounds at low temperature by creating discharge (cold plasma).

A closed-loop cooling unit ensures that operating conditions within the High Voltage Generator are maintained within controlled limits. A proprietary control system moni-tors the high voltage passed to each of the corona wires in the reaction chamber, and controls the voltage modulation that generates the cold plasma. The system also detects arcs between the corona wire and the cell wall, automatically shutting down electrical supply for a fraction of a second before power is reinstated.

The reaction chamber may be oper-ated with the gas flow passing upwards or downwards depending on site layout. The unit is capable of operating on emissions with relative humidity close to 100 percent, although the closer to 100 percent RH the unit operates, the higher the possibility of arcs and consequently risks of reduced efficiency. The unit can be operated with emission temperatures up to 70°C. In most cases in the feed industry, the emission temperature from dryers will be less than this temperature limitation.

Maintenance is minimal, if the unit is used as a dust collector as well as odour abatement system, then the unit would have a ‘wash-down’ maybe once per week and an internal inspection once a month would be recommended. Operating costs are very low and mostly associated with the cost of electricity; 10-20kW for a standard 20,000m³/h cold plasma unit.

A costing exercise produced by one of APP’s customers, is shown below. This is based on a 10-year period, including both investment and operating cost for a volume of 20,000 m³/h. The operating costs for the scrubber alone or scrubber biofilter do not include cost of water.

Testing in the petfood and fish feed industry

Since 2003, extensive testing with a pilot system both on extrusion flash-off, driers and coolers has been carried out. All possible variables have been reviewed to determine the optimum operating condi-tions for the cold plasma system.

Variables tested:• Residence time (determines volume

to be handled by a standard module)• Effects of water scrubber at inlet or

outlet of cold plasm• Cold plasma unit operating alone• Adding water to humidify inlet or

outlet gas• Air infiltration volume (ion

enrichment)• Intensity of cold plasma generation• Geometry and arrangement of reac-

tion cells The pilot plant is designed to handle

1600m³/h and tests were repeated to check validity. Independent olfactometry testing was used as a means of determining odour reduction efficiency.

Test results indicate that odour removal efficiencies of up to 90 percent are achiev-able within the food and feed industry and that the standard colds plasma module will handle around 20.000Am³/h.

Higher efficiencies may be achieved by using a final polishing module. During test-ing, both high and low odour concentra-tions were experienced; nonetheless cold plasma achieved real odour reductions even on very low inlet concentrations, something that is not always the case on alterna-tive technologies.

Overall the tests indicated that the cold plasma unit oper-ated most effec-tively without a scrubber either at the inlet or outlet. Dust removal was very effective (99 percent reduction).

As a result of these tests, several pet-food sites have now installed cold plasma technology for their processes.

As per today, 50 units are in operation

in the petfood industry, a figure that will increase substantially in the years to come.

The experience of the environmen-tal needs of the feed industry, and APP’s approach to innovative design is combined to offer a competitive alternative solution to a problem that is of increasing signifi-cance to the food and feed industry.


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Given that supply of natural resources in the oceans is under increasing pressure, the marine aquaculture

industry is growing and looks set to overtake traditional fishing industry as a major source of edible seafood.

In Europe and Asia the emphasis is on transforming the current industry into a sustainable industry.

In fact, China has become the only country in the world whose aquaculture production volume exceeds that from tra-ditional fishing. The country’s annual output for aquaculture constitutes as much as 20 percent of global production output.

However, owning to constraints placed by out-of-date aquaculture technologies and facilities, as well as a series of unfa-vorable natural environmental conditions, China’s marine aquaculture faces challenges with respect to ensuring the adequate sup-ply of healthy and high-quality aquaculture products.

Given this background, International Copper Association China (ICA) and the European Copper Institute (ECI) are introducing copper alloy mesh into China, and respectively Europe, following its great success in introducing the new technology into Chile Salmon farming to contribute to the sustainable development of the world marine aquaculture.

The Blue RevolutionIn China, a trial targets improving the

professional standards of China’s agri-cultural technology and fostering a ‘Blue Revolution’ for Chinese food production, through meeting Chinese’s growing needs for protein.

This trial kicked off through a partner-ship with the East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, a subsidiary organization

of Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences and ICA. They jointly embarked on a research project, evaluating the effectiveness and potential to introduce copper alloy mesh into China’s marine aquaculture, as well as exploring innovations to adapt this technol-ogy to the marine environment of China.

During the past two years, this project has initiated a series of R&D efforts, focus-ing on verification, design, production and trial run of copper alloy mesh cages tailor made for Chinese local marine environment.

To-date 10 pilot cages have been suc-cessfully placed in Dalian, Weihai, Taizhou and Fangchenggang for testing and on-going research. The types of fish bred in these cages include large yellow croaker, black rockfish, bass and greenling, etc.

Pseudoscisena crocea Sebastodes fuscescens Lateolabrax japonicus Hexagrammos otakii

Along with this trial, ICA and ECI also rolled out a series of promotional activities, to educate Chinese and European stake-holders and audiences on the benefits of adopting copper alloy mesh.

In August 2011, ECI presented the cop-per alloy cage solution at AquaNor and presented a trial case deployed in Turkey over the summer. In September of 2011, ICA joined efforts with the East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute to demonstrate the significant outcome of the their trial project at the 11th Five-year National Fishery Technological Innovation Exhibition, a major activity of the Strait Fishery Expo, one of the most influential fishery trade event in China.

These activities significantly raised awareness of copper alloy mesh in the marine aquaculture industry, which opened up a favorable condition for further explor-

ing the potential of this technology in Europe and China.

Copper Alloy Mesh

Copper alloy mesh cage sustaining the world’s marine aquaculture


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Caption: In September of 2011, International Copper Association (ICA) joined efforts with the East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute (ECSFRI), to demonstrate the significant outcome of introducing copper alloy mesh into China’s marine aquaculture through their partnership at the Fuzhou Strait Fishery Expo, one of the most influential fishery trade events in China

Caption: Leveraging this opportunity, ICA organised a media day, including a tour to the exhibition booth and a media roundtable, with the aim of raising awareness of the benefits of adopting copper alloy mesh in marine aquaculture, and opening up a favorable condition for further exploring the potential of this technology in China. Thirteen media participants, including six Fuzhou-based general media and seven nationwide circulated fishery trade media attended the media day activities. Copper alloy mesh was positioned as a solution to improve the professional standards of China’s agricultural technology and foster a ‘Blue Revolution’ for Chinese food products; this message was consistently adopted in all the communications materials, including video, brochure and press release.


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Feed Management

This report provides a brief overview of coping strate-gies and management measures to strengthen

national capacity to address aquafeed supply and to mitigate against rising costs of aquafeed ingredients in terms of policies, research and private sector and farmers’ initiatives.

Government and policies• Research institutes should build ‘insti-

tute–industry research partnerships’ with feed manufacturers to improve stability of feeds and to increase dietary nutrient retention

• Given the current limited capacities of national, highly decentralised institutions to conduct the necessary research, development of networking between regional and national institu-tions appears to be essential. Policies to foster collaboration among the var-ious stakeholders must be formulated and nurtured. Collaboration among local and international research cen-tres, universities, non–governmental organisations and the private sector must also be strengthened

• Government must formulate policy guidelines that encourage the private

sector to participate in research and to build institute–industry partner-ships in research. Roles and activities that require public support and those that need to be left to the private sector need to be identified

• Research policies in aquaculture must reflect present and future incentives for feed manufacturers and incorpo-rate links to other policies regarding taxes, tariffs and subsidies. Import tar-iffs on feed ingredients and on equip-ment should be reduced or removed to lower the cost of producing fish feeds and to maintain and improve the country’s competitiveness in the world market

• Government should grant tax holidays for feed manufacturers to compensate for price rises

• Other sectoral policies regarding credit and investments continue to play significant roles in promoting the expansion of aquaculture throughout the country. Credit is still needed to finance different aquaculture activi-ties, including feed manufacturing and feed operation costs of farmers. An appropriate credit program should be devised to serve these functions. While private investment should be encouraged, considerable public

investment in infrastructure, capacity building (of farmers and small–scale feed producers) and institutional strengthening are needed to sustain the growth and development of the aquaculture sector

• Capacity building of small–scale farm-ers should particularly be targeted towards improved feed management at the farm level, including selection of appropriate feed, quantity of feed and feeding methods

• Water scarcity due to climatic changes has triggered food crisis in many regions of the world and led to recent food shortages and an increase in prices, including prices for ingre-dients such as grains used in fish feeds. Therefore, agriculture needs to be more efficient to reduce water consumption. Increasing population, pressure on limited land and increas-ing industrialisation and urbanisation require agriculture to increase pro-ductivity and yield. Thus, the key solu-tion is to improve water use ratio and efficiency. Therefore, governments should invest in innovative technolo-gies for water efficient practices in agriculture to face the food crisis. This in turn will benefit the aquaculture feed industry

The fifth article in a series, taken from a new aquaculture book

by Krishen J Rana, Sunil Siriwardena and Mohammad R Hasan

Impact of rising feed ingredient prices on aquafeeds and aquaculture

production:Coping strategies and management measures to strengthen national capacity to ensure aquafeed

supply can be reviewed under government policies, through regional and international organizations and

the private sector.


Feed Management


Regional/international organisation• Research to replace proteins and lipids

with alternate plant sources, and to produce nutritionally balanced diets in a cost effective manner needs to be coordinated at a regional and international level

• Promotion of low polluting feeds such as low phosphorus diets, improvement of food conversion ratios (FCRs) and reduction of nutrient release to the ecosystem should be given higher priority

• There is a knowledge gap about the dietary requirements of many com-mercially important cultured species which is evidenced by fish feeds which lack the balanced nutrient regime required by target species and may well inadvertently increase feed costs

• Solutions to fishmeal substitution are

multifaceted. Recently, microbial and algal species have provided new inno-vative sources of proteins and land-based animal by-products are being investigated. Research on these new protein sources needs to continue with special emphasis on the issue of the cost of manufacturing

• To address the critical information gap and to establish networking among the various stakeholders, it would be useful to develop a web–based information network, focusing on aquaculture nutrition and feed resources together with guidelines on how to use and apply the informa-tion. The information network would also include analysis of the availability and accessibility of aquaculture feed and feed ingredients and commod-ity prices as part of a program to understand the impact of soaring feed

prices. The database would be linked to the market prices of feed and com-modities and would assist the various stakeholders in devising coping strate-gies under different scenarios and with different options

The private sector• The private sector should establish

small-scale feed producers/manufac-turers’ associations catering to farm clusters and the concurrent organisa-tion of clusters of small farmers in aquaclubs and/or farmers’ associations

• To reduce production costs, farmers should conduct a technical audit to optimise feed management techniques – the selection of appropriate feed, (for example, extruded vs. sinking pellet), quantity of feed used and feed-ing methods (for example, increasing feeding frequency)

• To reduce production costs further, farmers should minimise other oper-ating costs

• The private sector should improve natural productivity (for example, the use of fertilizers) in the relevant production systems to offset costly micronutrients and, therefore, feed costs

As of December 2007, farmers and feed producers in the Mekong (Cuu Long) delta region were faced with serious losses as the price of fish feed continued to rocket.

The director of a domestic feed-pro-ducing company said that the crux of the problem was the rising costs of raw mate-rials such as bran, soybean residue and salt-water fish.

“They are becoming just too expensive, especially imported material. Producers in

the region are looking for replacements but it’s a challenge to find products with a high enough protein content,” he said.

During November 2007, the prices of basic ingredients increased by 30 percent, pushing up the cost of feed by VND13,000-VND13,500 per kg (US$0.62-0.65/kg).

For fish farmer Le Thi Thu from Tan Khanh Trung village in Dong Thap Province, the accelerating prices had a huge impact on her spending, as she needed at least three tonnes of feed per day to maintain her two ponds.

“It means I have to spend an additional VND1.8 million (US$86.50) per day if I want to buy my favourite brand Pro Conco,” she said.

Things were just as bad in the neigh-bouring provinces of An Giang and Can Tho, where fish farmer Nguyen Thi Tien in Thot Not District, Can Tho, com-plained.

“With the current price of feed, my family has to spend about VND120 million (US$5760) extra to maintain our pond, which is capable of producing 100 tonnes of fish.”

Many farmers were reduced to taking out high-interest bank loans to cope with the crisis, while others were turning to home-produced feed. One fish farmer in Chau Phu District, An Giang Province , said he invested VND500 million (US$24,000) in setting up a feed production-line and was reaping the rewards.

“I can make as much as I want when I want,” he said.

Experienced farmer Sau Huu, from Thot Not District, said he heads to border areas to barter for cheaper materials. Being the owner of a pond capable of producing 8000 tonnes of catfish a day, his needs were great.

“I go to the border area near Cambodia to buy soybean residue and place orders with domestic seaports to get cheaper seafish,” he said.

Farmer response to rising aquafeed prices


Feed Management


Are you a Perendale bookworm?Perendale Publishers Ltd, the publishers of International Aquafeed, has set up an online Amazon-based ‘Book Shop’ that lets you browse a wide range of recently-published reports and books on aquaculture related topics. You can read an extended review before making your selection and purchasing directly from Amazon.

We will undertake to put forward for your consideration the most recent publications and as a result become a reference point for your reading and research.

Book reviewFish Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment

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Catfishes as a case study

ISBN: 1-57808-291-9


Book reviewPathogens of Wild and Farmed Fish: sea lice

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VIV/ILDEX India2012

February 22 - 24, 2012

Your portal to India’sFeed to Meat trade

Bangalore, India

Eggs! Feedtech Croptech

The dedicated event for theIndian Milling industries

www.viv.netwww.ildex.com

VIV/VIV/VIV ILDEX

Special themes

February 22 - 24, 2012

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for more information

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To place a classified advert in our next issue, and take

advantage of our great extra online exposure, please contact the Sales

Team:

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works!

Unique opportunities to achieve high volume exposure for your mar-

keting budgets

Classified Advertisements will now appear on the

websites our TWO online distribution channels: DocStoc and Scribd.

Both these high traffic channels specialise in the targeted positioning of

industry, government and academic documents and

information. Each document is accompanied by independ-

ent, unsolicited reader statistics

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EVENTSEVENTS

Events Key:

* = See our magazine at this show

• = More information available

EVENTS 2011

8th - 9th September 11 *BioMarine Business Convention, Nantes – FranceContact: Pierre Erwes, La Grave du Tour, 40430 Callen, France

Tel: +33 678 078284Email: [email protected]: http://convention.biomarine.org

14th September 11 *UK Fishing and the Future of the Common Fisheries Policy, Central London, United KingdomContact: Simon Regan, 4 Bracknell Beeches, Old Bracknell Lane West, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 7BW, United Kingdom

Tel: +44 1344 864796Fax: +44 1344 420121Email: [email protected]: www.westminsterforumprojects.co.uk/forums/event.php?eid=284

15th September 11 *GLOBALG.A.P TOUR2011 – Warsaw (Poland), Le Royal Méridien Bristol, PolandContact: Nina Kretschmer, c/o GLOBALGAP Foodplus GmbH, Spichernstr 55, D-50672 Cologne, Germany

Tel: +49 221 57993693Fax: +49 221 5799389Email: [email protected]: www.tour2011.org

25th - 30th September 11 *Aquaculture Feed Extrusion, Nutrition and Feed Management Short Course, Texas A&M UniversityCollege Station, Texas, USAContact: Dr Mian N Riaz, Food Protein R&D Center, 2476 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2476, USA

Tel: +1 979 8452774Fax: +1 979 8452744Email: [email protected]: http://foodprotein.tamu.edu/extrusion/

28th - 29th September 11 *Protein Technology Innovation 2011 Conference, Amsterdam, The NetherlandsContact: Marjolijn Cohen, Jan van Eijcklaan 2, 3723 BC Bilthoven, The Netherlands

Tel: +31 30 2252060Email: [email protected]: www.bridge2food.com

18th - 21st October 11Aquaculture Europe 2011, Rhodos, GreeceContact: EAS, Slijkensesteenweg 4, B8400 Ostend, BelgiumTel: +32 59 323859Fax: +32 59 321005Email: [email protected]: www.easonline.org

18th October 11 *GLOBALG.A.P TOUR2011 – Atlanta, The Westin Peachtree Plaza, Atlanta, USAContact: Nina Kretschmer, c/o GLOBALGAP Foodplus GmbH, Spichernstr 55, D-50672 Cologne, Germany


18th - 21st October *Aquaculture Europe 2011, Rhodos, GreeceContact: EAS, Slijkensesteenweg 4, B8400 Ostend, Belgium

Tel: +32 59 323859Fax: +32 59 321005Email: [email protected]: www.easonline.org

26th - 28th October 11 *Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Innovation and Technology, Expoforum, Hermosillo, Sonora, MéxicoContact: Zoila López, Lluvia 225 Bis, Col. Jardines del Pedregal, C.P., 01900, México, D. F.

Tel: +52 55 51356128 Ext. 113Fax: +52 55 51356128Email: [email protected]: www.aquamarinternacional.com

10th - 12th November 11 *Expo Pesca & AcuiPeru, Jockey Convention Center, PeruContact: JKUMAR ( J K), 674/6 UE, Karnal, India

Tel: +91 9812 390009Fax: +91 1844 030999Email: [email protected]: www.thaiscorp.com

23rd November 11 *GLOBALG.A.P TOUR2011 – BangkokContact: Nina Kretschmer, c/o GLOBALGAP Foodplus GmbH, Spichernstr 55, D-50672 Cologne, Germany


Aquarama 2011 enjoys ‘quality’ success

In the words of Dr Alex Ploeg, Secretary General of Ornamental Fish International, “Participating in Aquarama every two years is like coming home to meet long-time friends and business partners.” Aquarama 2011 was a most successful meeting of the industry ... “good for business and good for contactss” says Dr Ploeg For Malaysian exhibitor, Bukit Merah Aquaculture, Aquarama 2011 (May 26-29, 2011 in Suntec Singapore) was “an excellent show”, while first-time exhibitor, Doshe Aquaristik, from Germany “was very impressed with this exhibition” and Philippine company, Animalia 2000 Ichiban Inc, felt it was “a fantastic show”.These sentiments were echoed by many of those who attended this year’s glittering event. The organisers were encouraged by the fact that, despite the still-deep economic crisis affecting many countries and regions where substantial numbers of traditional attendees and exhibitors are based, Aquarama 2011 still pulled in the international trade from all corners of the globe. No fewer than 23 countries were represented among the exhibitors, while trade visitors came from an impressive total of 73 countries.Just as in 2009, there was a ‘good-feel’ factor among the exhibitors, who maintained that the quality of the visitors and their genuine interest in doing business, more than made up for the more modest attendance figures. In their words, quality is always worth more than quantity.Were this not to be the case, there’s no way that around 55 percent of this year’s exhibitors would have either already signed contracts for 2013, or taken options to do so. Equally, if the level of business had not matched expectations, no company in its right mind would reserve a larger booth for 2013, as some important exhibitors have already done.Aquarama is, of course, much more than just a wide-ranging display of virtually every aquatic product you can think of. It is this, of course (and impressively so), but it also includes an unparalleled International Fish Competition, which this year received a staggering 1355 entries, three brand new competitive elements, including a Freshwater nano Tank Competition, a free trade seminar programme consisting of three sessions and presented by top international speakers (deemed by many to be the best-ever staged at Aquarama), a fully subscribed Fish Farm visit ... and much more besides.In the end, the organisers were justifiably pleased with the results. As Michiel Kruse, Managing Director of UBM Asia Singapore com-mented, “Organising an event as complex and important for the industry as Aquarama, always presents a stiff challenge. We are there-fore delighted that the efforts of our hardworking team and the inval-uable and unflinching support of the industry, has made it possible for us to stage an event worthy of the name ‘Aquarama’, especially at such a difficult time in world economics.”To access further details of Aquarama 2011, and see a selection of this year’s photographs, visit the show’s website (www.aquarama.com.sg). For details and reservations relating to Aquarama 2013, please contact Jennifer Lee, Project Manager at [email protected], Doris Woo, Sales Manager Email: [email protected] or Adeline Chang, Project Executive Email: [email protected]


Events Key:

* = See our magazine at this show

• = More information available

EVENTS

Is there an event that our readers need to know about!Events listings are free of charge and will appear in the printed magazine and online.To add your event to our listing, contact Tuti Tan - [email protected]

1st - 5th September 12 *Aqua 2012, Prague, Czech RepublicContact: Mr Mario Stael, Marevent, Begijnengracht 40, 9000 Gent, Belgium

Tel: +32 9 2334912Fax: +32 9 2334912Email: [email protected]: www.marevent.com

15th - 17th February 12 *FIAAP, Victam & GRAPAS Asia 2012, BITEC, Bangkok, ThailandContact: Andy West, Victam International, P O Box 411, Redhill, RH1 6WE, United Kingdom

Tel: + 44 1737 763501Email: [email protected]: www.victam.com

22nd - 24th February 12VIV/ILDEX India 2012, BIEC centre, Bangalore, IndiaContact: Guus van Ham, PO Box 8800, 3503 RV Utrecht, The NetherlandTel: +31 30 2952302Fax: +31 30 2952809Email: [email protected]: www.viv.net

1st - 4th May 12 *Skretting Australasian Aquaculture 2012 International Conference and Trade Show, Melbourne Convention Centre, AustraliaContact: Sarah-Jane Day, PO Box 370, Nelson Bay NSW 2315, Australia

Tel: +61 437 152234Fax: +61 2 49841142Email: [email protected],auWeb: www.australian-aquacultureportal.com

1st - 2nd December 11 *5th International Algae Congress, Berlin, GermanyContact: Mrs Paulien Hoftijzer, Stationsplein Noord 4, 3554 AD Woerden, The Netherlands

Tel: +31 348 484 004Fax: +31 348 484 009Email: [email protected]: www.algaecongress.com

1st - 3rd December 11 *IAI Expo, NDRI, Karnal, IndiaContact: Ms Shweta Baweja, 923, Sector-9, Urban estate, Karnal, India

Tel: +91 9991705009Fax: +91 1842231050Email: [email protected]: www.iaiexpo.co.in

EVENTS 2012

7th - 9th February 12EuroKarma 2012, MTPolska CenterUl. Marsa 56 c, 04-242 Warszawa, PolandContact: Agnieszka Niemczewska, PO BOX 73, 32-332 Bukowno, PolandTel: +48 514 544048Email: [email protected]: www.eurokarma.eu

Is there an event that our readers need to know about!Events listings are free of charge and will appear in the printed magazine and online.To add your event to our listing, contact Tuti Tan - [email protected]

13th - 16th November 12 *EuroTier 2012, Hannover / GermanyContact: Dr Karl Schlösser, DLG, Eschborner Landstrasse 122, 60489 Frankfurt/Main, Germany

Tel: +49 69 24788-259Fax: +49 69 24788-113Email: [email protected]: www.EuroTier.com

VIV/ILDEX India2012

February 22 - 24, 2012

Your portal to India’sFeed to Meat trade

Bangalore, India

Eggs! Feedtech Croptech

The dedicated event for theIndian Milling industries

www.viv.netwww.ildex.com

VIV/VIV/VIV ILDEX

Special themes

February 22 - 24, 2012

Visit our website

for more information

adv-ildex-india-2012-90x132-V2.indd 1 06-07-11 13:0348 | INterNatIoNal AquAFeed | November-December 2011

v

In every issue of International Aquafeed we will be providing a list of companies and web links related to key stories & topics within each specific issue.If you would like information on how your company can get involved, please contact our Marketing Team.Tel +44 1242 267706

Alltech European Bioscience Centre

= www.alltech.com

Amandus Kahl GmbH & Co

= www.amandus-kahl-group.de

Andritz Feed & Biofuel

= www.andritz.com

Biomin Holding GmbH

= www.biomin.net

Borregaard

= www.borregaard.com

Buhler AG

= www.buhlergroup.com

Chemoforma Ltd

= www.chemoforma.com

Dinnissen BV

= www.dinnissen.nl

Dishman Netherlands B.V

= www.dishman-netherlands.com

European Copper Institute

= www.eurocopper.org

Evonik Degussa GmbH

= www.evonik.de

Extru-Tech

= www.extru-techinc.com

Geelen Counterflow

= www.geelencounterflow.com

HAMLET PROTEIN A/S

= www.hamletprotein.com

Inve Aquaculture

= www.inve.com

Lallemand Animal Nutrition

= www.lallemandanimalnutrition.com

Muyang Group

= www.muyang.com

Norel SA

= www.norelnature.com

Novartis International AG

= www.novartis.com

Nutri-Ad International nv

= www.nutriad.net

Ottevanger Milling Engineers B.V.

= www.ottevanger.com

Shanghai ZhengChang International Machinery

and Engineering Co., Ltd

= www.zhengchang.com

Tapco Inc

= www.tapcoinc.com

The Gold Coin Group

= www.goldcoin-group.com

UBM Asia Trade Fairs Pte Ltd

= www.aquarama.com.sg

Wenger Manufacturing Inc.

= www.wenger.com

Wynveen International B.V.

= www.wynveen.com

Zhengchang Group (ZCME)

= www.zhengchang.com

Innovations for a better world.

Bühler AG, Feed & Biomass, CH-9240 Uzwil, Switzerland, T +41 71 955 11 11, F +41 71 955 28 96

[email protected], www.buhlergroup.com

Fatten up your bottom line. Bühler high-performance animal and aqua feed production

systems are used by leading companies around the world. These producers know they

can rely not just on the technology itself, but also on the support that accompanies it. A

service combining local presence with global expertise both lowers feed mill operating

costs and increases capacity utilization. To find out more, visit www.buhlergroup.com

Aqua_Feed-July_2011.indd 1 28.07.2011 12:23:44

Innovations for a better world.

Bühler AG, Feed & Biomass, CH-9240 Uzwil, Switzerland, T +41 71 955 11 11, F +41 71 955 28 96

[email protected], www.buhlergroup.com

Fatten up your bottom line. Bühler high-performance animal and aqua feed production

systems are used by leading companies around the world. These producers know they

can rely not just on the technology itself, but also on the support that accompanies it. A

service combining local presence with global expertise both lowers feed mill operating

costs and increases capacity utilization. To find out more, visit www.buhlergroup.com

Aqua_Feed-July_2011.indd 1 28.07.2011 12:23:44

Documents

Volume 14 Issue 6 2011 - Perendale Publishers Ltd. · PDF fileVolume 14 Issue 6 2011 ... extrusion of aquafeed BIOMET Zn Aqua: ... Borregaard LignoTech expands in the Middle East and