VOLUME 55, NUMBER 2 THE MAGAZINE OF THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY JUNE 2024 W RLD AQUACULTURE SUDDEN UNUSUAL MORTALITY SYNDROME IN EASTERN OYSTERS An Increasingly Significant Problem From Maryland to Texas, USA
WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • JUNE 2024 1 WORLD AQUACULTURE MAGAZINE WORLD AQUACULTURE magazine is published by the World Aquaculture Society. The home office address is: World Aquaculture Society, PO Box 397, Sorrento LA 70778-0397 USA. P and F: +1-225-347-5408; Email: JudyA@was.org World Aquaculture Society Home Page: www.was.org WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY OFFICERS, 2023-24 Humberto Villarreal, President Jennifer Cobcroft Blair, Immediate Past President David Cline, President-Elect Reginald Blaylock, Treasurer Rumaitha Al Busaidi, Secretary DIRECTORS Victoria Tarus Hillary Egna Angela Caporelli Etienne Hinrichsen Shivaun Leonard Yahira Piedrahita Marina M. Rubio Benito, Student Director CHAPTER REPRESENTATIVES Foluke Omotayo Areola, African Salin Krishna, Asian Pacific Ik Kyo Chung, Korean Francisco Javier Martínez Cordero, Latin America and Caribbean Abigail Bockus, USAS HOME OFFICE STAFF Judy Edwards Andrasko, Director, JudyA@was.org Killian A. Haydel, Assistant Director, killianh@was.org WORLD AQUACULTURE EDITORIAL STAFF C. Greg Lutz, Editor-in-Chief Mary Nickum, Editor Cecilia C. Nichols, Editorial Assistant Linda Noble, Layout Editor WAS CONFERENCES AND SALES John Cooksey, Executive Director of Conferences and Sales World Aquaculture Conference Management P.O. Box 2302, Valley Center, CA 92082 P: +1-760-751-5005; F: +1-760-751-5003 Email: worldaqua@was.org MANUSCRIPTS AND CORRESPONDENCE Submit manuscripts as Microsoft Word files to C. Greg Lutz at glutz@agcenter.lsu.edu AND Mary Nickum at Editor@worldaquaculture.us. Letters to the Editor or other comments should be sent to the Editor-in-Chief at glutz@agcenter.lsu.edu. WORLD AQUACULTURE (ISSN 1041-5602), is published quarterly by the World Aquaculture Society, 6203 Jonathan Alaric Avenue, Gonzales, LA 70737 USA. Individual subscriptions are a benefit of membership in the World Aquaculture Society. Annual membership dues: Students, $45; Individuals, $90; Corporations, $295; Sustaining, $155 (individuals or non-profits); Lifetime (individuals) $1,400. ©2024, The World Aquaculture Society. W RLD AQUACULTURE VOL. 55 NO. 2 JUNE 2024 14 Student Presentation Award Winners at Aquaculture America 2024 Allen Pattillo and Gulnihal Ozbay 18 Student Sub-Units: The Future of USAS Julianne Grenn and Michelle Walsh 20 the Journal of the World Aquaculture Society Editor’s Choice Awards 55(2) 23 Chlorella vulgaris as a Source of Vitamin C for Pikeperch Sander lucioperca Larvae Carlos Yanes Roca 28 Advancing Aquaculture Safety: HRPzyme-based Detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Ali Parsaeimehr and Gulnihal Ozbay 34 Aquaculture in Colombia: Current Affairs in 2024 A.C. Piza-Jerez 36 Sudden Unusual Mortality Syndrome (SUMS) in Eastern Oysters William C. Walton, Tal Ben-Horin, Jessica M. Small, Adriane K. Michaelis and Ryan B. Carnegie 40 An Isochrysis Crisis Tiffany Clavijo 43 USDA ARS Stakeholder-Driven Research in Aquaculture Caird Rexroad III 48 Solving the Mineral Puzzle to Enhance Black Soldier Fly Nutrition in Aquafeeds Evalyne W. Ndotono, Menaga Meenakshisundaram, Chrysantus M. Tanga, Shaphan Yong Chia and Fathiya M. Khamis 52 Powering Sustainable Aquaculture with Marine Energy Mikaela Freeman and Alexandra Freibott 59 Dietary Cholesterol Requirement for the Juvenile Cinnamon River Prawn, Macrobrachium acanthurus Alfredo Maldonado-Shibayama, Mario Alfredo Fernández-Araiza, Susana Alejandra Frías-Gómez, Mauricio Castillo-Dominguez and Luis Héctor Hernández-Hernández 62 Monovalent and Bivalent Vaccination Against Streptococcus Disease in Asian Seabass Nguyen Giang Thu Lan, Krishna R. Salin, Siwaporn Longyant, Saengchan Senapin and Ha Thanh Dong 66 The Environmental Effectiveness of Sea Lice Regulation in Salmon Aquaculture Mari Lie Larsen 70 Sobaity Seabream (Sparidentex hasta) Farming Practices in Saudi Arabia Benjamin C. Young and Ali AL Shaikhi COVER: The emergence of new disease threats has become almost inevitable for many aquaculture producers. See page 36 to learn about an emerging syndrome impacting US oyster growers. (CONTENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 2)
2 JUNE 2024 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG Contents (continued) 2 President’s Column 3 Editor’s Note 5 USAS Chapter Report 6 Asian Pacific Chapter Report 9 African Chapter Report 10 Latin American and Caribbean Chapter Report 12 Korean Chapter Report 74 Conference Calendar 75 Future Conferences and Expositions 76 Membership Application President’s Column Why are markets not growing sufficiently? If we look at the most recent reports on market trends, average fish prices will decline in 2024 causing aquaculture production to slowdown. So, we have some industry challenges. Among them, changing the narrative on social media related to aquaculture sustainability and product quality, improving marketing channels, and developing and maintaining supply continuity for quality products. At the top of the list, we need to encourage consumption of aquaculture products as demand towards seafood is influenced by affordability, local and regional food culture, and other consumer preferences. Towards 2050, Africa will be the biggest seafood importer, due to fast-growing food demand, and Europe the main exporter to the region. On the other hand, Latin America will be the largest exporter of finfish and crustaceans, with North America the major destination. To achieve this vision, we must look at the structural deficiencies these regions have while trying to develop new industries. In the case of aquaculture, under-development is often attributed to poor or incomplete public policies. These include, but are not limited to, deficient planning and lack of adequate governance, limited use of knowledge-based technologies, limited availability of specialized human resources and extension services, insufficient value-chain investment, under-developed markets, and poor data management and stakeholder communication. To be able to consolidate aquaculture in Asia and significantly develop new regions around the world, we need to up the ante and generate a discourse where aquaculture is considered for its own merits, and not as part of a stagnated fisheries industry. Land-use plans should consider natural reserve areas, tourism, settlements, clean energy production, etc., but also aquaculture. At present there is a poor understanding by governments, and the public in general, of the role of aquaculture in food security, so there is a lack of legal certainty for investment. We need to develop National Master Plans in every country where aquaculture is to be developed, with specific areas for industry development, thus avoiding overregulation. Consideration of guaranteed loans by national and international development banks and a consistent policy for crop insurance will attract investors, while certification of So, will aquaculture grow at the desired rate in the future? We hear frequently that Aquaculture will play a large role in alleviating food security problems worldwide. Today, 94% of children still don´t eat enough seafood. A demand of at least 40 million tons per year of additional production is expected by 2050. We also read that agribusiness output is insufficient and that scalingup land-based food production is challenged by climate change, space, water availability and sustainability concerns. On the other hand, the fishing sector has not grown in the last 40 years. Many fisheries have reached maximum sustainable yield or are overfished. Sustainable aquaculture not only produces healthy and nutritious products, is the most efficient protein production industry, generating less environmental pollution and a lower carbon footprint, and can potentially use less water and space using state-of-the-art technologies. With over 400 species being cultured worldwide, the potential for production expansion is enormous and the industry was growing at well over 10% per year, mainly in Asia. At present, however, we are not on target to reach production goals. Why is this so? Like other protein production industries, aquaculture faces a series of problems: declining market prices, increasing production costs (particularly feeds), mortality causing diseases, varying broodstock quality, unsustainable practices of some low-level technologies, and user conflicts with other industries and human interests. Unfortunately, these problems are here to stay, and we must use our best efforts to divulge, transfer and implement the best knowledge-based solutions we have. Recently I was invited to give the opening conference at the Aquaculture Symposium in Guatemala, a Central American Country with enormous potential for aquaculture development. The topic of the conference was “Resiliency Through Innovation,” a timely workshop to discuss major issues facing the industry. It was my pleasure to listen to conferences from leading World Aquaculture Society Members like John Hargreaves, Allen Davis, and Loc Tran, among other experts, and to listen to representatives from industry and government give passionate discourses supporting aquaculture. So, if all parts of the Triple-Helix (business-government-academia) have a common view for sustainable aquaculture (and this happens in many countries worldwide), how come we are not growing at the desired rate? Why is aquaculture not diversified enough? Why haven’t we effectively developed aquaculture in new regions of the planet? (CONTINUED ON PAGE 6)
WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • JUNE 2024 3 Editor’s Note In many analyses of what the future holds for humanity, a certain question arises at some point in the discussion: Where will the additional food, especially the animal protein, come from? And how will we avoid widespread famine and suffering? In the context of climate change these questions take on even more significance. This is a question that is often conveniently overlooked by those who make a living criticizing aquaculture. In some instances, hopefully, these criticisms are the result of sincere aspirations for a world that, unfortunately, is increasingly beyond our grasp. I prefer a more pragmatic approach when faced with the question. The Cambridge Dictionary defines the term pragmatist as “someone who deals with problems in a sensible way that suits the conditions that really exist, rather than following particular theories, ideas, or rules.” I will stick to my pragmatism regarding aquaculture until someone can demonstrate an alternative source of animal protein that can meet humanity’s requirements in the coming years. I have been thinking about the common criticisms aimed at aquaculture and the fact that traditional terrestrial animal production is rarely confronted with similar disparagement. I can accept that very few forms of aquaculture are totally beyond any criticism whatsoever, but as a pragmatist I understand that there are always trade-offs. In the coming decades we can take advantage of the well-documented superior attributes of many aquaculture species in terms of sustainability and efficiency, or we can acquiesce and let others try to find solutions. To be honest, some of the criticisms I regularly encounter leave me scratching my head. Let me explain my confusion… Criticism: aquaculture relies far too much on production of non-indigenous organisms. My response: Taurine cattle were domesticated in western Asia some 10,500 years ago and Zebu-based breeds originated in India sometime after that. Should global beef and dairy cattle be restricted to only those regions, and if so, how would that be done? Chickens were domesticated some 8,000 years ago in Southeast Asia. Why is no-one writing such harsh criticisms about non-indigenous chicken and egg production in places like Africa, Europe or the Americas? Pigs were first domesticated in Asia some 9,000 years ago, so should we halt all pork production in the rest of the world? Why aren’t any activists complaining about nonindigenous terrestrial animals? Where would the horse lovers weigh in on this issue? Criticism: aquaculture often results in habitat loss or modification, as well as loss of ecosystem goods and services. My response: Hasn’t this been the case for terrestrial animal production for centuries, and even more so for agronomic crops? Why are poultry and livestock producers not continuously subjected to these same criticisms? I suspect it’s because the damage those industries may have caused was done so long ago that it’s taken for granted. This is not to say the concern has no validity when it comes to aquaculture development, but we are rarely on a level playing field. THERE ARE ALWAYS TRADE-OFFS… (CONTINUED ON PAGE 76)
4 JUNE 2024 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG Aquaculture 2025 March 6-10, 2025 New Orleans Marriott New Orleans, Louisiana ASSOCIATE SPONSORS Aquaculture Engineering Society • Aquaculture Association of Canada Catfish Farmers of America • Global Seafood Alliance International Association of Aquaculture • Economics and Management Latin America & Caribbean Chapter WA • US Trout Farmers Association Zebrafish Husbandry Association www.was.org www.shellfish.org www.fishculture.fisheries.org www.nationalaquaculture.org CO-SPONSORS HOSTED BY For More Information: Event Information: www.was.org Conference & Registration: worldaqua@was.org Tradeshow: mario@marevent.com I tio r T n o y AQ25 ad LTR CMYK.pdf 1 3/11/24 14:02
WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • JUNE 2024 5 Contact Extru-Tech today at 785-284-2153 or visit us online at extru-techinc.com KEEP IT SINGLE. SINGLE SCREW MULTIPLE MARKETS SINGLE SCREW EXTRUSION SYSTEM OPTIMIZES FLEXIBILITY AND MARKET OPPORTUNITIES Optimize the return on your capital investment with a single screw extrusion system. Buy one system and cost-effectively deliver product to multiple market opportunities. • One system capable of economy up to super premium fresh meat petfood • Aquatic feeds that range from floating to sinking shrimp feed • Capitalize on high margin petfood treat opportunities • Significantly lower operating cost per ton versus competitive systems As the chart below demonstrates, an Extru-Tech Single Screw Extrusion System provides all the flexibility and production efficiencies at around half the cost of competitive extrusion systems with high operating costs. PREMIUM PETFOOD PETFOOD SNACKS AQUA FEED P.O. Box 8 100 Airport Road Sabetha, KS 66534, USA Phone: 785-284-2153 Fax: 785-284-3143 extru-techinc@extru-techinc.com www.extru-techinc.com Capital Investment Extru-Tech Solution The Competition Operating Costs Ingredient Flexibility Complexity Operating Cost ($/M Ton) 1.0 1.0 Excellent Low 1.08 2.5 1.60 Excellent High 2.80 vs ET-337F.indd 1 1/28/21 8:31 AM You may also notice that the USAS website looks a little different these days. The Social Media Subcommittee is working hard to revamp the website to keep it current and make it a key resource to keep you informed about upcoming events and happenings. They’ve also increased our activity across social media platforms, seeing an 8.4% and 7.5% increase in Instagram and LinkedIn followers, respectively, as well as an increased presence on X and Facebook. The board has added a new ad hoc committee on Review Papers chaired by Carole Engle. The overall goal of the committee is to increase the number of scientific review papers published that address key issues faced by US aquaculture producers. The committee will do this by identifying issues that lack, and could benefit from, review papers as well as recruiting scientific experts to draft these review papers. Please pass along any ideas or input to Carole or myself. The Webinars Subcommittee hosted one webinar this quarter regarding the CAHPS Program (Comprehensive Aquaculture Health Program Standards) presented by the always engaging Dr. Kathleen U.S. Aquaculture Society A big hello from myself and the rest of the US Aquaculture Society board. We remain active and busy during Quarter 2 of the year. This month, I’d like to update you on some of our current initiatives and share ways for you to get involved. Have you ever wondered what the USAS Board actually does? A detailed description of the board member and committee chair roles can be found at our recently revised Procedures and Policies document on the USAS website, here (https://www. usaquaculture.org/about-usas). The board voted to adopt this new 2024 version as our first major revision since 2019, providing incoming leadership and the members at large with the most up-to-date information regarding society activities. And guess what? You don’t need to be a board member to be a committee chair or committee member! If you’re interested in getting involved, please reach out to me or one of the other board members. You can find a full list of board members and their contact information, here (https://www.usaquaculture.org/our-leadership). This includes our new Student Liaison Apprentice, Abdul Oladipupo, from Auburn University. Welcome aboard Abdul! CHAPTER REPORTS (CONTINUED ON PAGE 10)
6 JUNE 2024 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG CHAPTER REPORTS Asian Pacific Chapter We are just a few days away from the mostawaited Asian Pacific Aquaculture event, in Indonesia from 2 – 5 July. The APA 2024 will be hosted in Surabaya, one of Indonesia’s most historic and dynamic cities. Following the 2005 Bali Conference, we organized another WAS aquaculture conference in Surabaya in 2016, with an excellent turnout of over 6000 delegates. Since then, the Indonesian aquaculture sector has expanded dramatically, and the country is currently the world’s second-largest aquaculture producer, second only to China. This is an impressive achievement, and as the WAS conference returns to Surabaya in 2024, we anticipate it will have a long-term impact on the Asia Pacific aquaculture sector. We are optimistic about this outcome, given the active engagement of the global aquaculture industry and academia in Surabaya, as well as the kind support from Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries. This year’s conference theme, ‘Aquaculture - Driving the Blue Economy,’ not only emphasizes our shared commitment to developing new aquaculture approaches, improving collaboration, and addressing global concerns about the blue economy but also underscores the urgency and relevance of these issues. WAS-APC has also announced four student abstract awards and two women travel awards that support the winning students and women scientists to travel to Surabaya. The final Steering Committee meeting of APA 2024 was held at the Conference venue on 1 May 2024, attended by the local organizing team and the Program Committee chairs. As President of WAS-APC, I was also invited as a Panelist at the Shrimp Aquaculture Conference (SAC 2024) held in Bali from 5 – 6 June, which was attended by nearly 300 young Indonesian shrimp farmers, most of whom are expected to attend the APA 2024 conference as well. Exploring the prospects of organizing a future World Aquaculture Society event in Cambodia, we made a visit to Phnom Penh, meeting the leaders of the aquaculture industry, representatives of the Cambodian Aquaculturist Association (CAA) and the Fisheries Administration (FiA) under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF). The Fisheries Faculty of the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) were also visited. Prof. Bill Daniels coordinated this visit and was supported by the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) of the American Soybean Association (ASA). During this visit, a preliminary screening of potential event venues in Phnom Penh was done. It was decided to follow up with the FiA on the most appropriate time and venue for Cambodia’s first WAS/APC Conference, to be planned in 2025. WAS-APC also successfully completed the election process in 2024 and new officers of the Board – Imad Saoud (President-elect), Hermin Susiani (Treasurer), and Alastair Smart and Leila Basti as Directors, were elected. This is a momentous occasion for our organization, marking a new chapter of leadership and continued progress. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the new officers and welcome them to the Board. As I move to my role as Past President at the Surabaya Conference, I will be handing over the baton to Bibha Kumari, who will take charge as the President of WAS-APC. I am confident that under her leadership, WAS-APC will reach new heights and make meaningful contributions to the aquaculture sector in the Asia Pacific region. Wishing you all success, I look forward to meeting you all in July at APA 2024, Surabaya. — Krishna Salin, President WAS-APC and ASA/WISHH representatives at the Royal University of Agriculture, Cambodia Meeting of WAS-APC representatives with the Fisheries Administration, Cambodia President, continued from page 2 technologies for industry innovation will limit the risk of investment in immature technologies. Aquaculture development will benefit from a strengthening in public-private relationships in developing countries. As I mentioned in my previous column, we need to invest in human resources. Future aquaculture development requires a systems approach with collaboration from all stakeholders, and I invite you to share your thoughts about this topic. Please consider writing an article for the World Aquaculture Magazine and sharing your experiences at the Regional or World Conferences of our Society. I hope to meet with you at one of our upcoming events. Cheers. — Humberto Villareal, President, World Aquaculture Society
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8 JUNE 2024 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG AFRAQ 2024 Chapter Founding Gold Sponsor WAS Premier Sponsors Conference Sponsors “Blue Farming: New Horizons for Economic Growth” 3rd Annual International Conference & Exposition of the African Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society November 19-22 Hammamet, TUNISIA Organized By MINISTÈRE DE L’AGRICULTURE, DES RESSOURCES HYDRAULIQUES ET DE LA PÊCHE, TUNISIE Hosted By Conference Management worldaqua@was.org www.was.org Exhibits & Sponsors Mario Stael mario@marevent.com WAS - African Chapter Blessing Mapfumo africanchapter@was.org AFRAQ24 letter ad.indd 1 2/24/24 11:45
WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • JUNE 2024 9 CHAPTER REPORTS As predicted in my previous column, the first half of 2024 has been quite busy for us, filled with events and activities as we continue striving to serve and raise the profile of the aquaculture sector in Africa. The executive board members, WAS AC members at large and our partners have been quite visible in organizing and featuring at several strategic meetings, both physically and virtually. To begin with, in February 2024, I had the privilege to attend the Aquaculture America 2024 Conference in San Antonio, Texas. I was accompanied by the AC President-Elect, AC Secretary, and AC Regional Director for West Africa. It was a good opportunity to connect with other global WAS members and aquaculture actors during the conference. While in San Antonio, I also represented the African Chapter in the WAS Global Board, and Mid-Term Review Meeting where we were further appraised on the overall WAS Strategic Plan and WAS’s direction on various initiatives. The need to intensify our efforts in developing a sound student program to increase and valorize our membership outreach plans was highlighted. It was also a great joy for us to have the Board’s approval of individuals from all African countries qualifying for the low-income annual membership fee of $45. We believe this gesture of inclusiveness will go a long way in boosting our African membership base. Moreover, we had the WAS-AC students and other side meetings, during which we had good opportunities to connect, network, and interact with WAS-AC students, and WAS members from the USA and globally. We discussed various elements to collaborate on matters to advance the African chapter strategically. Aquaculture Africa 2024 (AFRAQ24) Tunisia was launched successfully with the first joint Steering and National Organizing Committees held on 6 February 2024 in Tunis. Through the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Fisheries the Tunisian government formally approved hosting the event in Hammamet on 19-22 November 2024. An Event Planner has been developed as a roadmap to guide all organizational formalities. We have stepped up efforts to promote the event widely to the African and global aquaculture communities to ensure their maximum participation. I wish to thank the organizing committees led by our highly esteemed WAS member in Tunisia, Dr. Nadia Cherif, who will assume the role of Conference Chair. I also thank our able executive officer (secretariat) Mr. Blessing Mapfumo for ensuring the successful outcomes. I will update you on AFRAQ24 conference organizational proceedings in my next column. Details are available on the event webpage: https://www.was.org/meeting/code/AFRAQ24. In April 2024, we also launched World Aquaculture 2025, dubbed Aquaculture Safari 25 which will take place in Entebbe, Uganda on 23-26 June 2025. You may recall that following the success of the first World Conference in Cape Town in 2017, the WAS Board in 2021 (at a Board meeting in Mexico) approved the hosting of a World Conference in Africa We are overly grateful for the support rendered by the EU-funded Truefish project being implemented around Lake Victoria and coordinated by our highly esteemed Mr Etienne Hinrichsen. I will be delighted to welcome the global aquaculture community to Uganda next year. Details about the conference will be uploaded on the WAS website shortly. The WAS executive board members also featured at several strategic global events during the season. These include Dr. Sherif Sadek’s featuring at an aquaculture workshop in Oman (April 2024); Mr. Lanre Badmus’s participation at Aquaculture UK (Scotland, May 2024); Dr Francisca Delgado attending the African Women in Maritime events in London and Cameroon (May 2024); Dr. Khalid Salie’s University missions to South Korea (May 2024); and, Dr. Bernice Mclean and Alexander Kefi organizing an Africa Seaweed Aquaculture Value Chain Workshop in Tanzania (May 2024). Our visibility, role, and involvement in many of these events, raised the profile and voice of African aquaculture but were also platforms to promote our strategic events, including the upcoming AFRAQ24. There were also some virtual meetings organized by WAS members which many of our members and African aquaculture actors attended, such as the June 2024 launch of the “Global Aqua Business Investment Guide” - which has been designed to promote sustainable, commercially driven growth of the aquaculture sector globally. Towards the end of May 2024, I also featured at this year’s Aquaculture Ghana 2024 Conference, another large-scale aquaculture event in West African Chapter LEFT: WAS AC features at various strategic global fora as a way to create new partnerships and collaborations but also to promote African events to the global aquaculture community. Top: Mr Lanre Badmus attending Aquaculture UK 2024; Bottom: Dr Khalid Salie attending the Belmont Forum, South Korea that connects African and Korean Students. RIGHT: Dr. Francisca Delgado and Dr. Judith Makombu - African Chapter Executives promoting WAS and AFRAQ24 to the French and Portuguese communities in Africa. Africa has up to 34 French speaking countries and territories and about six Portuguese speaking nations. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 56)
10 JUNE 2024 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG LACQUA 24 “Aquaculture in Latin America: innovation and sustainability for a global aquaculture” is almost here. I want to thank again our two Board Directors Dr. Adriana Muñoz in the academics field, and Dr. Paola Barato also in the academics but mainly in the industry sector, and our Executive Secretariat Carolina Amezquita, who have finished a very attractive program, including pre-event training courses devoted to areas like nutrition and feeding, genetics, and tilapia culture. Combined events will include the XI Colombian Congress of Aquaculture and the meeting of the Latin American Association of Native Fish Culture. The three Plenary Conferences (one per day) will give the audience the opportunity of listening to world leaders talking about pathology issues in tilapia, “omics” in aquaculture, and innovation in aquaculture feed resources. Our trade show is also taking shape as one of the biggest in recent times for our Latin American and Caribbean Chapter Conference. Find all the details, including hotel options, in the following link https://www.was. org/meeting/code/LacQua24. For our LACC Membership: please take the time to vote in our Chapter´s Call for Elections: we will renew three Board positions this year: President-elect, treasurer and one Director. I want to thank the Elections Committee, headed by our Past-President Dra. Maria Celia Portella, for all their work in this regard. We have assembled a very strong group of candidates, who accurately represent not only our region but the gender equality that I want to maintain within our LACC Board. Our ballot looks as follows: • President-elect: Dr. Marcelo Shei (Brasil), Dra. Paola Barato (Colombia) • Treasurer: Dr. Jesaias Costa (Brasil) • Director: Dr. Juli-Anne Russo (Jamaica), Dr. Marisol MoralesCovarrubias (Mexico) As I have informed you in previous columns of our WAS Magazine, our LACQUA25 Conference will take place in wonderful Chile, specifically in Puerto Varas, in the week from 6-10 October (precise dates to be confirmed). We have continued our work with our local partners and will establish the Scientific and Steering Committees as soon as LACQUA 24 is over. Our local partners are headed by the Salmon industry, always very active. Having in consecutive years our Conference in Colombia and Chile will give us the opportunity to witness how aquaculture is sustainably developing in the region, with the examples of two of our leaders with very different approaches and species: Colombia based on freshwater culture and tilapia, and Chile as a world leader of salmon aquaculture. Both industries are well organized and give blueprints for how sustainable aquaculture development can take place. Finally, we are already establishing talks with potential hosts for LACQUA26, which very possibly will return to Mexico. We will keep you posted of our developments. I want to close my column with the news that the 2024 FAO’s State of Aquaculture and Fisheries SOFIA has given us: it confirms the increasing relevance of aquaculture to provide food for human consumption. In 2022 and for the first time, aquaculture and its 94.4 million tons represents a majority (51%) of total aquatic animal production, overpassing fisheries. Aquaculture already provided 57% of the production that goes directly to human consumption. But challenges remain the same, regionally: for the Latin America and Caribbean region, an increase of 13% in aquatic food from animal sources will be necessary by 2050 to sustain, at current levels (2022), the per capita consumption, considering population growth. Issues like governance, which are currently important, will soon become urgent if we want to achieve this production. Water stress is being felt already in most of the region (for freshwater, continental production systems). In addition to quantity, the quality of traditional water sources is at risk if regulatory systems are not put in place by country governments and proper resource management, with the communities as principal voices at territorial levels, is not enforced. We hope to see all of you in Medellín, Colombia, September 2427 for LACQUA 2024!!!! — Francisco Javier Martinez Cordero, President Latin American and Caribbean Chapter CHAPTER REPORTS Hartman. If you missed the live stream, you can find the recording (as well as the other USAS webinars), here (https://www.youtube. com/@clinedj1). Prioritizing our student body remains a core focus of the USAS society and board. The Student Awards, Student Activities, and Student Subunit committees always stand out as some of our most active and creative. This is due to the exceptional leadership and commitment of the members who lead these committees as well as, no doubt, the involvement and enthusiasm of our students themselves! In this issue of WAS Magazine, two articles have been published USAS, continued from page 5 so you can read more about the work being accomplished by our Student Subunits and the Student Activities Committee as well as see a list of our 2024 Student Award Winners. Lastly, as mentioned in my last column, each issue of WAS Magazine will now include a USAS Chapter Column highlighting new and exciting developments across US aquaculture. Find our very first article in this issue as Dr. Bill Walton and Dr. Ryan Carnegie tell us more about sudden unexplained mortalities in aquacultured oysters along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. — Abigail Bockus, President
WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • JUNE 2024 11 For More Information: www.was.org or contact worldaqua@was.org Exhibition & sponsors: mario@mareven.com carolina@was.org PLAZA MAYOR Medellín, Colombia September 24-27, 2024 Get our meeting mobile app The annual meeting of LATIN AMERICAN & CARIBBEAN CHAPTER Latin American & Caribbean Chapter/World Aquaculture Society -WAS LACC-@laccWas LACC World Aquaculture Society @LACC_WAS Premier sponsors Organized by LACQUA24 was ad CMYK.indd 1 4/14/24 14:35 For More Information: www.was.org or contact worldaqua@was.org Exhibition & sponsors: mario@mareven.com carolina@was.org PLAZA MAYOR Medellín, Colombia September 24-27, 2024 Get our meeting mobile app The annual meeting of LATIN AMERICAN & CARIBBEAN CHAPTER Latin American & Caribbean Chapter/World Aquaculture Society -WAS LACC-@laccWas LACC World Aquaculture Society @LACC_WAS Premier sponsors Organized by LACQUA24 was ad CMYK.indd 1 4/14/24 14:35
12 JUNE 2024 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG CHAPTER REPORTS Korean Chapter General Meeting The 2024 Korean Society of Fisheries and Aquatic Science (KOSFAS) Conference was held at the Production Startup Center and Institute of Continuing Education, Namak Campus, Mokpo National University, under the theme ‘The role of fisheries science for the 6th industry’ from May 9 to 10. During the KOSFAS conference timeline, the World Aquaculture Society (WAS) Korean Chapter (KC) held a general meeting. Mr. Chung Ik Kyo (Chair, The Emergency Committee, EC) presided over the general meeting. During the meeting, the current status of the Korean Chapter was presented. Professor Lim Han Kyu, who was recommended by the EC and approved by the WAS Board of Directors, was officially approved as the next president, and his term will start on January 1, 2025. 2024 KOSFAS Conference Professor Lim Han Kyu, President of KOSFAS, opened the conference. President Song Ha-Cheol (National Mokpo National University) delivered the welcoming address. His Excellency Minister Kang Do-Hyung (Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, MOF) gave his congratulatory remarks via video presentation. Mr. Choi Jeong-Gi, Director of the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Bureau, Jeollanamdo Province, gave a congratulatory speech on behalf of Governor Kim Yung-Rok. Mr. Kim Chang-Dae (President, Gwangju/Jeonnam Regional Association, Korea Federation of Science and Technology), also gave a congratulatory speech at the opening ceremony. Mr. Choi Yong-Seok (President of the National Institute of Fisheries Science, MOF, gave the plenary lecture on the role of fisheries policy and fisheries science for the 6th industrialization and future industrialization of the fisheries industry. Professor Adjunct Seo Jong-Seok (Pukyong National Univ. & Marine Stewardship Council) delivered the first keynote speech on ‘The 6th Industry and Fisheries,’ and Mr. Kim In-Gyeom (CEO, Incube Brand Inc., & Korean Agency for Public Brand Promotion) presented the second keynote speech on ‘Direction of Youth Population Growth in the Face of Declining Fishing Communities.’ Three special lectures were presented during the senior session: ‘Historicity of Fisheries Education and Research Efforts in Korea’ by Professor Emeritus Park E. Taisoo (UCSD Scripps Institution of Oceanography), ‘Application and Future of Reaction Flavor Technology to the Seafood Industry’ by Professor Emeritus Cha Yong-Jun (Changwon National University), and ‘My Journey of RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture System)’ by Professor Emeritus Kang Seok-Joong. A total of 391 participants attended the conference, with 82 oral presentations and 142 poster presentations. There were grand prizes in the student oral presentation. The Fisheries Utilization-Processing category prize was awarded to Ms. Cheon Ja-Yeon (Hanseo University) for her presentation titled ‘The protective effect of Haematococcus pluvialis extract against the particulate matter induced eye toxicity zebrafish (Danio rerio) model,’ and the prize in the AquacultureBiotechnology category was awarded to Ms. Seo Yu-Kyung (Jeju National University) for her presentation titled ‘Development of early sex identification using female-male related transcript expression characteristics of Paralichthys olivaceus.’ In the Resources-Ocean-Environment category the prize was awarded to Ms. Song Eun-Ah (Jeju National University) for her presentation titled ‘Spatio-temporal analysis of large-scale purse seine fishing vessels using AIS data.’ The grand prizes in the Undergrad competition of on-site practical problem-solving were awarded to two teams: team KUPI (Moon Ju-Hyuk, Park Sang-Min, and Lee Ji-Yoon Lee; Advisor Professor Lee Seunghyung, Pukyong National University) for their project titled ‘Customized diets for semi-aquatic turtles,’ and team Silver Town (Kim Nam-Kyun, Park Dong-Ju, Moon Seung-Hee, Lee Jun-Hyung Lee; Advisor Professor Jung Won-Kyo, Pukyong National University) for their project titled ‘Development of eco-friendly silver nanoparticles utilizing phlorotannins.’ There were various opportunities for both researchers and industry practitioners to participate and share current research topics. A Great Loss for Korean Aquaculture Kim In-bae, an Emeritus Professor at Pukyong National University of Agriculture and considered a master in the domestic aquaculture industry, passed away on April 30 at age 99. After graduating from the Department of Fisheries Biology at Busan Fisheries College (the predecessor of Pukyong National University) in 1949, Professor Kim remained at his alma mater for more than 40 years, focusing on research and postgraduate training. Professor Kim made outstanding achievements in aquaculture, especially in advancing research and technology. For the first time in Korea, he developed circulating filtration aquaculture, which purifies and reuses water used for fish farming to prevent environmental pollution. It is still considered a highly competitive aquaculture technology. He also coined the term “Gaduri (cage in Korean)” while researching inland surface aquaculture based on the shape of the structures used to raise fish. Even after his retirement, Professor Kim continued to work tirelessly to advance the domestic industry by developing closed aquaculture technology that could overcome Korea’s narrow geographical limitations. He also made headlines for his generosity by giving 600 million won (about half a million USD $) of his lifetime savings to his students as scholarships. “You shouldn’t do anything just for money,” he told his younger students, adding, “When I look back on the past, I remember most that I worked with the idea of competing with yesterday’s me and that I worked with the pride that what I do is first-class.” Expansion of HACCP Registration from Land-based Aquaculture to Offshore Farms Aquaculture farm HACCP (Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points) was introduced in 2005 to prevent food safety hazards in Korean aquaculture farms. As of March 2024, 434 land-based fish farms are registered. To promote HACCP, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF, Minister Kang Do-Hyung) provides free consulting and farm water inspection fees to farms wishing to register. It also offers benefits such as eco-friendly direct payment (upon application) and support for opening online and offline sales outlets to registered Korean Chapter
WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • JUNE 2024 13 CHAPTER REPORTS farms. As of April 1, the scope of HACCP registration for aquaculture farms has expanded to include offshore farms such as cages, embarkment pond farms, and aquatic seed farms. Farms wishing to register with HACCP can apply safety management certification standards such as drugs, feed, water management, and HACCP operational plans. For the application process, farmers are advised to apply to the National Fisheries Quality Management Service, which serves as the screening agency. They guide producers through the necessary steps and ensure a smooth application process. After the application, registration is completed upon approval through documentation and on-site inspections. The local governments where the farms are located conduct regular inspections every two years to maintain the initial certification standards. Minister Kang Do-Hyung emphasized the importance of the farm HACCP system in producing safe marine products. He stated, “We urge aquaculture farmers’ active interest and participation. The government is fully committed to providing various support measures to activate the farm HACCP system.” It reaffirms the government’s dedication to the safety of farmed seafood and the success of the HACCP initiative. Collaboration to Develop New Aquaculture Varieties in Response to Climate Change The Subtropical Fisheries Research Institute of the National Institute of Fisheries Science, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (President Choi Yong-Seok, NIFS) signed a business agreement (MOU) with the Gyeongsangnam-do Fisheries Resources Research Institute (Director, Lee Cheol-Soo) to develop new aquaculture varieties in response to climate change on April 25. The collaborators are actively conducting aquaculture-based research on various valuable marine fish species. Through a business agreement, they will establish a research promotion system that can more effectively respond to climate change. The main contents of the agreement include sharing research results on Korea’s major aquaculture varieties, promoting joint research on developing new aquaculture varieties in response to climate change, and jointly using research organisms and facilities. Before the agreement, on April 5, the Subtropical Fisheries Research Institute distributed 1,500 Parapristipoma trilineatum (Benjari in Korean), which are being studied as a new aquaculture breed, at the request of the Gyeongsangnam-do Fisheries Resources Research Institute. Through research on cultivating new breeds at the aquarium, Benjari has been confirmed to be a fish species resistant to environmental changes (water temperature, salinity, etc.). Fishermen have requested the development of farming technology and seed supply for this species. Mr. Lee Jeong-Yong, Subtropical Fisheries Research Institute Director, said, “As part of this agreement and active administration, we will do our best to develop new aquaculture varieties to respond to climate change through scientific research and advanced aquaculture technology of both organizations.” Korea-US Expert Seminar for the Development of Shellfish Aquaculture The NIFS of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries held a ‘KoreaUS Expert Seminar for the Development of Shellfish Farming’ with the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI) at the South Sea Fisheries Research Institute (Yeosu, Jeollanam-do) on April 25. The seminar was graced by the presence of esteemed shellfish experts from both countries, who shared their insights on various topics, including the rich history of the aquaculture industry in Rhode Island, USA, and the current status of the shellfish and abalone aquaculture industry in Korea. In his presentation, Professor Michael A. Rice (University of Rhode Island, USA), a renowned American shellfish scientist, emphasized the effects of climate change and eco-friendly farming, such as changes in breeding time and production instability due to rising water temperatures in the current aquaculture environment. Both the US and Korea are grappling with unique challenges in the shellfish farming industry. The US, for instance, is contending with the gradual shrinkage of aquaculture at sea due to the tightening of coastal environmental regulations. In Korea, shellfish such as abalone, oysters, clams, and cockles produced around 500,000 tons annually in 2023, accounting for about 15% of the total aquaculture production. However, the effects of climate change, such as repeated occurrences of natural disaster damage and decreased productivity, are appearing, so systematic research and response are needed. Mr. Jeon Je-Cheon (Director of the South Sea Fisheries Research Center, NIFS) said, “In the future, we will expand exchanges between shellfish farming experts from both countries and share research results on changes in the marine environment, shellfish farming, and social and economic impacts, and conduct research that will substantially contribute to increasing farmed shellfish production.” — Ik Kyo Chung, President World Aquaculture Society Student Association The World Aquaculture Society Student Association is composed of students and senior WAS members dedicated to providing students with beneficial opportunities during conferences and throughout the year. During WAS chapter and annual meetings, the Student Activities Committee organizes special workshops and seminars, provides complimentary roommate services, hosts student socials, and provides helpful information for all students. Since its beginning, the membership in WAS has grown to more than 3,000 members in about 100 countries representing the global aquaculture community.
14 JUNE 2024 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG The Aquaculture America 2024 conference in San Antonio, TX was a huge success for students, with nearly twice as many students entering the presentation competition than ever before. Due to the tremendous number of great presentations the student awards committee awarded the top three for poster and oral presentations as well as some honorable mentions. We look forward to another great student competition at Aquaculture 2025 in New Orleans, LA! Student Presentation Award Winners at Aquaculture America 2024 Allen Pattillo and Gulnihal Ozbay Aquaculture America 2024 Oral Presentation Student Winners • Sea Grant Award: Abdulmalik Oladipupo, Auburn University Title: Impact of Advanced Soybean Variants on California Yellowtail Seriola dorsalis: Growth Performance, Intestinal Morphology and Health Abdulmalik Oladipupo is an international student from Nigeria, a PhD student, and a graduate research assistant at Auburn University, AL, USA, in the Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences. He earned his Master’s degree in the same department in 2023 and has 8 years of experience in aquaculture production and research. His current research focuses on the effects of feed-based additives as growth promoters on the digestibility and intestinal health of fish species. Additionally, he is studying the effects of these additives as immunostimulants and their impact on fish immunity and resistance against polymicrobial infections. His research activities are centered around dietary stimulations and optimization for overall fish health management using natural and cost-effective additives. • 1st Place USAS: Kalani Ortiz, Humboldt University Title: Assessing Twine Selection and Growth of Bull Kelp Nereocystis luetkeana from Nursery to Open Water Cultivation in Humboldt Bay, CA Born in Los Angeles, Kalani Ortiz developed a deep love for the marine environment and her cultural heritage during summers spent with family in Mexico. She received her B.S. in Environmental Biology from Cal Poly Humboldt, where she found her passion for macro/microalgae and the desire to pursue a career in mariculture. Her Master’s research in the Fisheries Biology Department at Cal Poly Humboldt, is centered on Bull kelp cultivation in Humboldt Bay, CA. Currently, she is a staff researcher in seaweed aquaculture at Scripps Institution of Oceanography under Dr. Jennifer Smith. Kalani’s research focuses on cultivating Bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) from hatchery to open water. Her study assessed the efficiency of various twines seeded from nursery cultivation to evaluating kelp growth in existing open water line systems at the ProvidenSea seaweed research farm. Further, she analyzed nutrient and heavy metal profiles of harvested kelp to ensure its safety for human consumption. Kalani’s research supports the expansion of local aquaculture and promotes broader ecological benefits through innovative seaweed farming practices in California. • 2nd Place (tie) USAS: Noah Jenkins, Kentucky State University Title: Evaluation of Dietary Black Soldier Fly Larvae Meals and Lauric Acid in Practical Diets for Largemouth Bass Micropterus Nigricans Noah Jenkins is a Master’s student at Kentucky State University. He is originally from Sacramento, California and has a passion for the outdoors and aquaculture. Noah’s project goal was to evaluate the effect of black soldier fly larvae and purified forms of lauric acid on growth and microbial biodiversity of juvenile largemouth bass. The project was a combined effort between his major professor Dr. Waldemar Rossi Jr. and Texas A&M. • 2nd Place (tie) USAS: Arnold Katende, Auburn University Title: Split-Root Hydroponics: Investigating Cherry Tomato Resilience to Salinity Stress Arnold Katende is currently a Master’s student in Horticulture at Auburn University. His interests include aquaponics, plant physiology, and controlled environment agriculture. His research explores the salinity tolerance of cherry tomatoes in a splitroot hydroponics system, which uses two root zone environments to grow plants under abiotic stresses such as salinity. His current work investigates the salinity tolerance thresholds of various tomato cultivars and conducts sensory analyses to determine consumer preferences for cherry tomatoes grown under high salinity levels and with shrimp aquaculture effluent.
WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • JUNE 2024 15 • 3rd Place USAS: Ashton Schardt, Kentucky State University Title: Evaluating Commercial Diets for the Production of Juvenile Freshwater Plain Pocketbook Mussels Lampsilis Cardium Ashton Schardt is a graduate research assistant and student at Kentucky State University, pursuing his MS in Aquaculture and Aquatic Science. He conducts his research at the Aquaculture Research Center in the Aquatic Animal Nutrition Lab, mentored by Dr. Waldemar Rossi. Ashton focuses on advancing knowledge in freshwater mussel nutrition and aquaculture practices. Schardt’s project investigates the diets and nutritional requirements of freshwater mussels, a field with limited existing research. He evaluates commercially available marine algae and additives, examining their effects on growth, energy, protein content, and survivability. His findings aim to enhance aquaculture practices and support sustainable freshwater mussel farming. • Honorable Mention: Sammie Miller, Purdue University Title: Tryptophan Modulates Physiological Processes in Channel Catfish, Ictalurus Punctatus, in Stressed and Disease Conditions Samantha Miller is currently pursuing degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Biological Sciences, a minor in Mathematics, and certificates in Biological Research and Biomechanical Engineering at Purdue University Fort Wayne. Recognized for her academic excellence, Samantha was awarded the prestigious Purdue Top 50 award in 2024 as well as academic honors and has been nominated for both every year since the start of her college career. She also is an ardent research assistant in the aquaponics laboratory on campus, an intentional teaching assistant for a variety of courses, and an active volunteer for Big Brothers and Big Sisters. One of Samantha’s notable research projects addressed the challenges faced by the US catfish aquaculture industry, particularly fish losses from environmental stressors and infectious diseases. Her experiment entailed scrutinizing the effects of tryptophan, an essential amino acid, on modulating farming stress and enhancing physiological and immune responses in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) against the virulent Aeromonas hydrophila or vAh. Catfish fed with a tryptophan diet exhibited improved glucose levels, hematocrit, and lysozyme activity, suggesting an enhanced innate immune response. The implications of this experiment promote a mitigated reliance on chemical treatments for farming practices to maximize production efficiency. • Honorable Mention: Allison Wise Addison, Auburn University Title: Evaluation of Oral Adjuvanted Killed Aeromonas hydrophila Vaccines in Channel Catfish Ictalurus Punctatus Allison was born and raised in Scott, MS where aquaculture was critical to her small town’s success. In an economically depressed region, she saw her community of catfish farmers struggle to mitigate disease within production ponds. It quickly became her passion to investigate these pathogens to aid her community. She received her undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology from Texas Lutheran University and went on to receive a Master’s degree in Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences at Auburn University investigating coinfective pathogens within catfish. She is now employed at USDA-ARS, while pursuing her PhD in Biomedical Sciences through the Auburn College of Veterinary Medicine. Her current research focuses on the development and efficacy of an oral bacterin vaccine against multiple strains of virulent Aeromonas hydrophila (vAh). This bacterial pathogen infects channel and hybrid catfish, causing substantial losses within the industry. Orally delivered vaccines represent a potential cost-effective and efficacious solution to this debilitating disease. In the present study, the oral bacterin vaccines demonstrated robust protection across multiple vAh strains. • Honorable Mention: Ryan Maxwell, University of Idaho Title: Concurrent Infections of Flavobacterium Psychrophilum and Flavobacterium Columnare in Rainbow Trout Fingerlings Oncorhynchus Mykiss Ryan is from North Carolina and moved out west a few years ago after graduating from North Carolina State University. Since then, he worked several different fisheries jobs with various agencies. He really enjoyed working in fisheries and aquaculture and hopes to make it a life-long career, specifically doing work related to fish health. His Master’s research at the University of Idaho is focused on the application of a probiotic to the feed of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to study its potential as an alternative treatment for diseases caused by Flavobacterium spp. In addition to top-coating starter feed with the probiotic and conducting a prolonged feed trial to measure any effects on growth parameters in a lab setting, he is also collaborating with commercial trout hatcheries to test the diet. He hopes to delineate some immunomodulating characteristics of the probiotic through use of lab techniques like qPCR, as well as to determine changes in microbiome composition. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 16)
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