Tilapia Aquaculture in Saudi Arabia: A New Start and New Practices VOLUME 56, NUMBER 1 THE MAGAZINE OF THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY MARCH 2025 W RLD AQUACULTURE
WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • MARCH 2025 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, 2024-25 David Cline, President Humberto Villareal, Immediate Past President Wendy Sealey, President-Elect Matt Parker, Treasurer Rumaitha Al Busaidi, Secretary DIRECTORS Angela Caporelli Hillary Egna Shivaun Leonard Catriona Macleod Yahira Piedrahita Brian Small Bakare Mariam Oyinade, Student Director CHAPTER REPRESENTATIVES Foluke Omotayo Areola, African Bibha Kumari, Asian Pacific Han Kyu Lim, Korean Luis Andrés Gonzalez-Agraz, Latin America and Caribbean Michelle Walsh, 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. 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. ©2025, The World Aquaculture Society. W RLD AQUACULTURE VOL. 56 NO. 1 MARCH 2025 13 Aller Aqua Extends Sponsorship for the African Chapter of World Aquaculture Society (WAS-AC) to December 2027 14 Spotlight on World Aquaculture Safari 2025, Uganda as Industry and Development Partners Show Strong Interest 16 United States Aquaculture Society (USAS) Student Subunit 2024 Annual Report Summary Julianne Grenn, Abdulmalik Oladipupo, Michelle Walsh, and Adriane Michaelis 18 the Journal of the World Aquaculture Society Editor’s Choice Awards 55(6) 21 USAS CHAPTER ARTICLE: Navigating the Currents of Change in U.S. Catfish Nutrition Research Fernando Y. Yamamoto and David J. Wise 26 Advancements in Twin Screw Technology for Aquafeed Production: A Comparative Study Anders Haubjerg 31 Adapting Mediterranean Aquaculture Larval Feeding Strategies for Tropical Species: A Case Study of Barramundi V. Carbone, A. Shinn, H. Crieloue, A. van Amerongen, I.N.A. Giri, Haryanti, Y.N. Asih, Sudewi, N.W.W. Astuti, A. Muzaki, K. Mahardika, I. Mastuti, I.G.N. Permana, C.B. Koh, W.L. Quek, Y. He, R. Hidajat, T. Kunthahong, F. Lenzi, T. De Wolf, G. Rombaut and S. Debono 34 KOREAN CHAPTER ARTICLE: Who will be the winner of the heated ‘Land-Based Gim (Laver) Farming War’? Jong Myon Park 39 Breeding for disease resistance to control Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei and White Feces Disease in Whiteleg Shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) Marcela Salazar, Kahsay Nirea, Edna C. Erazo, Andres Suarez, Bruno DeCock, Carolina Peñaloza, Ross D. Houston, M. Hossein Yazdi and Carlos Lozano 44 Artificial Grass as a Substrate for Microalgae Growth to Feed Hatchery-Reared Juvenile Queen Conch Manuel Jove, Steffen van Heijningen, Licet Hernandez and Megan Davis 48 Tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) Aquaculture in Saudi Arabia: A New Start and New Practices Benjamin C. Young, Saif Algethami, Anwer Abed Alazwari, Faris Alghamdi and Ali Al Shaikhi 52 Exploring the Aquaculture Potential of Nandus nandus in Planted Aquaria Suman Kumari, Subhra Singh, Gunjan Karnatak, Archana Sinha and B. K. Das 56 ASIA-PACIFIC CHAPTER ARTICLE: Achieving an Optimal Salinity: The Influence of Salinity Levels on the Immunity of Pacific Whiteleg Shrimp against Vibrio harveyi Infections Zulaikha Mat Deris and Li Lian Wong 60 The Hidden Challenge: Understanding Lice Detachment in Salmon Farms Gunnvør á Norði, Birgitta Andreasen, Kirstin Eliasen, Tróndur Kragesteen and Signar P. Dam 64 Managing Marine Oil Pollution: Safeguarding Aquaculture Potluri Sai Kishore and Arun Konduri 69 Impacts of Parasite Infestations on West African Mullet Aquaculture Nike Funmilayo Aladetohun COVER: In Saudi Arabia, tilapia is an ancient fish with a bright future. See story, page 48. (CONTENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 2)
2 MARCH 2025 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG Contents (continued) 2 President’s Column 3 Editor’s Note 4 Latin American and Caribbean Chapter Report 7 USAS Chapter Report 8 Korean Chapter Report 10 Asian Pacific Chapter Report 13 African Chapter Report 72 Conference Calendar 73 Future Conferences and Expositions 74 Membership Application President’s Column aquaculture will play an increasingly important role in providing healthy, low environmental impact protein for the world's growing population. HOWEVER, there are still many misconceptions among the public related to aquaculture, its benefits, its potential and the associated risks. The aquaculture community has the science-based information necessary to dispel the myths and misinformation surrounding aquaculture and help people lead healthier lives. Promoting aquaculture literacy, especially through education, has many benefits. Professional development for teachers improves teaching capacity and ultimately delivers a more competent workforce. Exposing youth to more career opportunities positively impacts the next generation of aquaculture professionals including scientists and practitioners. The big picture social benefits of educating people about sustainable aquaculture include environmental protection, economic growth, job creation, and better public health outcomes. Aquaculture literacy lays groundwork for a future where aquaculture contributes positively to food security and the health of our planet. The WAS membership is a deep well of knowledge and we need to make a concerted effort to use this knowledge to help others appreciate the diversity and potential of aquaculture. This publication is an excellent outlet for your knowledge, please consider contributing. I look forward to the next big gathering at the World Aquaculture Safari at the Speke Resort Munyonyo, near Entebbe Uganda, June 24-27. I hope to see you there. — David Cline, President, World Aquaculture Society Promoting Aquaculture Literacy — A Shared Responsibility Greetings. I hope that 2025 is off to a good start for each of you. I was fortunate to be able to attend the Aquaculture 2025 meeting in New Orleans, LA recently and was impressed by the scope and scale of the event. Steering committee chairs Jay Parson, Sandra Shumway, Michelle Walsh, and Paul Zajicek did an amazing job organizing the event. I think it is one of the largest shows I have attended in relation to the number of scheduled presentations, workshops, posters etc. There were over 2500 attendees from 77 countries including 404 students. There were a staggering 120 sessions that included 1330 oral presentations and 183 posters. Many thanks to all our sponsors and trade show exhibitors who make the meetings possible. It was great to see so many friends and colleagues in attendance and I enjoyed meeting many newcomers as well. While the meeting was a great success, there was concern among attendees about some of the U.S. political decisions to discontinue support for many federal workers involved in aquaculture. These individuals play a vital role in the coordination, management and promotion of U.S. aquaculture and are often the link to international counterparts. If we are to fulfill the promise of the blue revolution and provide food for the next 2 billion people, it will take all of us, including governmental support. I was very pleased to see a full-day session dedicated to Aquaculture Education, Extension and information transfer. These activities are critical to not only workforce development but also improving aquaculture literacy in general. There is no doubt that Promoting aquaculture literacy, especially through education, has many benefits. Professional development for teachers improves teaching capacity and ultimately delivers a more competent workforce. Exposing youth to more career opportunities positively impacts the next generation of aquaculture professionals including scientists and practitioners. The big picture social benefits of educating people about sustainable aquaculture include environmental protection, economic growth, job creation, and better public health outcomes. Aquaculture literacy lays groundwork for a future where aquaculture contributes positively to food security and the health of our planet. The WAS membership is a deep well of knowledge and we need to make a concerted effort to use this knowledge to help others appreciate the diversity and potential of aquaculture. This publication is an excellent outlet for your knowledge, please consider contributing.
WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • MARCH 2025 3 Editor’s Note At various points in my career, I have heard the argument that freshwater aquaculture makes more sense than marine farming due to “technical, economic and resource constraints.” And the best evidence of these advantages has been the meteoric growth of inland aquaculture over the past century. However, the environmental assumptions under which these assessments were made are probably no longer valid. Water shortages are coming in many parts of the world. Actually, they have already begun. Although it may not be obvious to the casual observer, we are living on a steadily drying planet. A recent publication from the United Nations’ Convention to Combat Desertification should give us all pause. The report, The Global Threat of Drying Lands: Regional and global aridity trends and future projections, provides a stark assessment of where we are and where we’re going. More than 75% of the world’s land has become permanently dryer in the past several decades. Significant areas have transformed from humid to dry ecosystems, with far less annual rainfall. Crops, grazing lands, natural habitats and people will be threatened throughout the world if these trends cannot be reversed. And unfortunately, it appears they cannot. Slowed, perhaps. Maybe even halted. But almost certainly not reversed any time soon. What makes this situation so dire is that, while drought conditions can be catastrophic, they eventually end. In contrast, rising aridity will require long-term adaptation. No amount of waiting or hoping will bring us to a point of recovery. To quote the above-mentioned report “the drier climates now affecting vast regions across the globe will not return to how they were.” And, as the soils become drier, we can expect loss of soil fertility, wildfires, crop losses, desertification, and food and water insecurity. And yes, even if conditions don’t deteriorate to that point, inland aquaculture may become a thing of the past in many regions. Currently, about 62 percent of the world’s aquaculture production takes place in inland waters. Species like carps, catfishes, tilapias and crayfishes are all contributing significantly to food security in numerous countries. From this point onward, however, suitable land and freshwater will be scarcer with every passing year. Expansion of inland aquaculture will be impossible in many parts of the world, and severely constrained in many others. Increasingly, the next generation of aquaculturists will need to look to the sea. China, already an aquaculture pioneer and leader for thousands of years, is doing just that. The country’s marine aquaculture sector is seeing more investments, more innovations and more species with each passing year. Offshore environments in China and many other countries can be particularly punishing, but entrepreneurial engineers are developing structural innovations to minimize losses. The expansion of deep-water marine ranches — or blue granaries as they are called, is accelerating. Automated feeding systems, AI powered monitoring and management, underwater imaging systems, and novel feed formulations to optimize digestibility and minimize waste are all contributing to industry growth. And solar- and wind-power solutions have been applied to address the energy needs of grow-out facilities often located 50 to 100 km or more from the nearest harbor. The shift to marine aquaculture will require substantial effort across the sector, and a more pragmatic approach from policy makers and regulatory agencies. In some countries this may make the difference between food security and famine. The traditional objections to offshore aquaculture from those who have no concerns about where their next meal will come from must be dealt with using sound science and keeping in mind the ever-increasing need for protein from aquatic species. Critics might actually find some solace in the fact that the environmental benefits resulting from shifting our future focus to marine aquaculture could be substantial. Recent research suggests that the overall carbon footprint of marine aquaculture is approximately 40 percent lower than that of inland aquaculture. The difference is largely due to reduced greenhouse gas emissions (nitrous oxide and methane) resulting from biogeochemical processes, along with feed and energy consumption lifecycle components. The advancement of marine aquaculture may unfold by choice or by necessity, but if current climatic and demographic trends continue, it will probably be inevitable. — C. Greg Lutz, Editor-in-Chief Water — The Main Ingredient
4 MARCH 2025 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG The Latin American and Caribbean Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society (LACC-WAS), the Institute of Aquaculture and Environment of the Universidad Austral de Chile, Puerto Montt campus, and the Salmon Technology Institute (INTESAL) have joined forces to jointly organize the Latin American and Caribbean Aquaculture Congress 2025 (LACQUA25), to be held in Puerto Varas, Chile, from October 6 to 9, 2025, at the Enjoy Hotel. LACQUA2025 will bring together experts on topics of global relevance to the development, sustainability, and growth of Latin American and Caribbean aquaculture. It will also present one of the largest regional trade shows with a wide range of inputs and services for the sector. This is the first time Chile has hosted this important congress, confirming the importance of the sector for the country. The organizing committee has chosen the event slogan “Governance: A Pillar for the Sustainability of Aquaculture in the Context of Climate Change.” The FAO emphasizes the need to harness the oceans to improve food security and the resilience of aquatic food systems in the face of climate change. To this end, it has launched the Blue Transformation program, whose first objective is the sustainable intensification and expansion of aquaculture to meet the global demand for aquatic foods, with benefits equitably distributed. However, the diversity of aquaculture in Latin America and the Caribbean alone (species, scales and modes of production, levels of development, and socioeconomic impacts) introduces great complexity when facing a threat such as climate change. Governance is a fundamental pillar for advancing sustainability in a climate change scenario, especially adaptive governance, which emphasizes flexibility and adaptive capacity in decision-making, allowing for the adjustment of policies and actions in response to uncertainty and environmental changes. Thus, it is imperative to adopt governance styles that embrace the specificities of aquaculture and the local effects of climate change but also connect with regional scales to combine efforts and accelerate adaptation processes in Latin America and the Caribbean. This edition will feature keynote lectures by international and national experts in the aquaculture sector, as well as oral and poster presentations of scientific papers on the following topics: nutrition and feeding of aquatic organisms; reproduction, larviculture, fingerling production; aquaculture and ecosystem conservation; health, biosecurity, well-being of aquatic organisms; physiology and genetics of aquatic organisms; production systems and socioeconomics; processing and added value; socioeconomics and agribusiness; sustainable aquaculture, standards and certifications; and education and careers in aquaculture. All abstracts are welcome, and submissions are now open. The deadline for abstract submissions is July 31, 2025. For more information about the event and booth sales please contact Carolina Amezquita at carolina@was.org. We also invite all members to renew their memberships and propose candidates to participate in the Board. The available positions are Secretary and one Director. — Luis Andrés Gonzalez-Agraz, President Latin American and Caribbean Chapter CHAPTER REPORTS CALLING ALL READERS DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO WORLD AQUACULTURE? We’d love to see it! We welcome general features, articles and news covering a variety of aquaculture-related topics, preferably well-illustrated with photographs and line art. Published quarterly, the magazine keeps WAS members up to date with research results and reviews of aquaculture trends and topics. You do not need to be a member of the Society and there are no page charges. Guidelines for authors are available here. Submit manuscripts to C. Greg Lutz, Editor in Chief, at glutz@agcenter.lsu.edu or Cecilia Castellanos Nichols, ed.assistant@was.org when emailing your submission. LACQUA2025 will bring together experts on topics of global relevance to the development, sustainability, and growth of Latin American and Caribbean aquaculture. It will also present one of the largest regional trade shows with a wide range of inputs and services for the sector. This is the first time Chile has hosted this important congress, confirming the importance of the sector for the country.
WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • MARCH 2025 5 Para mas informacion: Carolina Amezquita Email carolina@was.org www.was.org Premier sponsors Hotel Enjoy Puerto Varas, Chile October 6-9, 2025 Organizadores: LATIN AMERICAN & CARIBBEAN CHAPTER Organizadores Locales: LACQUA25 Letter ad CMYK.indd 1 11/4/24 08:19
6 MARCH 2025 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG June 8-11, 2025 | Fredericton, NB Aquaculture is Agriculture: Feeding the Future with Innovation and Resilience For more information: www.aquacultureassociation.ca email: jmburry@nl.rogers.com join us in atlantic canada
WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • MARCH 2025 7 an “exchange of timely information” on the current state of the “U.S. aquaculture community.” The USAS values people, their ideas, and their contributions to the science of aquaculture and the aquaculture industry. A significant segment of our membership is dedicated to advancing the science, research, and development underpinning aquaculture production in the United States. Others are committed to extending and disseminating these R&D efforts to farmers, the biomedical industry, or other public stakeholders, including students. Some members work directly for federal, state, or tribal government agencies focused on natural resource management, supporting economic development through aquaculture, stocking imperiled or economically important species, or restoring healthy habitats by cultivating reef-building or vegetative species. Many are also employed by consulting firms, contracting companies, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and other entities that support agency missions via federal grant programs. All of these professionals have been significantly impacted as recent federal changes have created uncertainty surrounding their ability U.S. Aquaculture Society “A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.” — Rosalynn Carter, First Lady of the United States from 1977 to 1981 This Chapter Report has been really hard to write. As the brand new (since last week) incoming President of the United States Aquaculture Society (USAS) Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society (WAS), this first Chapter Report usually delivers a welcoming President’s message, introduces the new Board, and describes recent accomplishments as well as uplifting goals for the upcoming year. There are recent accomplishments and uplifting goals, but I think I’ll save those for next time. For me to highlight those right now feels hollow, insincere, and out-of-touch with many of our members. The mission of the USAS is to provide a national forum for the exchange of timely information within the U.S. aquaculture community through workshops, meetings, Annual Conferences, educational programs, and publications. Our USAS membership, as well as the WAS membership, is looking to the U.S. Chapter for CHAPTER REPORTS Brand The Standard in Growth and Survival Augmentation AlgaMac Enrich High in DHA and Natural Astaxanthin Celebrating 37 years serving the aquaculture industry with high quality diets, Artemia cysts and hatchery equipment including the AlgaMac series algae replacement/substitution rich in DHA for shrimp, fish and bivalve applications. AlgaMac-3050 Flake 20-22% DHA! - dry wt basis in crumble flake form. AlgaMac Protein Plus All celled DHA enriched Rotifer Growout Diet AlgaMac Enhance Two whole cell algaes with amino acids, nucleic acids, vitamins and beta-glucans Series World renowned AlgaMac Other high quality feeds from Bio-Marine: EconoMac Microparticle diet: Larval-PL stages Formulated Diets (4000 series) Micro-crumble diet: Larval-PL stages Astarose Natural source of Astaxanthin Spirulina Spray-dried Algae ArteMac Artemia Replacement Replace up to 100% Artemia with this nutritionally superior diet. MadMac Maturation Stimulator Fresh, make on-site. Rich in DHA. Aeration Filtration Heating Lab Supplies Meters Tubing & Hose UV/Ozone Water Quality Microscopes Pipe/Fittings/Valves P umps Refractometers Systems Design ... and more. Hatchery Equipment & Supplies PO Box 5, Hawthorne, California 90250 USA Tel: 310-973-5275 / Fax: 310-676-9387 If you wish to test our diets, please contact us for a sample. Red AlgaMac Rotifer & Artemia Enrichment. New www.aquafauna.com email: aquafauna@aquafauna.com (CONTINUED ON PAGE 10)
8 MARCH 2025 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG CHAPTER REPORTS Challenging to Become the World’s No. 1 Oyster Export Country — Oysters as the Next Representative Export Product Following Gim (Laver) The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Kang Do-hyung) announced the Development Plan for Oyster Aquaculture at the Cabinet Meeting on State Affairs and the Economic Ministers’ Meeting on January 9. The ministry plans to provide new growth engines for the oyster aquaculture industry by creating oyster-only fishing ports and aquaculture complexes and targeting the European market with USD 160 million in individual oysters and processed oyster products by 2030. Oysters are enjoyed by both Eastern and Western cultures, and the global market size will have reached USD 600 million as of 2022. Korea is the world’s third largest oyster exporter, following France (USD 140 million) and China (USD 120 million). The Oyster Aquaculture Industry Development Plan contains three strategies to achieve two goals: increasing oyster production by 100,000 tons by 2030 (300,000 tons in 2023 to 400,000 tons in 2030) and doubling oyster exports by 2030 (USD 80 million in 2023 to USD 160 million in 2030) under the vision of becoming the world’s No. 1 oyster export country. Strategy 1 - Production Facilities and Technological Innovation • Consolidation of the oyster industry from aquacultureonly fishing ports to supporting industrial complexes, including processing plants The ministry will consider building an oyster industry cluster and an aquaculture-specific fishing port for oysters, and integrate the oyster industry from dedicated ports to processing plants and other supporting industrial complexes. The ministry will consider establishing an integrated oyster farming complex and creating dedicated oyster farming ports. The ministry plans to increase the efficiency of the oyster production process by relocating about 400 oyster shucking and processing plants scattered across major oysterproducing areas (Tongyeong and Geoje in Gyeongnam-do and Yeosu in Jeonnam-do Province) into the integrated complex and dedicated oyster farming ports. In addition, facilities necessary for oyster production, such as oyster seed production facilities and processing plants, will be built within the integrated industrial complex. • Establishing an automated and smart oyster production process to promote industry modernization In addition, automation of oyster production sites, which mostly rely on manual labor, will be promoted. Conveyor belts and customized equipment (shellers, washers, automatic sorters, etc.) will be distributed in shared work sites. Work ships that can automatically harvest oysters at sea, perform primary washing, etc., will be distributed to improve the working environment. Strategy 2 - Expansion of Market Base • Promoting domestic oyster consumption by expanding processed oyster products and expanding oyster check-off funds The ministry will support producing and selling new processed oyster foods for food processing companies. The ministry will also promote cooking recipes using oysters to diversify the domestic oyster market, which is mainly consumed as shelled oysters. In addition, the ministry plans to significantly expand the size of the oyster self-help check-off fund, which is currently only KRW 500 million, and strengthen the oyster industry’s consumer promotion function. • Targeting global export markets and expanding influence in existing markets. Targeting USD 160 million in oyster exports by 2030 The ministry will support the entry into the European market, which prefers high-value whole oysters; unlike common oysters, single oysters are sold with their shells intact, which are larger and have higher added value, to diversify export markets. To this end, the ministry will actively support converting general oyster farms to single oyster production farms, increasing the share of single oysters’ production, which is 1% of the total oyster production, to 30% by 2030. In addition, the ministry will expand our influence in export markets such as the United States and Japan, which account for 71% of the total oyster export value. The ministry will support exporters in covering the costs required to obtain international certifications required by importing countries to strengthen their export competitiveness. Strategy 3 - Strengthening Sanitation and Safety Management, etc. The ministry will continue to install facilities to prevent the inflow of pollutants from land and sea, preserving clean oyster waters and producing safe oysters. It will also increase the sewage system coverage rate near oyster production areas and strengthen education on pollutant discharge behaviors for small vessels. In addition, the ministry will process oyster production byproducts through hygienic and environmentally friendly methods by recycling oyster shells as raw materials for steel mills, power plants and construction materials through the oyster shell resource facility completed in November of last year. Minister Kang Do-Hyung said, “Unlike other seafood, oysters are widely consumed in large quantities, so this is an opportunity for Korean companies to enter the global market,” adding, “Through these measures, we will transform the traditional oyster industry into an automated and smart industry to produce high-quality, safe oysters and strengthen our industrial competitiveness so that we can become the world’s number one oyster exporter.” Development and Distribution of the NIFS’s Eco-friendly RAS Model for Rainbow Trout The National Institute of Fisheries Science (NIFS; President Choi Yong-seok) of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries developed a “popular rainbow trout recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) model” to promote the development of an eco-friendly inland aquaculture industry, and distributed it to the Korea Trout Aquaculture Association on January 9. The breeding environment, including temperature, can be artificially controlled, making it possible to produce cold-water fish Korean Chapter
WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • MARCH 2025 9 CHAPTER REPORTS such as salmon year-round. In Korea, it isn’t easy to grow salmon during the summer. The two “Rainbow Trout Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) Distribution Models” that have been distributed this time were developed through an MOU with the Korea Trout Farming Association in 2022 and the operation of a field research laboratory, and include four patented technologies, including solid waste automatic removal technology. They practically collaborate to apply the research results directly to the field from the early stages to be used immediately in the industrial field. Among the four patented technologies, three that have completed the patent registration process will be transferred to the Korea Trout Farming Association in the first half of this year. One has completed the patent application process with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on November 20 last year. A total of 167 trout farms in Korea produce about 3,000 tons of trout annually. However, most (about 95%) use the traditional flowthrough aquaculture method, which uses and discharges breeding water once, and only 5% use the recirculating filtration method. The distribution of recirculating filtration aquaculture systems is urgently needed to replace the imported salmon market, which consumes more than 60,000 tons annually, and to prepare for climate change and the depletion of inland water resources. Accordingly, the NIFS began full-scale research in 2021 on the development of an entry-level RAS model. The main goal was to develop a Korean model suitable for the domestic environment and operating methods while reducing construction costs compared to overseas RAS. To this end, the NIFS has developed a prototype of domestic equipment capable of controlling the environment, such as the automatic removal of solid waste, high-efficiency fluid biological filtration, and flow rate of the breeding tank, for the first time in Korea, and have distributed industrialization technologies necessary for the automation and smartization of fish farms to the field. The Korea Trout Farming Association announced that the recently distributed inland circulating filtration aquaculture system (RAS) model is the first standardized system in Korea. Compared to existing systems and the construction area of the effluent sedimentation tank (within 30% of the aquaculture water area), it can reduce the construction area by 20%. It is expected to contribute significantly to establishing an automation foundation in aquaculture sites where labor is insufficient. President Choi said “The newly developed affordable Rainbow Trout Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) model will contribute to the transition of the aquaculture industry to smart and automated systems, as well as to the response to climate change and natural disasters, the strengthening of the competitiveness of domestic trout aquaculture production, and the development of a sustainable and eco-friendly inland aquaculture industry.” He added” We will continue to do our best to provide practical help to fishermen through field-oriented research.” Revitalizing the Inland Water Industry into a High Value-Added Industry • Policy Operation Direction to Revitalize the Inland Water Industry with the goal of 49,200 tons of inland fishery production by 2028 The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Kang Do-hyung) announced that it established the Policy Operation Direction to Revitalize the Inland Water Industry to increase its competitiveness. Inland aquaculture in Korea began in 1929 with the distribution of carp seedlings at the Jinhae Fish Farm. In the 1980s, it produced 50,000 tons of aquatic products, but production has decreased since the mid-1990s. Inland aquaculture in Korea is around 1% of the total aquatic product production. Inland aquaculture using freshwater is more adaptable to cutting-edge technology than seawater aquaculture, and the need to foster the inland aquaculture industry is being raised as sea catches are decreasing due to climate change and other factors. Accordingly, MOF has prepared this measure intending to produce 9,200 tons of inland aquatic products by 2028. Strategy 1: Support Tailored to Each Local Inland Water Industry First, the ministry will promote the K-River Village Project to converge the inland water industry with retail/processing and leisure/tourism industries to foster it into the 6th industry that reflects regional characteristics. To this end, the ministry will conduct an introductory survey on fishery production, accessibility, and tourism characteristics centered on the five major rivers, including the Han River and Geum River, in 2025 and create three K-River Villages by 2028. Moreover, it will provide 7 ~ 9 weeks of aquaculture education/ training for young people who wish to return to the fishing village to engage in inland water aquaculture and create a youth aquaculture farm for rental. Strategy 2: Transition to Advanced, High Value-Added Aquaculture By the end of 2024, Goesan, Chungcheongbuk-do Province, and Hwasun, Jeollanam-do Province will complete phase 1 smart aquaculture farms capable of remote monitoring and control based on ICT. And phase 2 smart aquaculture farms capable of autonomous and complex control of water temperature, water quality, etc. will be subsequently constructed. Moreover, the ministry will develop new high-value-added aquaculture products such as sea squirts and freshwater shrimp, including technology for producing artificial seeds for the domestic aquaculture of eels, of which approximately 80% of fry depends on imports. It will also develop technology to breed high-value-added varieties such as eels and herbal plants to foster the aquaponics industry. Through this, the ministry aims to implement the ecofriendly transition of inland aquaculture and the convergence of agriculture and fisheries industries. Strategy 3: Expanding Consumer Markets and Improving Production Management To ensure the smooth supply of inland aquatic products, distribution facilities such as the Inland Aquatic Product Distribution and Sales Center in Yongin, Gyeonggi-do Province, scheduled for completion in 2025, will be expanded to the Yeongnam and Honam regions. In addition, convenience foods using catfish and eel will be developed, and research on the health benefits of marsh snails and other ingredients will be conducted to promote consumption. Support will be provided to address non-tariff barriers in export countries, (CONTINUED ON PAGE 10)
10 MARCH 2025 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG CHAPTER REPORTS Asian Pacific Chapter Time is a significant factor. We were prepared to participate in World Aquaculture 2025 in Qingdao, China; however, the event was regrettably canceled by the China Society of Fisheries, the organizing body, just three months before its scheduled date. In light of this situation, the World Aquaculture Society (WAS) conference management team has opted to relocate the event to India, now designated as World Aquaculture 2025 India, which will be held in Hyderabad from November 10-13, 2025. This change enables us to maintain the commitment to delivering an outstanding experience for the participants. World Aquaculture 2025 India will be hosted at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre – Novotel, Hyderabad City from November 10-13, 2025. This event signifies the return of World Aquaculture to India after the successful Asian Pacific Aquaculture 2019 (APA19) held in Chennai. The rapid expansion of aquaculture in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in India, makes the 2025 event a prime occasion for the World Aquaculture community to redirect its attention towards India, specifically in Hyderabad. Renowned as the "City of Pearl," Hyderabad is pivotal to the progress of aquaculture in India, distinguished by its robust economy, flourishing aqua sector, and strong infrastructure in fisheries, equipment production, and logistics. The rescheduling of the event has also affected the organization’s regular activities. The WAS-APC was prepared to conduct elections for new BOARD members; however, the postponement of the event to November has delayed the election process. Nevertheless, the nomination process and selection of candidates for the election are ready to proceed. Abstracts that were submitted earlier for WA2025 China will still be reviewed by the Program Committee, and all registrations will remain valid. A new submission of abstracts is currently being processed for the India event. The deadline for abstract submissions has been extended to August 31, 2025. Exhibitors who have already reserved a booth for the trade show in China and wish to transfer their booking to the trade show in India will receive an updated manual along with all pertinent information. New bookings for the India event are currently being accepted. I anticipate that numerous aquaculture and fishery specialists from India and neighboring countries will attend this event and gain valuable insights. I extend a warm invitation to all individuals interested in participating, whether they are academics, research scientists, students, or exhibitors. — Bibha Kumari, President Korean Chapter, continued from page 9 such as sanitation management standards to develop overseas markets. Furthermore, to manage the supply and demand of inland aquatic products, items subject to supply and demand observation will be expanded to include catfish and mudfish in addition to the existing trout and eel by 2026. Stricter monitoring of origin labeling will be enforced for imported mudfish and eel to ensure a safe distribution system for inland aquatic products, and domestic eel and trout farms will be supported in registering for HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points). Strategy 4: Establishing a foundation for sustainable inland fisheries For stabilizing the management conditions of inland fishers, the ministry is considering adding apple snails to the list of disaster insurance-covered items currently applied to four species, including catfish and leather carp, and improving the system to allow smallscale open-field inland fishers to receive direct payments. To promote the inland aquaculture industry, the government will form a policy consultative body consisting of local governments and inland fishers to collect opinions from the field and resolve pressing issues. “Inland aquaculture has played a significant role in Korea’s rise as a leading fishing nation, and the recent emergence of cutting-edge technologies presents an opportunity for the inland water industry to make a comeback. The government will continue to support fostering inland waters aquaculture as a high value-added industry by upgrading it and to help transform the inland sector into a sixth industry that revitalizes regional economies through connections with leisure and tourism,” Minister Kang Do-hyung said. — Han-kyu Lim, President to continue working to advance aquaculture in the United States. To our members and partnering colleagues: Your passion, support, and service to the U.S. aquaculture community has not gone unnoticed. We deeply appreciate the invaluable contributions you have made, and we recognize the profound impact of your work. USAS Chapter, continued from page 7 Thank you for your unwavering dedication through the substantial changes we experienced in the past few weeks. As we acknowledge the loss of valued colleagues, we remain focused on delivering exceptional service to the members of our Society and supporting one another. — Michelle L. “Mick” Walsh, President
WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • MARCH 2025 11 Organized by Hosted by National Fisheries Development Board Supported by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) www.was.org or contact apcsec@was.org; worldaqua@was.org Exhibition, sponsors – mario@marevent.com Aquaculture: Opportunities, Options, and Optimism November 10 - 13, 2025 Hyderabad, India Hyderabad International Convention Center - Novotel WAS Premier Sponsors WA25 India AD LTR CMYK.indd 1 1/31/25 20:39
12 MARCH 2025 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG For More Information: www.was.org or contact worldaqua@was.org Exhibition & sponsors: worldaqua11@was.org WORLD AQUACULTURE SAFARI 2025 June 24-27, 2025 International Conference and Exposition of World Aquaculture Society and African Chapter, WAS (AFRAQ2025) Speke Resort, Munyonyo, Entebbe, Uganda For details: www.was.org WA25 Safari WAS ad CMYK.indd 1 11/4/24 07:56
WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • MARCH 2025 13 CHAPTER REPORTS Welcome to the exciting year 2025! At WASAC, we aim to carry forward the energy, enthusiasm, wisdom, and progress that have defined us in previous years and to build upon them in this new year. I am pleased to share that Aller-Aqua has renewed its sponsorship of WAS-AC for another three years until 2027. We again join Aller-Aqua in the slogan, “Let’s grow together!” As always, Aller-Aqua is expected at our World Aquaculture Safari Conference 2025 and other regional platforms this year. Thank you, Aller Aqua, for your role in aquaculture development in Africa! The Chapter’s membership has grown rapidly, from fewer than 400 members in 2018 to over 1,300 today. This impressive growth is due to WAS’s complimentary membership packages for students and small-scale aquaculture practitioners from Africa. Our focus as a society is to meet the needs and aspirations of these membership categories, which are vital for the future of fisheries and aquaculture development in Africa. 2025 will be especially significant for WAS-AC as we host a global conference in Africa for the second time—the World Aquaculture Safari 2025 (WA25) in Entebbe, Uganda, from June 24 to 27, 2025. We expect attendance to exceed 2,000 participants with a program packed with exciting sessions, features, and over 120 exhibition stands. Make sure you don’t miss this event! Register now, as there will be something for everyone at WA25 in Uganda! I extend my gratitude to many of our collaborators and partners who have already committed to participate in this event. Special thanks go to the GIZ, the World Bank, WISHH, Aquagroup Feeds, the African Union, and Aller-Aqua for signing conference sponsorship agreements, along with many others who are yet to do so. African Chapter WAS-AC is proud to announce the extension of Aller Aqua’s sponsorship to the Chapter for another three years through December 2027. Aller Aqua has been the Chapter’s Founding Gold Sponsor from its inception in November 2018. During this term, the feed company has “walked and grown together” with WAS-AC on various activities to build capacity on aquafeeds development and supply chains. WAS Director John Cooksey recently signed the renewal Agreement with Aller Aqua, which would see the company branded as “Corporate Sponsor” on WAS-AC platforms. As the largest fish feed producer in Africa, with factories in Egypt and Zambia, and one of the largest employers in its aquaculture industry, Aller Aqua has committed to continue to support the capacity development of farmers on the continent through free technical training workshops and collaborations with development organizations and NGOs. Aller Aqua has strongly promoted and participated at the past three annual Aquaculture Africa Conferences (AFRAQs), in Egypt (2022), Zambia (2023) and Tunisia (2024). They are scheduled to feature again at this year’s World Aquaculture Safari Conference scheduled in Entebbe, Uganda on 24-27 June 2025. In addition, within the framework of this renewed agreement both parties and their partners will develop joint activities on aquafeeds capacity building, training programmes and engagement platforms beneficial to fish farmers. These will be delivered through national, regional in-person and virtual meetings, as well as outreach activities — and shared through each entity’s publicity platforms. Aller Aqua Extends Sponsorship for the African Chapter of World Aquaculture Society (WAS-AC) to December 2027 Aller Aqua continues to collaborate with development organizations and NGOs. Aller Aqua has participated in prior Aquaculture Africa Conferences, and will be present in Entebbe. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 14)
14 MARCH 2025 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG In June 2025, Uganda meets the world for the World Aquaculture Safari 2025 Conference (WA25 Uganda). Themed “Aquaculture on the Rise”, the conference, which is being organised by the World Aquaculture Society, is expected to bring together nearly 2000 participants from around the world. As always, the organizers intend to foster knowledge exchange, collaboration, and innovation within the sector. The event also aims to address some of the sector’s challenges whilst showcasing new technologies for sustainable and resilient aquaculture practices. The EU-funded TRUEFISH Project, overseen by the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation (LVFO) is the lead sponsor for the event. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) has just committed to Gold Sponsorship for the event. GIZ, through its Global Programme Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture has supported previous Aquaculture Africa Conferences in Egypt (2022), Zambia (2023) and recently in Tunisia (2024). WA25 will once again affirm GIZ’s commitment to sustainable aquaculture development in Africa, focusing on value chain approaches, capacity building, and promoting environmentally friendly and socially responsible practices. Moreover, the return of developmental organisations who featured in previous AFRAQs is inspiring. The World Bank, African Union agencies, FAO, WorldFish and others have expressed commitment to deliver special side-sessions and workshops covering some key thematic areas including relevant global and regional processes, technologies and innovations, investment, trade, value chain competitiveness as well as partnerships. Uganda is an ideal location for showcasing the booming development of aquaculture in East Africa. In addition to existing large scale aquaculture ventures flourishing along Lake Victoria, Uganda has a sizeable, small to medium scale aquaculture subsector. Some of the SME farms have become models for sustainable practises in an African context. They are playing a key role in the country’s local food fish production and also assure the viability of aquafeed supply chains. Having seen the great potential the country has, a number of large-scale aquafeed factories are being established in Uganda. The WA25 trade show is expected to feature nearly 150 exhibition booths. Overall, Uganda — known as the “Pearl of Africa,” is ready to offer international visitors its diverse and unique tourism experiences and cultural explorations. The country boasts wildlife safaris including natural landscapes, game reserves, gorilla trekking, birdwatching and — not forgetting, the source of the mighty Nile River, and much more! The country’s main urban centres especially in Kampala and Entebbe have a lot to offer for enthusiastic travellers — from local cultural experiences to traditional, mouthwatering cuisines. Uganda stands ready to provide various adventure activities that will leave you amazed throughout your stay! The WA25 Conference dates are 24-27 June, 2025 at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Entebbe (www.spekeresort.com) — a world class conference and exhibition facility on the shoreline of Lake Victoria. Registrations and submission of abstracts are still open. All conference details will be updated on the event page on https://www.was.org/ meeting/code/afraq25. For all enquiries on WA25 Uganda contact worldaqua@was.org or africanchapter@was.org. For more information on the exhibition and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Worldaqua11@was.org or Etienne_Hinrichsen@landell-mills.com. Spotlight on World Aquaculture Safari 2025, Uganda as Industry and Development Partners Show Strong Interest African Chapter, continued from page 13 and staff, who continue to work tirelessly, with agility and enthusiasm, to address various chapter business elements. I have participated in the just-ended Aquaculture 2025 in New Orleans, USA. I look forward to sharing with you my experiences in my next column. Otherwise, I look forward to meeting many of you at the upcoming World Aquaculture Safari 2025 in Entebbe, Uganda. Please continue to visit our website www.was.org for new developments and updates. — Foluke O. Areola, President Lastly, I wish to introduce the incoming WAS-AC Executive Board Members who were inaugurated in Tunisia during AFRAQ24: Dr. Francisca Delgado - Secretary (Angola), Dr. Judith Makombu - Regional Director (Central Africa), Cameroon, and Ms. Alushe Hitula - Regional Director (Southern Africa), Namibia. Our gratitude to Dr. Festus Idowu Adeosun from Nigeria for his service as Secretary of the Chapter from 2022 until the end of 2024. I always salute the roles of my executive board, committee members,
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16 MARCH 2025 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG different events throughout the year that ranged from social activities to research projects to public outreach — 26 were linked to networking, professional development, trainings, and conference attendance; 14 encompassed social activities such as bowling, cookie decorating, rock painting, roadside and stream cleanups, and regular meetings for elections and general business; 9 were outreach focused as subunits staffed booths at local festivals, helped teach community members how to fish and clean their catch, led tours of subunit maintained facilities, and partnered with special education classes to teach students about water quality in aquariums; 7 were tied to fundraising through plant, shrimp, and craft sales and grant writing for various awards; 2 were tied to research projects centered on shrimp and crayfish production; and 2 were associated with recruitment of graduate and undergraduate students at institutional career and club fairs. Chapter Struggles and Concerns: Although each chapter is unique and operates independently, several themes emerged as challenges faced by multiple subunits. Four subunits reported obstacles with engaging undergraduate and graduate student populations. A few subunits operate on or aspire to operate on satellite campuses, which proves difficult when coordinating social events, meetings, transportation, and research projects. Four subunits called for better recruitment strategies of members, generally and for diversity purposes, and volunteers to aid with system upkeep and fundraising efforts. Three subunits named better communication within their subunit and between subunits as a necessity, and one subunit wanted smoother transitions during officer changeover each year. Three subunits identified social media as a challenge — needing a larger presence or noting that regular USAS Student Subunits play an integral role in furthering the missions and reach of USAS and WAS. Subunits allow graduate, undergraduate, and even high school students to engage with different types of aquaculture at local scales and create social, educational, professional, and outreach opportunities for student members (Grenn & Walsh, 2024a; Grenn et al., 2024b). Each year, subunits are asked to submit an annual report outlining their accomplishments to remain in good standing as official USAS Student Subunits. Seven subunits (Table 1) completed the requirement for reporting year 2024 and are considered active. Active subunits are eligible to apply for the annual Student Subunit Project Grant ($1,000 in available funds — competitive) and the Student Subunit Travel Support Award (covers one student early bird conference registration, currently a $295 value — one awarded per active subunit) to attend the annual USAS Aquaculture America or WAS Triennial conference. Annual reports are published on the USAS Student Subunit webpage and outline each subunit’s membership, activities, struggles or concerns, chapter changes, and treasurer’s report (https://www.usaquaculture.org/for-students). Membership: Auburn High School reactivated its subunit status in 2024, whereas the remaining six active subunits (Table 1) maintained their status from 2023. There are 113 total students involved in the seven active USAS Student Subunits, with chapter membership ranging from six students at the smallest subunit (UF) to 26 participating in the largest subunit (AU) (Fig. 1). Student membership in 2024 is slightly down from 2023, by seven students (120 active members in 2023 vs. 113 in 2024). Activities: The subunits reported hosting or attending 60 United States Aquaculture Society (USAS) Student Subunit 2024 Annual Report Summary Julianne Grenn, Abdulmalik Oladipupo, Michelle Walsh, and Adriane Michaelis TABLE 1. List of subunits that submitted a 2024 annual report. Number Subunit Name Abbreviation 1 Auburn High School Auburn HS 2 Auburn University AU 3 Kentucky State University KYSU 4 Lake Superior State University LSSU 5 University of Arkansas Pine Bluff UAPB 6 University of Florida UF 7 Virginia Institute of Marine Science VIMS FIGURE 1. Student membership numbers split by active USAS Student Subunit Chapter. Table 1 explains the acronyms used for each included subunit.
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