Hatchery by simonv

Volume 8 Issue 4 JULY/AUGUST 2007 PROFILE

OVA from

German Catfish Producer Makes Inroads in European market

Iceland Year-round production of Atlantic salmon eggs and a rigorous family-based breeding program have created a strong market niche for Iceland-based Stofnfiskur. The company’s CEO, Jonas Jonasson, describes some of the fine points in a feature article beginning on page 13.

HATCHERY AND GROWOUT PROVIDES RANGE OF PRODUCTS catfish hatchery and production operation in the heart of Germany recently upgraded its program to improve the service it provides to that part of Europe. Torsten Pistol, who co-owns and operates the Ahrenhorster Edelfisch (Ahrenhorster Game Fish) company out of what was once a historical bakery, said the entire operation is fully integrated from top to bottom, with the fish (also known as waller or European wels in Europe) babied in a complex of red brick buildings which take them from egg to live sale of juveniles all over the world, or to processing as 1.5-1.8-kg adults. The most recent additions were two large buildings, including a big new growout facility to boost the operation’s capacity from 70 to 150 tonnes a year. The four-person operation, which has its own sizeable repair, maintenance and equipment shop, even has its own small storefront – for sales of finished product – which includes smoked fish - directly to the public. Incorporated into the program is an extensive waterrecirculation and -treatment system, as well as a separate fingerling building. All told, the facility at Badbergen, some 80 kms southwest of Bremen, holds around 1,200 cubic metres of

continued on page 10

Hand-stripping the males, each carefully selected from the Stofnfiskur’s family-based breeding program.

GROUPER, ABALONE, SEABASS

Economic development the goal of three new hatcheries in Philippines Former rebels part of the workforce ormer armed insurgents and three new hatcheries are at the centre of steps that the Philippine government is taking to ensure the country is reinstated as a leading player in the multibillion-dollar, live food-fish export market. In doing so, the country is turning to the aquaculture industry and expediting the construction of fish hatcheries in financially underdeveloped areas of Mindanao and the Visayas. According to a spokesperson for one of three hatchery-development projects, not only is the government taking a hands-on approach with advice and assistance from the private-sector it has also started working with former armed rebels no longer active with the insurgency forces. It has begun teaching them how to grow finfish and shellfish in the southernmost tip of the island-country, in an area which the government says is now vital to peace and economic reconstruction. Project advisor Dr. Stanley Swerdloff said originally that it had been hoped that the private sector would make the investment into the Tawi-Tawi operation in the southern part of Mindanao. He said though there was a misconception among potential investors that militaristic

Hatchery manager Torsten Pistol holds one of the company’s brood catfish. He says that they now hold about 250 broodstock, split evenly between males and females. The females can be spawned up to three times a year but he usually spawns each just once with five different spawning periods each year.

continued on page 7

Fishermen with freshly harvested seaweed to be used for feeding abalone at Tawi-Tawi hatchery.

OXYTOWER

™

Strip CO2 Add O2

CONSERVE

ENHANCE

GROW

Trusted for its quality… Appreciated for its efficiency... Chosen for its capacity… For help choosing yours today: Email: info@praqua.com Tel: 250-714-0141 Toll Free: 1-866-714-0141 Website: www.praqua.com

H ATC HERY I N T E R N AT I O N A L

JU LY/ AU GU ST 2007 >> 3

NEWS BRIEFS RESEARCH SITE

GOVERNMENT FUNDS

Florida looks to Mote for site of new fish hatchery State engineers in Florida are looking at the Mote fish-research institute’s 200-acre aquaculture park as a potential site for a new fish hatchery, one of three the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission intends operating in the state. A report in the Bradenton Herald says that preliminary plans call for about 10 acres, which the commission will lease from Mote, to start rearing fish - red drum initially - in a waterrecirculation system, a first for the commission but something Mote has been working with for years. The operation is being discussed as a research facility which will not only benefit the commission and its programs, but also Mote research staff as they focus on developing new fish production techniques.

Subscriptions Tel. +1.250.478.3973 • Fax +1.250.478.3979 subs@hatcheryinternational.com www.hatcheryinternational.com

Capamara Communications Inc. Publisher, Peter Chettleburgh Art Direction/Production, James S. Lewis

Volume 8, Issue 4 JULY/AUG 2007 Editor Peter Chettleburgh editor@hatcheryinternational.com

Science Editor David Scarratt scarratt@ns.sympatico.ca

Regular Contributors Quentin Dodd, Alan Dykes, Diogo Thomaz, Siri Elise Dybdal, Eric Roderick, Mary Nickum

Advertising Sales Jeremy Thain International Marketing Manager Toll Free 1.877.936.2266 (in North America) Int.Tel. +1.250.474.3982 Fax: +1.250.478.3979 sales@hatcheryinternational.com www.hatcheryinternational.com

Hatchery International is published six times a year by Capamara Communications Inc. The authority for statements and claims made in Hatchery International is the responsibility of the contributors. Reference to named products or technologies does not imply endorsement by the publisher. A subscription to Hatchery International (six issues) is $27.85 per year in Canada (including GST) or $29.95 per year in Canada (including HST), $US27.85 in the United States and $US38.64 overseas. Send cheque or Visa number to Subscription Department, Hatchery International, 4623 William Head Road, Victoria, BC. Canada V9C 3Y7 Fax orders to +1.250.478.3979 Or subscribe on our website at www.hatcheryinternational.com

EASTERN CANADA EXPANSION

Queensland New salmon hatchery research proposed for centre to Newfoundland expand The Bribie Island Aquaculture Research Centre (BIARC) in Queensland is to expand its operations using $4 million in government funding. Construction is scheduled for the end of 2007. The Southern Fisheries Centre at Deception Bay will be closed down and personnel will be moved to the 15-hectare BIARC site, where extended facilities will include a 650 square metre tank and aquarium, a new building holding 64 tanks, two temperature-controlled experimental rooms, a quarantine area and a wet laboratory, according to a report from the Bribie Weekly.

The leading salmon farming company on Canada’s East Coast is expanding it’s operations in the province of Newfoundland. Cooke Aquaculture has confirmed that it’s looking at a number of sites for a proposed new salmon hatchery in Newfoundland. The hatchery would be part of a multi-component expansion program the company is making in the region. Program leader is Ross Butler. Marine cage sites in the region will be supplied by the new hatchery, which is projected to be state-of-the-art using some recirc technology. Construction is to start as soon as possible. Ross Butler was recently named vice-president of operations for the company, in charge of all operations in Newfoundland and Labrador, by Cooke chief executive officer Glenn Cooke. RIGHT

WAY

Printed in Canada. Canadian Publications Mail Products Sales Agreement #1453556 Postage paid at VANCOUVER B.C.. ISSN 1498-136X REGISTRATION NO. 9920 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: Hatchery International, CIRCULATION DEPT. 4623 William Head Road, Victoria, BC V9C 3Y7

Next Ad Deadline The deadline for advertising in the Sept./Oct. 2007 issue of Hatchery International is July 13, 2007. Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this exciting aquaculture publication. For more information, or to reserve space in the next issue, call our Advertising Department at Toll Free 1.877.936.2266 (in N.A) sales@hatcheryinternational.com

Next Editorial Deadline The deadline for editorial copy is July 13th 2007. Contact the Editor, Peter Chettleburgh at +1 250 478 3973 for details. E-mail to editor@hatcheryinternational.com. Material may be submitted electronically with prior arrangement with the editor.

ADVERTISERS INDEX Acadian Sturgeon And Caviar Inc. ......5

Dana Feed .........................................8

Keeton Industries Inc. ......................35

PRAqua Group ....................................2

Advanced Aquaculture Systems Inc. 15

Department of Fisheries, Western Australia...........................................20

Lintec Machine & Hydraulics ............19

Purina Mills, Inc. ..............................18

Alitec................................................26

Madan Ma’agan Michael .................24

RK2 Systems Inc. .............................29

Ames A/E .........................................28

Embassy of Canada ............................4

MarEvent .........................................40

Sensorex ..........................................13

Aqua Optima Norway AS ................11

EMF Metal Fabrications Inc ..............20

MariSource ........................................5

Skretting ..........................................16

Aquaculture Association of Canada ..34

Emperor Aquatics Inc. ......................32

Natural ASA .....................................36

Skretting AS ......................................7

aquaFUTURE e.k. ..............................10

Ewos Ltd ............................................8

Northwest Marine Technology .........30

Smith-Root, Inc. ...............................44

AquaSeed Corporation .....................24

Faivre Sarl ........................................17

Uni-Aqua..........................................15

Aquatic Eco-Systems Inc. .................12

Feeding Systems Canada ..................33

Novartis Animal Health Canada IncAqua Business ..................................48

Burris Aquaculture/Cargill Inc ..........39

Hydrotech AB ..................................28

OceanBoy Farms Inc. .......................19

Water Management Technologies, Inc. .............................22

Colorite Plastics Company ................35

I.A.S. Products Ltd ...........................42

Octaform Systems Inc. .....................47

Western Chemical ...........................20

Comercial Norchi Aqua, Ltd ..............37

Integrated Aqua Systems Inc. ..........28

Pacific Ozone Technology .................23

World Aquaculture Conference .........40

Common Sensing Inc........................22

Inversiones Aubel Ltd .......................27

Pentair Aquatics ..............................13

YSI Inc. .............................................31

Corey AquaFeeds .............................30

Jim White & Associates ....................23

Point Four Systems Inc. ....................41

Oregon hydro project shuts down to assist fish The Eugene Water and Electric Board in Oregon voluntarily shut down its Leaburg and Walterville hydroelectric facilities for a day last month to assist hatchery steelhead smolts in migrating down the McKenzie River on their springtime outward journey to the Pacific Ocean. The smolts, up to about 10 inches long, had been holding in the river below Leaburg Dam, waiting for a signal from the river to move down on their way to sea.

Coming in Hatchery International September/October 2007 • TROUT/SALMON RE-STOCKING • RECIRC TODAY • FISH HEALTH • FEEDS & FEEDING • SALMON, TROUT, MARINE SPECIES

Call Jeremy at 1-877-936-2266 to advertise +1.250.474.3982 sales@hatcheryinternational.com

4 > > J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7

HATC HE RY I NTE R NATI ONAL

NEWS BRIEFS BRAIN POWER

EARLY WARNING

Research taps into fishes’ brains

US agencies act in new emergency action on VHS Increasing numbers of state fisheries agencies in the United States are taking strong action to counter Viral Haemorragic Septicemia (VHS) which is sweeping through waters in a number of states. In Wisconsin, the Department of Agriculture placed five state fish hatcheries under quarantine after finding they had fish or eggs believed to be contaminated with VHS. In Missouri, the Natural Resources Board quickly and unanimously extended the reach of emergency rules aimed at preventing the spread of the virus to include the Lake Winnebago System, after preliminary tests showed two dead fish there had VHS. The Board also suspended all stocking from state hatcheries, and transfers of fish within the hatchery system until fisheries officials could assess the risks of the discovery of VHS in the Lake Winnebago system on its hatchery and field operations.

Researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia are tapping into the brains of fish for information to help design new environmentally-friendly feed for the aquaculture industry. According to a statement from the university, doctoral student Jeremy Ullman has been collaborating with UQ’s Centre of Magnetic Resonance and using its newly-comissioned micro imaging facility to analyse the brains of farmed barramundi at UQ’s Moreton Bay Research Station. The objective is to assess how important sensory systems are to the fish, so Ullman could tailor fish feed to the fish. It’s hoped the process can then be applied to other fish species and reduce the aquaculture industry’s dependence on fishmeal.

Meet Us in

Norway Did you know that Canada is the 5th largest seafood exporter in the world? Aquaculture occupies a significant position in the seafood production sector. With its extensive coastline and productive salt and freshwater resources, reputation for high quality and safe seafood products, proximity to the U.S. market, and highly skilled and educated work force, Canada is well positioned to become a world leader in aquaculture. A full spectrum of the Canadian aquaculture industry will be present at Aqua Nor 2007, making Canada one of the most highly-profiled countries at this important international meeting place for the aquaculture industry. The Canadian Pavilion at Aqua Nor 2007 will showcase world leading research, technology, and services related to sustainable aquaculture. Visit the only national pavilion at Aqua Nor 2007 in Hall D, stand 331 to meet with our exhibitors and learn more about aquaculture in Canada. To find out more about the Canadian Pavilion at Aqua Nor 2007 go to www.canada.no/aquanor.

Saviez-vous que le Canada est le cinquième plus grand exportateur de fruits de mer au monde? L’aquaculture occupe une place importante dans le secteur de la production de fruits de mer. Avec son littoral étendu et ses ressources productives en eau douce et salée, sa réputation, ses fruits de mer de bonne qualité et sans danger, sa proximité du marché des Etats-Unis et sa main d’œuvre spécialisée, le Canada est bien placé pour devenir un leader mondial dans le domaine de l’aquaculture. Un large éventail de sociétés et organismes de l’industrie de l’aquaculture canadienne seront présents à Aqua Nor 2007, ce qui fait que le Canada sera l’un des pays le plus visible à ce point de rencontre international de l’industrie de l’aquaculture. Le Pavillon Canadien à Aqua Nor 2007 présentera des recherches, des technologies et des services relatifs à une aquaculture durable occupant tous une place importante au niveau international. Pour rencontrer nos exposants et pour apprendre plus sur l’aquaculture au Canada, visitez le seul pavillon national à Aqua Nor 2007 au Hall D, stand 331. Pour plus d’information sur le Pavillon Canadien à Aqua Nor 2007, consultez le site Internet www.canada.no/aquanor.

CLAM CONUNDRUM

The Mystery of a Clam Hatchery Killer The East Hampton Town shellfish hatchery on Fort Pond Bay in Montauk, New York is having a real struggle trying to determine what has been causing the death of hundreds of thousands of its baby clams as they leave the larval stage over the past several years. While the hatchery has still been able to produce enough healthy clams to meet its annual target, director John Aldred is cited as saying that the periodic problem doesn’t seem to be disease-related, even to vibrio, which is not uncommon in hatcheries. Nor is it evidently to do with something the hatchery may be doing wrong or the way it is set up because neither the hatchery’s scallops nor its oysters show signs of increased mortality. The clams begin dying as the weather gets warmer. The hatchery has brought in pathologists to study the problem, as well as experts in the field of aquaculture to study the hatchery’s methods. FAR M LAND

Tailor to set up inland fish farm Tailor AquaPonics Worldwide Inc. recently signed an escrow agreement to buy 40 acres of land and water rights in Amargosa, just northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada, to begin development of the company’s first enclosed fish farm and hydroponics operation in the United States. President Ron Almadova said in a MarketWire report that the company - a partnership with Australia’s barramundiproducing Tailor Made Fish Farms - had already identified the type of building materials and equipment necessary for the operation, so construction would begin as quickly as possible after completion of the usual 30-day due-diligence period.

ANTI-POVERTY ACTIONS

Ugandan wives set up hatchery In a bid to fight poverty and supplement the salaries of their husbands, wives of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces soldiers have begun a fish-farming program, according to a report in the Daily Monitor. In the preliminary stages of setting up a fish hatchery, the soldiers’ spouses are stated to have set up an association to develop fish ponds, and aid towards fish farms and establishment of a fish-feed mill, to development fish for both the domestic and exports market.

FEED COMPANY CHANGES HANDS

Canada’s Maple Leaf Foods sells feed business to Nutreco Canada’s Maple Leaf Foods recently announced it has reached an agreement to sell its fish and animal nutrition business to Nutreco Holding NV for $500 million (CAD). The transaction is expected to close in July 2007. Maple Leaf Animal Nutrition includes the Shur-Gain brand in eastern Canada and the Landmark Feeds brand in western Canada. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Nutreco is a global leader in the animal nutrition and fish feed business, with principal activities including the processing and marketing of a full range of complete feed and premix products for aquaculture, poultry, swine, dairy and beef. It operates 75 production plants in 20 countries and employs about 8,000 people.

H ATC HERY I N T E R N AT I O N A L

JU LY/ AU GU ST 2007 >> 5

NEWS BRIEFS SALMON AWARENESS

Taiwan opens Salmon Eco Centre The Wuling Ecological Festival held recently at the Wuling Farm inside Formaosa’s Shei-Pa National Park featured the grand opening of the Taiwan Salmon Eco Centre, at which the nation’s critically endangered species – the Formosan land-locked salmon – will be studied and bred, according to a report in The China Post.

Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrhynchus)

Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum)

Fertilized eggs, larvae and juveniles available for aquaculture, restocking and research. (Images Courtesy Taiwan National Science Council)

SHARING KNOWLEDGE

New Zealanders reveal oyster breeding secrets Representatives from the Australian oyster industry were in Nelson, New Zealand, for a two-day visit hosted by the Cawthron Institute recently, to find out how New Zealanders breed and rear their shellfish at the institute’s Glenhaven Aquaculture Centre. Manager Achim Janke told the Nelson News he invited the group to visit the facility after he visited Australia last year. He felt the different areas’ industries, although traditionally fierce rivals, could complement each other, since both SEEDS

countries sell to different markets. The Australians grow Pacific and rock oysters almost exclusively for their domestic market, while 80% of New Zealand’s $40 million production goes overseas. The idea of the visit was to exchange ideas to help each other with different aspects, Janke said: the Australians are good at growing oysters with beautiful shells, while the New Zealand oyster meat was superior to those grown across the Tasman Sea.

GROWTH

MOU inked for hatchery modernization in Philippines The Philippines Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources have signed a memorandum of Understanding with the local government unit in Palawa state’s Puerto Princesa for a major upgrade to the city’s Sta. Lucia Marine Multi-Species Finfish Hatchery. The plan is to help it produce high-value fry and fingerlings which will be grown in sea cages at nearby mariculture parks.

Check out the Online Suppliers Guide www.hatcheryinternational.com

Acadian Sturgeon and Caviar Inc. 214 King Street East Saint John, NB E2L 1H3, Canada 1 (506) 639-0605 • 1 (506) 763-3202 1 (506) 642-1816 (tel/fax) • cceapa@acadian-sturgeon.com

www.acadian-sturgeon.com

6 > > J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7

HATC HE RY I NTE R NATI ONAL

a nutreco company

ORI-GO

Advanced culture and enrichment products for live feeds ORI-GO is a complete range of new concept live feed diets from Skretting formulated with highly balanced nutritional components to allow optimal uptake and encapsulation. ORI-GO feeds are unique and highly concentrated products manufactured from natural, high quality raw materials. Moreover, ORI-GO feeds have been developed with advanced processing technology to ensure cleaner, more efficient and more reliable cultures and enrichments.

Feeding your passion for fish

www.skrettingeurope.com

H ATC HERY I N T E R N AT I O N A L

JU LY/ AU GU ST 2007 >> 7

COVER Economic development the goal of three new hatcheries in Philippines continued from cover

Images clockwise from top left: New hatchery will overlook shoreline in Philippines. Fish to be bred at Tawi-Tawi hatchery. Tawi-Tawi hatchery and vicinity from the air. Filipino aquaculturists watch fish in pen. Juvenile abalone

insurgencies were still taking place in the region. In fact, they were several hundred kilometres farther to the north. “It’s an extremely peaceful area and has a (provincial) government which is supporting the program and is very supportive of peace and the central government,” assured Swerdloff. In the end, the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, based in Manila, allocated just over $210,000 US (10 million pesos) for the well-placed but remote hatchery in Tawi-Tawi Province, and an additional $105,000 (5 million pesos) for a mariculture park in the neighbouring municipality of Panglima Sugala. Additional funds were obtained from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), to increase the hatchery’s capacity to

produce seedstock. Swerdloff, who is part of the USAID’s Growth for Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program in the region, confirmed that multi-species hatchery, due for completion in July, will have 16 one-metre-bythree-metre initial-rearing tanks, 11 for the humpback grouper and five for abalone. The facility, which is also looking at breeding the tiger grouper for growout in cages of a nearby aquaculture park is being built by local labour. “It’s all being developed and designed to feed into the ‘mariculture highway’ into China,” said Swerdloff, adding that the on-land facilities will be contained in a one-hectare lease area, while the ocean cages and growout areas will cover close to 200 acres The operation, which will develop its own broodstocks for different parts of the program is being developed with the

advice and assistance of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), GEM Program, and technical representatives from the private sector. Proposed to be run by a private company under contract to the government, the hatchery is projected to cost some 15 million pesos to build and another five million or so in operating costs for the first year. Swerdloff said the remote and undeveloped island site was chosen specifically for the pristine quality of its ocean water nearby, so that a flowthrough system can be used for the hatchery and nursery operations on land, in conjunction with ultra-violet and biofiltration water treatment. Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) director Malcolm Sarmiento was recently cited as saying that together the three hatchery upgrades and installations across the Philippines will provide local fish cage operators with quality fry and fingerlings of high-value food species such as the lapu-lapu grouper, apahap or sea bass and snapper.

8 > > J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7

HATC HE RY I NTE R NATI ONAL

NEWS BRIEFS EGGS SHORTAGE

Shortage of mother shrimp leads to hatchery closures The Daily Star in Bangladesh has reported that an acute shortage of mother shrimp in the Bay of Bengal, blamed on governmental inaction against what has been termed “indiscriminate netting”, has led to the shutdown of at least 35 of the 53 shrimp hatcheries in the Cox’s Bazar area of the country. The shutdowns are projected to have a significant effect on the cultivation of shrimp in the area, one of the country’s major export earners.

PHOSPHORUS GOOD FOR US

Additional phosphorus can reduce deformities in fall smolt A trial carried out by the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research has revealed that an optimal feedcomposition in the early seawater phase can reduce the number of spine deformities in fall smolt. Researchers found that it is the quantity of phosphorus in the feed that is most important. The period right after seawater transfer is characterized by quick growth and considerable physiological changes in Atlantic salmon. This sets great requirements in the feed-composition and the trials by the Institute of Marine Research have shown that the phosphorus level in the diet of fast-growing fall smolt can be a contributing factor in the development of bone deformities. Both field and experimental studies have shown a higher number of spine deformities in autumn smolt than spring smolt of Atlantic salmon. The most common spine deformation in slaughter fish produced from autumn smolt is compressed dorsal vertebra.

In the report, the scientists wrote: “We know that the diet level of phosphorous that should give maximum growth is lower than what is needed to give maximum bone minimization. Due to this, diet levels of phosphorus that can provide maximum growth, but not maximum mineralization, can increase the risk of developing spine deformities.” And it was these effects that were found when they studied diet with, respectively, normal and additional phosphorus in the feed: “In the trial, we did not find differences in growth between those which had feed with normal amounts of phosphorus and those with additional phosphorus in the period August-December 2005, but there was, however, great differences in bone strength and mineral content,” the scientists wrote. Scientists from Skretting, NIFES and Marine Harvest also took part in the trial.

H ATC HERY I N T E R N AT I O N A L

JU LY/ AU GU ST 2007 >> 9

NEWS BRIEFS

Landslide a bad news/good news Juvenile fish get “survival training” story for New Zealand trout hatchery at Australian T re-stocking hatchery Thousands of young fish are going to school, so to speak, at the Australian Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries’ Southern Fisheries Centre at Deception Bay. The objective of the research program is to find repeatable means of teaching hatchery-reared juveniles survival skills which can be used after they are released into the wild. Minister Tim Mulherin announced that a $400,000 study is being funded by the MurrayDarling Basin Commission’s Native Fish Strategy to look into developing techniques for boosting survival skills for threatened species, such as Murray cod, silver perch and the eel-tailed catfish. It is hoped to teach the fish being reared for restocking programs to seek shelter and use other avoidance techniques to protect themselves from predators in natural fresh-water bodies. The project is the first of its kind in Australia; it will see so-called “trained” fish from hatcheries being released in large numbers to the wild. DPI&F fisheries biologist Dr Michael Hutchison explained that studies at the centre and elsewhere indicate that if hatchery-reared fish can escape predation for the first 24 hours or so, their survival rates go up tremendously. Training will also be given to larger fish, according to a statement from the department, to teach them how to recognise wild and live foods.

he operation is pretty much squared away again now, but when a landslide hit the upstream water-intake at Ngongotaha fish hatchery in New Zealand’s Rotorua region the Waitako Fish and Game Council suddenly had to make arrangements for most of the thousands of young trout to be quickly transferred to another facility at Turangi, some 100 kms away. Amazingly, the roughly 100,000 yearlings and two thousand two-year-olds apparently not only survived the ordeal, they even thrived so well on the extra TLC (tender loving care) and feeding they received at the Department of Conservation facility, that recently the usual truckload of twoyear-olds going to Lake Pupuke had to be done in two trips. In just a matter of a few months, the fish, which normally weigh somewhere between .6 and 1 kg when taken to the lake for stocking shortly before a fund-raising fishing contest in the area, wound up almost doubling their usual weight – climbing to between one and two kilogram. Ben Wilson, an officer with the council, said the fish were so big that, instead of being transferred out through a pipe from the truck, they had to be dip-netted individually out of

When a landslide hit the upstream water-intake (above) at Ngongotaha fish hatchery in New Zealand’s Rotorua region the Waitako Fish and Game Council suddenly had to make arrangements for most of the thousands of young trout to be quickly transferred (left) to another facility at Turangi, some 100 kms away.

the vehicle, at considerable extra effort to the personnel involved. Wilson also said that the competition attracted a good turnout of anglers because of all the publicity given to the new stocks’ extra size.

New UK standards cover welfare issues for smolt With concern climbing about safeguarding the welfare of farmed fish, the United Kingdom’s Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has come up with a detailed set of welfare standards for fish hatchery operators. The standards were developed following extensive consultation with producers. The new standards mean that the RSPCA now has welfare standards to cover the entire life cycle of Atlantic salmon, from hatching through to harvesting and killing. They include requirements for handling during transport by helicopter, road and wellboats. Previous standards already covered the transportation of fish in general. The new ones contain specific requirements for smolts because they are at a particularly vulnerable stage of their lives, taking into account all aspects affecting their well being, including health, water quality and stock management. According to Rebecca Ralph, a media relations communications officer with the organization, at least one hatchery has already signed up to with the society. The standards, which cover several pages and were announced some weeks ago lay down rules such as pretransport fasting not exceeding 24 hours; fish not being transported above 16 degrees Celsius and not being out of water at any time for more than 15 seconds. Full records are to be kept of every stage.

Aquaculture Equipment Consulting Fishfarming

aquaFUTURE e.K. Dietmar Firzlaff Hans-Böckler-Str. 5 D-57223 Kreuztal Germany

Eyed Trout Ova

Brown trout (Salmo trutta f. fario)

December - March

Rainbow trout, normal eggs

three times a year

Rainbow trout, all female

three times a year

The number of eggs are very limited. We are mainly interested in long term business. Tel. 00 49 / (0) 27 32 / 65 35 Fax 00 49 / (0) 27 32 / 63 71 Mobil 01 71 / 2 60 50 60 firzlaff@aquafuture.de www.aquafuture.de

The hatchery is registered in the EU and has been certified to be free from any trout disease since the start of the fish health service.

1 0 > > J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7

HATC HE RY I NTE R NATI ONAL

COVER

Far left: It takes about four months to bring the fish up to 500 grams and they are graded frequently to minimize cannibalism. Left: Aerial view of the hatchery and grow-out facility Below: The hatchery makes its own feed and supports a small genetics lab vital for continued improvement of the stock. Eggs are incubated in glass Zugar jars.

German Catfish Producer Makes Inroads in European market continued from cover water, with approximately four per cent of that used for broodstock rearing and spawning facilities and two per cent for fingerling rearing. Some five per cent of the water is changed each day. Pistol indicated that he and his partners – Hermann Otto-Luebker, who handles the sales, marketing and administration, and Otto-Luebker’s wife Birgit, who deals with the processing – take pride in not using chemicals at any point in the system. Water treatment is mainly through the use of ultra-violet lights, as well as a biofilter and sedimentation settlement. The broodstock section and propagation unit has two separated recirculation systems, each with its own set of four-cubic-metre tanks, with a heating system that holds the water temperature at around 23°C. The company maintains a broodstock of 18 females and 10 males which are spawned three or four times a year, with the eggs incubated in glass Zuger jars. The feeding larvae are kept and reared in light troughs and Pistol said in the early stages the fry have to be graded frequently in order to avoid cannibalism. The hatchery program is supported by a genetics laboratory in another part of the hatchery and incubation building. Pistol, who is in charge of the hatchery and production

programs, said he keeps aspects of the breeding operation, such as the water temperature, as his own private secret. He indicated though that he derives much satisfaction from how successful it has been and stressed that it’s designed to be as close as possible to what the fish would experience in nature. Pistol said that the facility has developed numerous bloodlines over the years, with the assistance of fish brought in from other countries. He noted that one of his main successes has been in boosting the amount of eggs the females will carry and produce. He said that in other operations, the egg weight is usually around 7-10% of the fish’s total body weight. With tender loving care and constant attention to the welfare of the fish, he’s pushed that up to 28% in some fish. At full ripeness, he’s known a large female to produce enough eggs to generate 170,000 larvae. The larval fish feed for the first three days on their yolk sac and after that the staff start them on very finely powdered feed. “I tried some research with artemia and without, and got the same results,” said Pistol. “So now I only use dried wheat glutin and they grow very fast and they’re aggressive. (To prevent cannibalism) I grade the fish two times a week for the first three weeks, up to about five grams. Then again when they’re 40-50 grams and calibrate it three more

times up to harvest.” Pistol said he put in the recirculation system because there simply wasn’t enough room at the historical site for as much production as he wanted. He stressed that biosecurity is strictly adhered to on the site and as a result of that, and the husbandry it practises, the hatchery has managed to avoid the parasite problem which one warm-water recirculation catfish operation encountered in France. The company has also developed its own feed specially for the catfish and was recently in discussions with a major feed-manufacturing company. “It takes about four months to bring the fish up to 500 grams,” said Torsten, who has been breeding the European catfish for about three years. “This is a fish which is very special to Europe. The European catfish is very different from the American catfish and the African catfish.” Part of that difference, said Pistol, is with the makeup or consistency of the flesh, which is less flakey in the European variety. It also tastes significantly different, with what Pistol describes a “bigger” and stronger taste. “We know it’s going to grow in Europe,” he said. “I eat it at least once a week. We taste it ourselves because we want to make sure the quality stays the same and is consistent from week to week. “It’s very important to check it because some people (producers) have had a problem with a muddy flavour in the fish. We’ve found ways to eliminate those issues and the reasons for the muddy flavour – we take all the waste out of the tanks every two hours.” Pistol can be contacted at Ahrenhorster Edelfish at +49-5433-902595 or by email at pistol@wallerzucht.de

H ATC HERY I N T E R N AT I O N A L

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7 > > 1 1

NEWS BRIEFS

Carotenoids essential for successful parenting say UK researchers …well, in sticklebacks anyway… Carotenoids have long been recognized as critical antioxidants for fish and other animals, helping them combat stress and strengthening their immune system. Now researchers in the United Kingdom have found that carotenoids could have several interesting side effects – especially in helping some fish to “interest” potential mates. According to a report from Glasgow University fisheries researchers and University of Exeter have found that naturally occurring yellow and red pigments can slow down the ageing process – and makes males more attractive to spawning females. The latest research by the group, carried out using

sticklebacks, shows for the first time that male fish eating more carotenoids lived longer; and that the females found the longerlived males more attractive. The statement says that the study compared the fate of fish that all received the same basic diet, but with different amounts of carotenoid supplement. Male sticklebacks need the carotenoids to produce the distinctive red throat patch they develop during the breeding season, which is similar to the red breast of some robins. It is evidently designed to attract females. Dr. Thomas Pike, a researcher in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology at Glasgow University, who worked on the project with Dr. Neil Metcalfe of Exeter University,

Male sticklebacks need carotenoids to produce the distinctive red throat patch they develop during the breeding season. It is evidently designed to attract females say the researchers.

said “males provided with fewer carotenoids still tried to produce the bright-red throat patch, but could only do so by diverting carotenoids away from their role as antioxidants. So by trying to look as good as possible, these males aged faster.” Pike also said that this adversely affected the males parenting ability. In sticklebacks, the female lays her eggs in the male’s nest and then leaves the male alone to take care of the

eggs and young. “It seems that females can tell if males haven’t eaten many carotenoids, even if they look quite red,” said Pike. “And (they) probably found these males less attractive because they were more likely to die before they had finished looking after the young.” Pike said the positive effects of a carotenoid-rich diet likely applies to other species as well. “The most brightly-coloured animals often get the girls,”

said Exeter University Research Fellow Dr. Jon Blunt, part of the study group. “Our study shows that redder males are more likely to be good fathers, because they can survive the demands of parenting young sticklebacks.” The study was also carried out in collaboration with researchers at the Akvaforsk Institute for Aquaculture Research in Norway.

1 2 > > J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7

HATC HE RY I NTE R NATI ONAL

NEWS BRIEFS

Norwegian engineer develops automated system for counting rotifers n aquaculture engineer in Norway has developed a rotifer-counting and feed-control system which he hopes will assist the larval-fish sector of the industry determine the best rotifer densities for different stages of production. Torodd Tennoy of Thelma AS in Trondheim said it is hoped that they will have a commercial prototype of the system available for purchase later in the year. Tennoy said that there are two parts to the system: the first part is a density counter which uses a computer and interconnected camera to automatically monitor rotifer density in small samples of water from up to 10 tanks. The other part is an attached feed-control device which opens and shuts valves and sends feed to rotifers in the culture tanks. Tennoy said he hopes initially to interest cod and seabream producers, but also said that the system will help other larval-fish producers. The computer-based automatic counter can be set for different monitoring frequencies round the clock, and is designed with the objective of reducing labour costs and efforts while ensuring that the counting is done in exactly the same way every time. Tennoy said the system uses a small pump to draw small samples of water through three-mm hoses from the rotiferculture and fish tanks. A digital cameral takes pictures of the water as it passes through the system and the density

,OW -AINTENANCE #OST %FFECTIVE $ISSOLVED /XYGEN 3ENSORS

Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2DC;iVĂ&#x152;Ă&#x160;Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Ă&#x160;* Ă&#x160;Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x160;`>Ă&#x152;>Â?Â&#x153;}}iĂ&#x20AC;Ă&#x160;vÂ&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x160; VÂ&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x152;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x2022;Â&#x153;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160; "Ă&#x160;Â&#x201C;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;}

Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x20AC;>LÂ?iĂ&#x160;/ivÂ?Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x160;Â&#x201C;iÂ&#x201C;LĂ&#x20AC;>Â&#x2DC;iĂ&#x160;Ă&#x20AC;iĂ&#x192;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160; VÂ&#x153;>Ă&#x152;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;}]Ă&#x160;vÂ&#x153;Ă&#x2022;Â?Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;}Ă&#x160;>Â&#x2DC;`Ă&#x160;Ă&#x152;i>Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;}

information is then stored in the system computer, which can be accessed remotely by other computers as needed. Larval-fish hatchery operators in Norway tend to use rotifers of between 100 and 300 microns, but Tennoy said other parts of the world use smaller zooplankton, so the system is designed to handle down to at least 50 microns. The internal workings, machinery and set-up, all contained in a small cabinet which can be mounted on a wall or put on a desk, are being kept confidential at present. Tennoy said he began developing the system with Dr. Jo Arve Alfredson of the Engineering Cybernetics (mechanical control) Department while working towards a Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Degree at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) four years ago. He also continues to work with Dr. Gunvor Oie at SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture in Trondheim, one of the partners in the program with the NTNUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Institute of Biology and Institute of Technical Cybernetics. Another recent addition to the partnership is a hatchery run by Grieg Cod Juveniles in Rogaland, about 500 kms from Trondheim. Tennoy can be contacted at Thelma AS at +47-73-87-78-15 or by email at tot@thelma.no

New Zealand gets new aquaculture research centre Eel culture a focus of attention

,>ÂŤÂ&#x2C6;`]Ă&#x160;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x152;>LÂ?iĂ&#x160;>Â&#x2DC;`Ă&#x160;Ă&#x20AC;iÂŤi>Ă&#x152;>LÂ?iĂ&#x160;Â&#x153;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x152;ÂŤĂ&#x2022;Ă&#x152; -Â&#x2C6;Â&#x201C;ÂŤÂ?iĂ&#x160;Ă&#x192;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;}Â?iÂ&#x2021;ÂŤÂ&#x153;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x160;>Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x160;V>Â?Â&#x2C6;LĂ&#x20AC;>Ă&#x152;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x160; Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x160;Â?iĂ&#x192;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160;Ă&#x152;Â&#x2026;>Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x160;ÂŁĂ&#x160;Â&#x201C;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x152;i

0LEASE CALL OR VISIT US ON THE WEB AT

WWW SENSOREX COM -!2+/. $2)6% '!2$%. '2/6% #! 53! s 4%, s &!8

ew Zealand Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton was remarkably effusive in his praise for the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aquaculture industry at the official opening of a new purpose-built aquaculture centre at the North Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mahurangi Technical Institute near Auckland recently. Speaking to a sizeable audience at the new multi-species research-and development facility, Anderton keyed in on the pioneering work which has been ongoing at the institute since 2000, trying to close the life cycle on commercial quantities of eels. Anderton noted that the eel harvesting and processing industry has been enormous world-wide, but that glass eels are now seriously overfished, so aquaculture is the only hope of trying

to fill the demand gap. He added that the institute is among the top three organizations in the world which have made substantial progress towards solving the technical difficulties of developing eel culture. Anderton said that if the institute can solve all the problems for commercial-scale aquaculture of eels, the eel aquaculture industry in New Zealand could have a virtually unlimited future,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Eels,â&#x20AC;? he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;could potentially be New Zealandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next big aquaculture species.â&#x20AC;? Anderton also praised other work being done at the instituteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hatchery which is producing juveniles of several species for fish farms, including koura crayfish, grass carp and silver carp.

H ATC HERY I N T E R N AT I O N A L

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7 > > 1 3

COVER PROFILE

H A T C H E R Y P R O F I L E : S T O F N F I S K U R LT D .

Year-round production of Atlantic salmon ova and selective breeding the key to success at Icelandic hatchery BY DR JONAS JONASSON

Stofnfiskur’s main broodstock farm at Kalmannstjorn. The development of off-season egg production was initiated in overbuilt tanks at this farm. The farm has access to fresh and seawater at the same location.

Ah, ah, We come from the land of the ice and snow, From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow. The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands, To fight the horde, singing and crying: Valhalla, I am coming!

hese are the first lines of the Immigrant Song written by Led Zeppelin over 30 years ago. Some say they wrote it about Iceland after one of their tours. It also describes Stofnfiskur’s unique position in the world ova market, using the natural geothermal heat and abundant fresh water in Iceland to produce disease free-salmon eggs year-round in a country native to Atlantic salmon. Worldwide, salmon farming continues to gain momentum, a fact reflected in the global production of 1,257,000 tons in 2005. Many countries now have the ability to transfer smolts into the sea more or less year-round. This is done by using recirculation facilities with high rearing temperatures (12-16°C) and light manipulation to trigger smoltification. This in turn has put pressure on salmon ova producers to extend the seasons for ova supply. Therefore, the key is access to ova on a year-round basis to fully utilize the production capacity in freshwater and subsequently at the sea sites

Breeding programs and breeding goals The objective of breeding programs is simply to reduce production costs and improve quality. This is usually met by increasing growth rate, improving survival, maintaining late maturity and improving flesh quality traits such as fat content, flesh color and form. Studies have shown that the growth rate has improved between 7090% in Atlantic salmon since the initiation of breeding programs. The Norwegian breeding system established by the Norwegian Agricultural University in 1971 initially selected for increased growth rate. They subsequently added late maturity as well as quality traits such as fat content and flesh color as breeding goals. This was followed by selection for resistance to bacterial and viral diseases. Stofnfiskur commenced its familybased breeding program in 1991 when two Norwegian strains, the Bolaks and Mowi, were imported to Iceland. The Mowi strain

Females checked for ripeness. The first females are stripped in May each year.

1 4 > > J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7

HATC HE RY I NTE R NATI ONAL

COVER PROFILE

Inside one of three barns at Stofnfiskurâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hf new broodstock station at Vogavik. Inlet in each tank provides both fresh and seawater depending on the status of the broodstock.

is particularly noted for being a very late maturing stock. The main breeding goals have been improved growth, late maturation and improved carcass quality (fat content and flesh colour).

QTL and Marker assisted selection Recent developments in DNA technology where direct links between the DNA (markers) and life history traits are tracked is now benefiting the salmon industry. It will enable geneticists to use marker-assisted selection to improve breeding programs and should be focused on traits difficult or expensive to record. Most work is needed in the area of robustness or resistance against most of the diseases affecting the industry. Work with challenge tests where many families of salmon are challenged against bacterial or viral diseases show moderate to high heritability for resistance against many diseases. Some breeding programs now select for increased resistance to one or two diseases simultaneously. Simulation studies show that it will take many generations to improve resistance and it is often argued by geneticists that in the meantime good vaccines will be developed or changes in husbandry practices will reduce the effect of some diseases. On the other hand QTL (Quantitative Trait Loci) studies for disease resistance should be encouraged so that quantitative geneticists can

Fertilization of the eggs is a gentle process carried out at the correct temperatures and monitored closely.

use marker-assisted selection to improve resistance to many different diseases simultaneously. This should result in a much faster selection response for increased resistance then using challenge tests. Stofnfiskur has developed the so-called Stofnfiskur DNA profiling system where micro-satellite markers are used to profile and pedigree the population. This enables Stofnfiskur to test its strains all over the world without the necessity of using a family multi-tank system. A pooled ova batch of many families can be sent to any location in the world. At stripping a tissue sample is taken from each brood fish and preserved in alcohol. The pooled family group is then reared in a smolt farm and then in cages until harvest. At harvest all valuable life history traits are

H ATC HERY I N T E R N AT I O N A L

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7 > > 1 5

COVER PROFILE

The females are kept very calm while waiting for the eggs to be stripped.

Stofnfiskur’s new broodstock farm at Vogavik. The small building at bottom is the separate incubation center. The other buildings house the indoor broodstock tanks. Note the four feed silos beside the oxygen tank, feeding the new centralized VAKI feeding system.

measured such as growth rate, maturity status if needed, carcass quality etc. At the same time tissue samples are taken from the measured fish at harvest. Each fish is then traced back to its family and data are processed within the Stofnfiskur data center. Finally selection in Iceland is based on performance for any location in the world. Furthermore, once the markers of the parent fish are known they can use that for traceability from egg to plate which is now becoming a necessity for salmon producers.

Production Cycles The use of temperature and light manipulation has enabled the industry to modify the life cycle of Atlantic salmon from the traditional S1+ when smolts were put to sea during the spring months at the age of 15-18 months from stripping. Now, the earliest smolts are put to sea at the age of 10 months from stripping. Furthermore, the growth in sea has increased dramatically due to selective breeding, improved technology and better feed so that a 4 kg fish is produced in 1214 months from smolt stage. With the ability to produce smolts in every month of the year farmers can accurately plan the production in cages and subsequent supply to market every month of the year. This now demands a redesigned breeding program because it is necessary to take into account whether the fish is one summer in the sea or two before market size is reached. In fact, it means that two pedigree lines have to be produced: • Fast growing, high-carcass quality strains thereby eliminating the concern of early maturity. • Moderate growth, late-maturing, highcarcass quality strains. A late maturing strain might not be necessary where lights in cages can be applied over the winter to reduce early maturity but many production sites do not have the ability to apply lights in this way. Stofnfiskur has decided to develop two lines for Atlantic salmon, Saga Fast and Saga Late to meet the above mentioned demands.

Eggs every month The buyers of salmon ova benefit from the competition between egg suppliers in terms of price, year-round egg availability and existing breeding programs. Chileans have a huge advantage over northern hemisphere farmers in terms of supply as eggs can easily be imported to Chile from Europe from November through April the following year and then use their own national natural production of ova from June-August. In Europe and Canada this can only be met by off-season egg production. Stofnfiskur has developed a method to produce eggs from May-July by light manipulation, use of geothermal energy and maximizing the access to cold freshwater all year round at the same site. Land-based units are a necessity. To fill in the gap of delivering ova all year round the heating of water to 8°C and chilling down to 2°C is provided. The shortage of smolts in the last few years has increased interest in using recirculation farms to produce juvenile fish. This is done mainly to save water and energy. To optimize the use of recirculation farms a supply of ova all year round is necessary. This not only optimizes the smolt farm but also the whole production of salmon from egg to plate. Therefore, careful planning of production cycles is necessary for the whole industry. Dr Jonas Jonasson has a PhD in fish genetics and has been working on Stofnfiskur’s breeding programs since their inception. In March 2006 he took over as CEO of Stofnfiskur Ltd. He can be contacted at jonas@stofnfiskur.is, www.stofnfiskur.is

BioVita Fry Our Premium Fry Feed for Excellent Growth and FCR • Highly digestible fishmeal and fish oil diet promotes growth and low FCR • Natural palatability enhancers promote active feeding • Enhanced vitamin pack • Free-flowing pellets available in sizes ideally spaced to reduce fish variation • Durable dry extruded pellet contributes to improved water quality

Give your fish a head start with BioVita Fry

1 6 > > J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7

HATC HE RY I NTE R NATI ONAL

COLUMN

This picture shows some degree of investment but still poor environmental control. Long term stability in production should not have been expected and this hatchery is now undergoing a major strategic re-structuring in order to regain viability.

T H E B U S I N E S S O F H AT C H E R I E S

Strategic alignment in a fish hatchery: the formula for sustainable success BY DIOGO THOMAZ

hat is strategic alignment in a fish hatchery and how important is it? How can tools such as the Balanced Scorecard be used to translate the business’ vision and strategy into actions that will lead to successful performance, better customer satisfaction and make staff understand why they are there! Below we will see that an aligned hatchery is more than just a well-coordinated business, but is a business that will succeed through producing exactly what customers want and through being able to continuously monitor and improve the way it works in order to stay in track of its global strategy.

Alignment Imagine a fish hatchery that is part of a big aquaculture group and is efficiently run, posting at the end of each year good to excellent cost results and beating production number records year-on-year. The two main

success indicators or Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) used: • Cost per fry produced; • Numbers of fry produced. You would expect everyone in the hatchery to be happy and rejoicing in a sense of continuous success, but when we look closely we see tired staff; we see conflicts with customers or with on-growing departments of the same company that were supplied fry from the hatchery, and we see a lack of technical and strategic planning. This picture is not so difficult to imagine and the explanations for it are also easy to understand. For example, to be a cost leader in any market is often incompatible with being a quality leader, and cost leadership is often based on starvation wages and very low investment in training and education; this doesn’t lead to staff satisfaction or to being in the forefront of the technical and technological wave. More critical in this picture is that a hatchery that

mainly targets cost and numbers does not prioritize new developments, technological growth or the development of its intellectual assets. In other words, these are not the KPIs that guide management through deciding whether the year is going well or not. The consequence is a business that cannot learn and thus cannot evolve. Many hatcheries in Greece and Cyprus (but not only) have found themselves in such a situation, having grown through scaling of old technologies and being unable to develop new practices and new growth strategies that fitted better with more demanding customers or with concerns for new disease risks. So, although the hatchery you just imagined appears to be well coordinated and destined for success it is in fact doomed to a near future of premature stagnation of growth and quality, to a buildup of internal and external conflicts and to the risk of loosing market share and loss of market status that will surely, sooner or later, reflect on the bottom line. What is it that is missing from this hatchery business? In a world of constant technological change and especially in technologically advanced fields of production, as the biotechnology of marine fry production, companies cannot afford to disregard external cues. This might include evolving customer requirements for better quality fry and new products/species, or new developments in larval feed technologies and live food protocols, new research into larval rearing, into broodstock quality and genetics, new production protocols for intensive rearing or recirculation technologies, etc. It must become clear to managers that business success and growth is not simply reflected by last years numbers, but is firmly based on continuous performance on a number of key objectives that are aligned between them (balanced) and that should translate the business’ vision into strategic actions. The Balanced Scorecard in a typical hatchery The Balanced Scorecard (BSC) is a recently developed tool that combines the functions of many different management tools. First and foremost it helps translate the company’s vision and mission into practical and objective goals that can be measured and controlled. Then it establishes cause and effect links between goals on each of four business perspectives: • Financial • Customer • Internal processes and • Learning and growth For example, to target a good market share level (a financial goal), the hatchery should aim at having few complaints from customers and low replacement levels (both targets associated with the customer perspective) and in order to achieve this the company should look into its own production processes and customer feedback processes and make sure some quality levels are attained. Often, quality in production processes is dependent on

H ATC HERY I N T E R N AT I O N A L

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7 > > 1 7

COLUMN Strategy Map for a Typical Hatchery Company Mission – We will be the key performance factor in our group’s ongoing farms Company Vision – We’ll create a perfect health and sanity environment and we will give our fry the best inputs such that our fry will have the best possible growth performance and resistance against pathogens an d environmental stresses. We will get the best cost performace for the whole of the value chain, from egg to ready product.

Financial

F1 – Fry costs to be less than 5% of total production costs for a 500g fish

Customer

C1 – Reduce level of complaints to below 5%

Internal Processes

IP1 – Increase fraction of fry batches from F2 selected broodstock to 100% by 2008

Learning & Innovation

L1 – Participation in Scientific meetings and research programs on genetics, larval rearing and fish nutrition

F2 – Increase efficiency in use of infastructures by reducing down times and setup times through better production coordiantion

C2 – On Time Supply of >90% of batches requested

IP2 – Extend use of IT production system to record more production factors and improve on the production analytics tools

L2 – Training in IT, statistics and analytics

A simplified Strategy Map – The strategy map is the depiction of how the business’s mission is translated in terms of objectives and actions. In this simple example we see that financial objectives are a function of both customer and internal process objectives and these in turn are a function of staff learning and growth objectives. This map makes it clear for everyone in the company that in order for the company’s strategic objectives to be met attention should be given to various levels of business activity. Without a training program in IT and production analytics management should not expect the successful implementation of more IT tools that will help track production and performance in own or customer’s farms. Consequently it will be difficult to guarantee smooth and profitable long-term relationships with customers, be these external or internal to the group.

AQUAMAX® STARTER Highly digestible, high energy nutrient dense diet excellent for starters and fingerlings.

AQUAMAX® CARNIVOROUS SPECIES Nutritionally complete diet with moderate amounts of nutrients for warm water animals.

Large investments in water treatment systems as shown in the photo above are aligned with long-term plans of staying it the market. Complete strategic alignment in these hatcheries should include staff training and a good IT infrastructure that will help in production coordination, quality control and faster responses to market changes.

good staff performance and this is related to the level of training that staff is exposed to. So we see that all these four perspectives are linked in a cause-effect relationship that ultimately translates into good financial performance. By disregarding the more basic perspectives management risks sustainable performance in the ultimate goals of customer satisfaction, fidelity and therefore market share. The BSC also allows managers to link strategy to results and therefore to evolve strategy based on past performance. A very important benefit is the alignment of roles of each member of staff in the company to the global business strategy; this effectively means that all staff know why they work for the business and what their contribution should be so that the company’s objectives are met. The benefits from this sense of purpose are immense. Building the Strategy Map

• Formulated for Max digestibility and performance • From Fry Powder to 1/4" Floating • Available 1 bag at a time, or by the truck load • Call toll free 1.800.227.8941 for the Dealer nearest you

Implementation of the BSC is not too complicated a task, although help from an external consultant may benefit the whole process. Three main steps are involved:

Initially the company leaders or business unit managers must define the Vision and Mission of the business according to the whole organizations’ objectives. This task should be led by top management and the whole implementation of the BSC should be steered by a BSC team specifically formed and including people from diverse areas of production. Different companies will develop different missions: • For example, a hatchery may target low cost, average quality fry production in order to operate for a few years, reap the benefits of the operation and close; • Another may want to take a long-term perspective and make sure it will be able to overcome pathologies, market crises, species’ trends etc., for an external market of ongrowers. • Yet another hatchery may have as its mission to supply only farms within the group’s businesses and so it should take into consideration performance over the whole production cycle rather than only the hatchery and nursery stages. So, in the first group the strategy would include low-cost facilities, low investments in technology and capable staff. Both other strategies will include investments in good

A brand of Land O’Lakes Purina Feed, LLC

1 8 > > J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7

HATC HE RY I NTE R NATI ONAL

COLUMN

The investment in hatchery infrastructure should be aligned with the strategy of the business. Above we see a nursery with very low capital investment and very poor control over the environment. If the idea of the business was to exploit a few years of good fry prices in the Iberian markets and then close then the approach chosen was the best. However long-term sustainability should not have been expected and this hatchery in fact has now closed.

infrastructure that will allow a high degree of control over the production process. Parameters such as production planning and on-time delivery as well as fry quality (good performance and low deformity rates) are also more relevant. In the last example (serving own group), aspects such as better nursery feed quality and more nursery space may insure better over-all performance of the fish through to harvest.

The second step is to define objectively the main targets for each of the four perspectives mentioned – financial, customer, internal processes and learning and growth – that will translate the business’ mission into actions. These targets will keep managers’ minds on the critical aspects of business success. Defining objectives however is not all. Specific performance targets should support each objective. For example, in

our accompanying sample strategy map we have a financial objective (F1) that says: “Fry costs to be less than 5% of total production costs for a 500g fish.” In order to track this objective the managers must define KPIs such as Average Production Costs for 500g Sea-Bream (APC500br, collected from on-growing farms) and Bream Fry Batch Production Cost – Rolling Average (FBAPCbr, continuously monitored in the hatchery), calculate the ratio and follow that value. So, a series of performance indicators should constantly be calculated from production data (or feedback data from customer cases) for each of the objectives defined. Also these objectives must be integrated in a cause-effect map that clearly shows the relationships between them. This is the Strategic Map of the company or the business unit.

Finally, managers must built dashboards that collect and present the performance indicators mentioned above. Ideally most of the indicators will be directly retrieved from a central production data database or from a CRM application. Alternatively, some indicators should be input manually at fixed time intervals, for example weekly or quarterly. Usually the task of gathering and presenting data covers most areas of the business unit (production, sales, administration, etc.) and the BSC team should include people from each of these areas. At pre-determined dates, weekly or monthly, the BSC team should meet and analyze the performance of the business on each of the objectives defined and compare it to the targets set out. When deviations are observed the team should discuss and determine the actions to take in order to re-align the business practice with the strategy. Get everyone involved

POST LARVAE, NAUPLII, BROODSTOCK OF LITOPENAEUS VANNAMEI Certified Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) AVAILABLE ALL YEAR ROUND

The best tasting shrimp on and for the planet OceanBoy Farms Inc. 2954 Airglades Blvd. Clewiston, Fl 33440, USA Tel. 1-863-983-9941 Fax. 1-863-983-9943 Information: info@oceanboyfarms.com • Sales: sales@oceanboyfarms.com

It is important that the company’s strategy map does not stay only in the minds of the managers. Live food staff as well as technical support, credit control or the pathology staff, all need to be mindful of what the company expects from them and how their everyday actions contribute to the business’s success and in a very direct way to their own success. The dissemination throughout the company of what the strategic targets are and the strategy map can be made through various channels such as presentations, company newsletters, the company intranet and others. I believe that the BSC is a tool that will not only improve performance and sustainability of hatchery businesses but will also allow for more satisfactory working environments in hatcheries. I recommend to all to implement it! The investment in hatchery infrastructure should be aligned with the strategy of the business. In the accompanying picture we can see three different hatcheries that show quite different approaches to capital investment and hatchery environment control. None is necessarily right or wrong; it all depends on the strategy of the business. We see a nursery with very low capital investment and very poor control over the environment. If the idea of the business was to exploit a few years of good fry prices in the Iberian markets and then close, then the approach chosen was the best. However, long-term sustainability should not have been expected and this hatchery in fact has now closed. The middle picture shows some degree of

investment but still poor environmental control. Again long term stability in production should not have been expected and this hatchery is now undergoing a major strategic re-structuring in order to regain viability. Large investments in water treatment systems, as shown in the lower pictures, are aligned with long-term plans of staying in the market. Complete strategic alignment in these hatcheries should include staff training and a good IT infrastructure that will help in production coordination, quality control and faster responses to market changes. Simplified Strategy Map A simplified Strategy Map – The strategy map is the depiction of how the business’s mission is translated in terms of objectives and actions. In this simple example we see that financial objectives are a function of both customer and internal process objectives and these in turn are a function of staff learning and growth objectives. This map makes it clear for everyone in the company that in order for the company’s strategic objectives to be met attention should be given to various levels of business activity. Without a training program in IT and production analytics management should not expect the successful implementation of more IT tools that will help track production and performance in their own or a customer’s farm. Consequently it will be difficult to guarantee smooth and profitable long-term relationships with customers, be these external or internal to the group. Nowadays aquaculture businesses are expanding and becoming global players. Successful integration of hatcheries with on-growing farms, feed mills and global sales is a serious challenge. The extent of success will depend on the use of strategic alignment tools such as the Balanced Scorecard. Only in this way can top management’s vision and strategy filter through to every staff member in the company or group of companies and insure that all work towards the same value proposition. Diogo Thomaz, PhD, MBA, is a Technical and Business Consultant for the Aquaculture Industry, based in Athens, Greece. After 6 years as R&D project manager at Selonda Aquaculture SA he now heads RealSales Ltd a sales and consultancy company that helps businesses expand their opportunities in export markets. He can be contacted at: Diogo Thomaz, Tmolou 35, Athens 16233, Greece, Email: diogo.thomaz@gmail.com, Phone: +302107652021, Fax: +302107650951, Mobile: +306937214668

H ATC HERY I N T E R N AT I O N A L

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7 > > 1 9

FEEDING

New pheromone-based feed attractants work with juvenile fish too

WHISPER FEEDERS from EMF Metal Fabrications The quiet, accurate, and virtually maintenance free solution to your raceway feeding needs PLUS a one year parts warranty.

Benefits include faster growth and feed savings EMF Metal Fabrications, Inc. 1116 South 18th, Centerville, IA 52544 USA Tel: 1-641-856-8701 • Fax: 1-641-856-5326 Email: Whisperinfo@whisperfeeder.com

The perfect feeder for fish hatcheries!

Are BioSecurity concerns keeping you awake at night ? Introducing

VIRKON® AQUATIC The feeding stimulant works with both juvenile and market-age fish, providing faster growth and reduced feed usage. So far trials have focused mostly on tilapia and prawns with a small amount of work with cod.

he first commercial trials in the use of pheromone-based fish-feeding attractants have shown some exciting results according to various people involved with the trial project, based in the United Kingdom. And the main marketing company involved in the program says the feeding stimulants being developed under the name of Aquatice can be used starting with very young fish, making them grow faster, reach harvest sizes earlier, and save on the amount of feed consumed. Some of the findings were outlined at the recent Victam International Conference in the Netherlands, by the head of the salmon and freshwater fisheries section of the British research centre spearheading the research. Dr Andrew Moore of the British government’s Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) told attendees at the conference in Utrecht that initial trials indicated that the feeding-triggers could yield notable financial benefits for fish farm operators, while also helping reduce the environmental impact of the aquaculture facilities. Trials on the effectiveness of using the artificially-generated

pheromone-based attractants have been carried out by Moore and personnel at CEFAS in partnership with Kiotech International and in cooperation with aquaculture institutes in China and Thailand. Kiotech, which recently took over the UK’s Agil feed-additives company, acts as the commercial wing of CEFAS, marketing and exploiting technology developed by the government agency. To this point, said Kiotech’s Mark Nicholls, in charge of developing the company’s aquaculture business, tests have been started on a number of species but have mainly focused on tilapia and prawns, while also looking briefly at cod. Nicholls said that one of the things that he likes best about the stimulants is that, although they are individually designed to copy the pheromones put out by different species, there is some overlap between the species they trigger to feed. And as individual fish get instantly into the feeding mode, he said, they spread that message to their colleagues around them, increasing the effectiveness of the stimulant. Nicholls also said the trials have also shown that for some fish, the

feeding-triggering compound can be sprayed on the surface of the water rather than being put into the feed. That allows, said Nicholls, the fish to be brought to readiness before the food is given to them; and it also means that the compounds can undoubtedly be used for very young fish in a hatchery setting. He also projected that improving the effectiveness or efficacy of giving feed to fish would help more to survive the early stages of development and would reduce mortality rates among juveniles. Nicholls said it’s still early days in the program yet, but he added that preliminary trials have shown that the fish can grow as much as 20% faster, while the same time using some 20% less feed. He said in the long run he feels the marine aquaculture industry will have to switch just about entirely to using feeds without fish oil or fish meal in them. He suggested that that puts Kiotech and Agil into a good strategic position, by helping carnivorous or omnivorous fish to feed on alternative vegetable-based diets they might otherwise avoid.

Disinfectant & Virucide EPA & Health Canada approved for disinfection of vehicles, nets, boots, waders, dive suits, hoses, brushes and other equipment. Also great for use in foot baths. • Fast acting & effective • Proven effective against viruses including ISA, IPN, Rhabdovirus (IHN, VHS, SVC), bacteria, fungi, and molds. • Exceptional worker safety profile • Non staining, contains no perfumes • Specifically formulated & labeled for Aquaculture • EPA Reg. No. 71654-6, Health Canada DIN 02276356

Mention this ad for %

10 OFF

your first order of Virkon® Aquatic

The

Check out our full line of BioSecurity products at: In USA: www.wchemical.com In Canada: www.syndel.com

Aquatic Life Sciences Companies World Leaders In Fish Health Products

Tel: +1.360.384.5898 Fax: +1.360.384.0270 1.800.283.5292 • info@wchemical.com www.wchemical.com Ferndale, WA, USA

Tel: +1.250.752.5256 Fax +1.250.752.5188 1.800.663.2282 • info@syndel.com www.syndel.com Qualicum Beach, BC Canada

2 0 > > J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7

HATC HE RY I NTE R NATI ONAL

TRANSPORT

Norwegian researchers quantify effects of stressful smolt transfer No surprises: Rough handling equals higher mortalities Salmon smolt that experience stress during transport have considerably higher mortality rates and become ill more easily after output in the sea, according to an inquiry by the biologic research group at Bodø University College (BUC) in Norway. n a press release, senior researcher Martin Iversen said that mortality caused by disease costs the Norwegian fish farming industry approximately US$165 million a year, and the industry spends around US$41 million just for vaccines each year. A large number of disease outbreaks take place during the first months after output in the sea. And an important factor that is often underestimated is the stress that the salmon smolt is exposed to when being transferred to the sea. Fish have a good ability to withstand stressful episodes, but if stretched too far, stress can lead to reduced diseaseresistance, survival ability, growth and

were registered daily for a welfare after being put in month at the respective sea the sea. BUC decided to localities. Respecting the document and quantify the commercial participants physiological stress levels in privacy, the results were salmon smolt with relation to common commercial anonymous. smolt transport. The inquiry The trials were carried In four of five transfers, out at five different the average plasma-cortisol companies, both in seawas at resting level when going fish carriers and at the fish arrived at the farms. The transfers were sea locality. In one of the carried out in Scotland transfers, however, the and four different counties plasma-cortisol did stay in Norway. All fish that raised through the whole were transported were trip. The high stress levels in seawater-tested, starved this transfer, were reflected and kept away from human in high mortality figures disturbance for 72 hours Smolt can withstand stressful episodes, but if stretched too far, when the fish were put after the actual transport. stress can lead to reduced disease out in the sea. After three None of the staff at the resistance, survival ability, growth months, the cumulative hatcheries, fish carriers and welfare after being put in the sea. mortality was 18% or sea localities were Photo: NA PHOTO FILE (approximately 30,000 fish). prepared for the trial, so Corresponding mortality in that the procedures were the other sea localities was from 0.2-1.8%. representative of the different commercial After four months in the sea, the fish fish transfers. Blood tests were collected in “Transport 1” was diagnosed with IPN, from fish that were sedated according to even though the fish had been vaccinated. the companies’ own protocol. In addition, There had been one clear difference after the transport, mortality figures

between this transfer and the other four – the weather conditions. Here, the fish were transported in rough weather with strong wind (near gale) and wave height of 3-5.5m. This could be the one stress factor for a large number of the fish, and explains the high cortisol level at arrival at the sea locality, and the following high mortality figure. Important work The BUC biologic research group is now working with more smolt farming companies to develop measures to reduce stress in connection with handling and transport, but more work and financing still remain before they will reach the final goal. Smolt producers should, in the first round, build up their own fixed procedures that can give the fish an opportunity to rest during the actual transport, and make loading and unloading as efficient and gentle for the fish as possible. In addition, it is important to have procedures to handle different, unexpected occurrences, such as marine transport in bad weather. This could help reduce the risk of mortalities caused by stressful commercial fish transport. Siri Elise Dybdal

8LKFD8K<; D@:IF;@<K =<<;@E> JPJK<D =fi Xcc XhlXk`Z cXimX\ =fi p\Xij XhlXk`Z cXimX\ _Xm\ Y\\e ]\[ Yp _Xe[# f]k\e j\m\iXc k`d\j X [Xp# Ylk k_`j `j cXYfli èk\ej`m\ Xe[ ZXe \Xj`cp i\jlck è le\m\e [`jki`Ylk`fe Xe[ fm\i$]\\[è^% 8ZZldlcXk`fe f] ]\\[ gXik`Zc\j ZXe ]flc k_\ kXeb Xe[ gifdfk\ YXZk\i`Xc îfnk_# i\[lZè^ [`jjfcm\[ fop^\e c\m\cj Xe[ èZi\Xjè^ k_\ i`jb f] cXimXc è]\Zk`fe% Efn k_\i\Ëj X j`dgc\ jfclk`fe1 @ekif[lZè^ k_\ 8LKFD8K<; D@:IF;@<K ;@JG<EJ<I 8D; K_\ ]ìjk gligfj\$[\j`ê\[ d`Zif[`\k ]\\[è^ jpjk\d ]fi Xep XhlXk`Z cXimX\ =`kk\[ n`k_ X Zfdglk\i`q\[ Zfekifcc\i# k_\ 8D; `j X j`dgc\# cXYfli$jXmè^ jpjk\d ]fi jgi\X[è^ k_\ i\hlì\[ [X`cp [fjX^\ f] ]\\[ è kèp# \hlXc Xdflekj Æ lgnXi[j f] ('' d^j Xk X k`d\% Ef dfi\ _Xe[ ]\\[è^ Ef dfi\ Zcldgj k_Xk jèb Xe[ gfcclk\ k_\ nXk\i Ef dfi\ nXjk\ f] \og\ej`m\ d`Zif[`\k =\Xkli\j èZcl[\1 CXi^\ _fgg\i ZfekXèè^ lg kf (/' î n`k_ jgcXj_$giff] c`[% ;\c`m\ip f] jdXcc# XZZliXk\ hlXek`k`\j f] d`Zif[`\k '%( ± '%'( ^ g\i j_fk % =lccp gifîXddXYc\ kflZ_ jZi\\e% :XgXYc\ f] ]\\[è^ ('' µd kf )%' dd ]ff[ gXik`Zc\ j`q\% :fekifcc\i ]fi ('# )+ fi dfi\ ]\\[\ij% @e[`m`[lXc Zfekifc ]fi \XZ_ ]\\[\i

K_\ 8lkfdXk\[ D`Zif[`\k =\\[`e^ Jpjk\d `j [\j`^e\[ Xe[ dXel]XZkli\[ Yp k_\ ;\gXikd\ek f] =`j_\i`\j# N\jk\ie 8ljkiXc`X%

=fi dfi\ `e]fidXk`fe# gc\Xj\ ZfekXZk1

;i JX^`m Bfcbfmjb` ;\gXikd\ek f] =`j_\i`\j N\jk\ie 8ljkiXc`X G%F% 9fo )' Efik_ 9\XZ_ N8 -0)' 8ljkiXc`X

K\c1 "-($/$0)'*$'))' =Xo% "-($/$0)'*$'(00 <dX`c1 jbfcbfmjb`7]`j_%nX%^fm%Xl

H ATC HERY I N T E R N AT I O N A L

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7 > > 2 1

POSITIVE REACTION

Skretting spokesman explains the “upside” of melamine scare

To track 02 , TDGP

TBO-DL6 series

the Including 20 foot Probe $3450.00

USER INSTALLED

everal weeks after the contaminant melamine was found in feed which went to an estimated 200 hatcheries in Canada and the northwest United States, the incident was still garnering national and even international attention as it highlighted some of the challenges connected to finfish aquaculture. A senior spokesperson for the fish-feed manufacturer which unknowingly imported and used melamine-tainted wheat gluten in a batch of starter feed said in a recent statement that the incident had some positive aspects though. Dr. Chris Beattie, product manager for Skretting Canada, said that the incident demonstrated just how efficient the company’s tracking system was. It allowed the company to get on top of the situation within hours once alerted to “positive” test results by the US Food and Drug Administration. The majority of the initial recipients were contacted immediately, he explained, and the affected feed withdrawn from circulation very quickly. Most of it was fully replaced in Skretting’s voluntary recall program “in a matter of a few days.” Beattie also stressed that Skretting’s Canadian operations which have feed plants in Vancouver, British Columbia, and St. Andrews, New Brunswick, has now added melamine to its regularly-updated priority list of materials to keep a watch for in its food safety testing program. Beattie added that prior to the incident and before melamine contamination in pet food became a suspect in the deaths of hundreds of cats and dogs in the United States, fish-feed manufacturers in North America such as Skretting simply did not have melamine “on their radar screens,” so to speak. Beattie said that the tainted material came in from China through a broker in the United States, part of a much larger shipment, and Skretting used it as a binder to make a batch of starter feed. The contaminated batch went to scores of hatcheries and, through them, to satellite facilities, in both Canada and the US Pacific Northwest. The scare started when USFDA testing confirmed a positive result for melamine in a sample of the feed, said Beattie, adding though that both the USFDA and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said that the detected levels were very low. The risk for fish fed the tainted feed was rapidly assessed as being extremely low, noted Beattie, and the risk to humans eventually eating them much lower still. Nevertheless, numbers of hatcheries quickly suspended use of batches of feed

from the shipment. “We now know,” he said, “that melamine is added to vegetable proteins to artificially raise the apparent protein content and therefore the value.” Trouble is, he said, that until now, fish and animalfeed manufacturers hadn’t been looking for melamine in wheat-gluten or any other vegetable protein – and unless it was specifically looked for, as it was by the USFDA following the pet-food scare, it wouldn’t have been detected. Since then, Beattie said, Skretting Canada has suspended all macro feed ingredient shipments from China, “until we can get a very specific reassurance as to their quality.” The company has strengthened the audit process for all raw-material suppliers regardless of nationality; and it has also put into place a new screening process which is designed to look specifically at non-protein nitrogen in materials such as wheat gluten - to ensure supply companies aren’t artificially inflating protein-reading levels to make the materials meet the feed manufacturer’s protein standards. Beattie also explained that previously Skretting was assessing levels of protein in its raw materials against its required standards, by checking the nitrogen levels. The small quantities of nitrogen-rich contaminant in the gluten and/or flour would have had the effect of slightly increasing the nitrogen, so that the shipment looked as if it had just enough protein to meet company standards. In fact, in this case, he added, the level of melamine addition was so low that only a direct test for the presence of melamine would have picked up the contamination. Beattie declined to comment on any possible legal action that Skretting might take following the contamination issue. He emphasized that the company had set as its primary concern the need to look after its customers’ concerns and feed-replacement needs. He also said he understands that when the USFDA sent representatives to China to visit the gluten supplier, they found the plant shut down and empty, and that the owner/operator had been arrested and is currently in Chinese custody. Beattie reiterated that fish which were fed the tainted feed displayed no adverse effects. On the contrary: “The ironical part is,” he said, “we’d just had one of the best hatchery starterfeed production seasons we’ve ever had. We’ve had nothing but good reports from the producers: the fish have taken to the feed really well, they’ve grown really well, and the fish are looking all very good and healthy.”

TDGP 02 Meter SOFTWARE Portability IDEAL FOR RECIRC ..Logging SYSTEMS ....Respirometry ........Alarms ………Automatic Calibration in Fresh Water and Salt Water WATCH OUT FOR OUR NEW SM-1 $695.00 The TBO-F still available for $2450.00 in the 1200 Series waterproof Pelican case. Technical Representatives: Phone (208)266-1541 POINT FOUR SYSTEMS Fax (208)266-1428 (604) 273-9939 or 1-800-267-9936 Box 130, Clark Fork #100-13720 Mayfield Place, Idaho, USA 83811 Richmond, BC e-mail: sales@comsen.com e-mail: sales@pointfour.com website: www.comsen.com website: www.pointfour.com

2 2 > > J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7

! W E

HATC HE RY I NTE R NATI ONAL

Wireless Tank Monitoring System for Hatcheries Integrator Aqua Systems, Inc. has developed a new low cost wireless oxygen monitoring unit designed specifically for systems of multiple tanks. • The units are battery powered and can easily be moved between tanks if needed. • Data readings, displays and alarms from each tank direct to your PC, other PCs or any internet capable cell phone. • Automated command can be preset to activate motors and blowers if readings reach control limits set on your PC. • The 300 foot range of the tank units can be extended up to 40 miles with repeaters if needed. • Installation of the monitoring unit is simple and inexpensive since no wiring is needed • Units are not connected to the power grid or to the ground so eliminates any chance of lightning damage. • The system can be expanded as needed simply by adding more wireless units and changing a database.

4100 Rotunda Rd. Charlotte, NC 28226 USA Telephone: +1-704-907-2059 • Email: jwassoc@sprynet.com • Web: www.jwhiteassoc.com

FEED SCIENCE

Feed program calculates optimum pigment from smolt to harvest he new OptiColour feed calculation program, developed by Skretting Aquaculture Research Centre (ARC), provides guidelines for feeding from smolt transfer to the desired pigmentation at harvest. Anita Viga, Skretting Norway marketing manager, explained the process: “We gathered a substantial body of data on feed pigment levels and fish colour in cooperation with customers over several years, with both spring and autumn smolts. The data show there are important differences in how the pigment is taken up. Skretting ARC and Akvaforsk developed a hypothesis that could be tested in trials, then used the trial results to develop the OptiColour model. The OptiColour pigment recommendations take biology, production conditions and economics into account. That means lower production costs and more consistent colour.” Gunvor Struksnæs at Skretting ARC, and Bjørn Bjerkeng at the Norwegian research institute The trials generated a huge amount of data, which was analysed Akvaforsk led the trials. There and organized by Product Manager Data Models Kristoffer Tveit. were so many factors to consider He developed the OptiColour model and helped introduce it in the that the pigment project became business. one of the most extensive ever conducted. Trials began in 2003 group, for example smolt size and time of and were supported by the Norwegian transfer, water temperature and expected Research Council and SkatteFUNN. They harvest size. We add the target colour and were completed at the end of 2005. the OptiColour program generates a least“In Skretting, we followed the trials cost recommendation of feed pigment levels closely so that everyone was ready for rapid through to harvest. These are provided implementation of the results. There was a on an individual chart for each fish group, huge amount of data which was analysed and with a curve that shows how much pigment organised by Kristoffer Tveit, international should be in the feed from release to harvest product manager data models in Skretting. and a chart showing expected pigment “After introduction in Norway, the development in the muscle, which also OptiColour model was shared with our indicates when the fish should be sampled to sister Skretting companies, who are now check their colour. implementing it in their markets,” Viga said. “The first check is crucial. That should be Product manager Evy Kallelid added when the fish are approximately 800–1000g. the following comments: “To use the We recommend four to five samples from OptiColour model we record a number transfer to harvest so any deviation from the of parameters that are specific to the fish predicted colour progress can be corrected.”

100

Send us a couple of hundred words and a photo(s) of an innovation or invention in use at your hatchery or re-circ facility and we’ll send you a hundred bucks if the editors print it in Hatchery International.

Send it to: editor@hatcheryinternational.com

H ATC HERY I N T E R N AT I O N A L

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7 > > 2 3

NEW FINDINGS

European report compares relative growth of marine and terrestrial farming Sea farming the winner by a country mile group of European researchers has recently published a paper outlining the rapid domestication of marine species compared to terrestrial creatures. It shows that development of ocean animals and plants has been far faster and more successful than anything terrestrial. And a co-author of the paper said in interview a few weeks ago that although she expects the rate of development of marine plants and creatures to slow down in the foreseeable future, she and her colleagues are projecting massive expansion of marine aquaculture as an industry over the coming years. She said it is the only environmentally viable and sustainable

other suitably-different but mutuallybeneficial species. That will allow, said Holmer, some of the so-called “supplemental” species to be sold into the consumer market to help with overall operational profitability, while leaving the rest to be grown under contract to the feed manufacturers to turn into species-specific feeds for carnivorous or omnivorous species at the farms. This will help take pressure off wild-capture harvests of middle-chain species for turning into fish oil and fishmeal. Holmer said the literature study she and her co-authors conducted showed that without a doubt, freshwater and marine animals have proven to be far more readily domesticated than land-bound creatures. The paper says that roughly 97% of the approximately 445 aquatic species currently in culture have been domesticated in the last 11 decades since the beginning of the 20th Century, with an estimated 106 of those domesticated in just the last 10 years alone. “Even allowing that the rates for early

“Even allowing that the rates for early domesticates are estimates, aquatic domestication rates are about 100 times as fast as the rates for domestication of plant and animal species on land” way for fisheries to go towards addressing the everescalating consumer demand for fish products containing healthy Omega-3 fatty acids. Dr. Marianne Holmer, a professor at the Institute of Biology at the University of Southern Denmark, said that this will be the subject of at least one chapter in a new book she and a number of colleagues plan to publish this summer in the Netherlands. Holmer made it abundantly clear that she and her co-authors feel that for the most part, despite some environmental groups and organizations’ ongoing demand for it, on-land fish production will eventually prove not to be economically and environmentally sustainable and/or satisfactory. As a result, she said, virtually all production of marine species will be centred on the ocean as the only financially and ecologically viable area. And because some fish will still need a certain amount of fish oil and fish meal in their diet, the marine aquaculture community will have to look increasingly to itself to produce that, with ocean fish farms as fully “integrated” or as diversified as possible, producing a whole variety of

domesticates are estimates,” says the paper, “aquatic domestication rates are about 100 times as fast as the rates for domestication of plant and animal species on land, over the period when (terrestrial) domestication was fastest.” The paper, which is co-authored by Dr Carlos Duarte and Nuria Marba of the Mediterranean Institute of Advanced Studies (IMEDEA) in Mallorca, Spain, says that by 2000 years ago, an estimated 90% of the species presently cultivated on land had already been domesticated. Since the industrial revolution, the study found, the increase in domesticated land plant and animal species has been “modest,” at around 3% only. By contrast, says the report, domestication of marine plants and animals has skyrocketed, in part to try to make up for the escalating inability of wild fisheries to meet consumer demand for fish and seafood. As do so many others, the paper likens the current wild fisheries to the on-land hunter-gatherer culture once so prevalent throughout the world and now so largely defunct.

Coho and Donaldson Steelhead Eyed Egg Availability December - April

AquaSeed Corporation 2301 NE Blakeley St, Suite 102 Seattle, WA 98105 USA Tel: 1+206-527-6696 • Fax: 1+206-527-6779 Email: info@aquaseed.com

www.aquaseed.com

2 4 > > J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7

HATC HE RY I NTE R NATI ONAL

Golden Moments

www.kompagniet.com

Our fish feed: For high performance and golden results.

F i s h n u t r i t i o n - i t ’s o u r w o r l d ALITEC • Chile • Phone +56 65-282000 • Fax +56 65-282700 • alitec@alitec.cl • www.alitec.cl • DANA FEED • Denmark • Phone +45 75611200 • Fax +45 75624398 • df@danafeed.dk www.danafeed.dk • PROAQUA • Brazil • Phone +55 19 2101 5000 • Fax +55 19 2101 5001 • proaqua@proaqua.com.br • www.proaqua.com.br • PROAQUA • Spain • Phone +34 979 76 14 04 Fax +34 979 78 03 37 • marketing-proaqua@proaqua.es • www.proaqua.es • PROVIMI HELLAS • Greece • Phone +30 26460 39100 • Fax +30 26460 39101 • info@provimihellas.gr www.provimihellas.gr • SOFRADA • France • Phone +33 (0)134822300 • Fax +33 (0)130661384 • sofrada@sofrada-aquaculture.fr • www.sofrada-aquaculture.fr

H ATC HERY I N T E R N AT I O N A L

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7 > > 2 5

PROFILE

SCOTLANDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MACHRIHANISH COD HATCHERY Created through a joint-venture between Marine Farms AS and Stirling University, Machrihanish Marine Farms Ltd. benefits from a special partnership that blends applied research with long-standing experience in the production of commercial marine species. PHOTOS AND TEXT BY ALAN DYKES

View of the Machrihanish site. The main hatchery building can be seen on the left with the nursery polytunnel on the right. The buildings in the background are the research facilities of Stirling University.

achrihanish hatchery got its start in January, 2002 with construction of a large live food and larval rearing unit. After a successful trial of the facilities during 2002, the hatchery as it stands today was opened by Princess Anne on May 29th, 2003. Situated on the Mull of Kintyre, at the end of a five mile curving strip of pristine beach, the hatchery looks out into the Atlantic Ocean - next landfall, the coast of Newfoundland & Labrador. Contained within a large steel-clad building lies the heart of the hatchery. Live feeds, egg incubation and larval rearing units are situated here, along side the laboratory and alarm/ computer rooms. Adjoining these areas are the plant rooms containing the chillers, blowers and UV systems. The boiler rooms and water treatment plants are situated outside. The four broodstock rooms are also housed under the same roof. Beside this building lies a large polytunnel which houses the on-growing units for juvenile cod. Separate, but occupying the same plot of ground, are Stirling Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s marine research facilities. Stirling University is renowned worldwide in the field of aquaculture and it is this blend of applied research and multi-disciplinary back-up, along with Marine Farms long standing experience in commercial marine species production, that makes for such a synergetic partnership.

Hatchery water supply Some of the larval rearing unit tanks showing the water purification systems in the foreground.

Up to 1000 m3 of fresh seawater is available from wells fed by submerged pipe lines. This water is pumped to header tanks where it is filtered first by 200 micron Hydrotech belt filters, then progressively, through 60 and 15 micron drum filters before it is finally passed through sand filters prior to introduction into the hatchery facility. The farm has capacity for at least four million 1g juveniles produced in four distinct batches. Larger juveniles can be grown, but at a

2 6 > > J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7

HATC HE RY I NTE R NATI ONAL

PROFILE

Julian Pajak checks the algae being delivered to the rotifer cultivation tanks in the background.

50m3 tanks being prepared for the next batch of codlings.

cost to the number of fish produced. All fish produced are farmed under the organic food federation’s accreditation and the sole client is Shetland-based Johnson Sea Farms which farms cod under the “No Catch…Just Cod” label. Wild-caught brood Current broodstock are wild-caught Scottish and Irish stocks. These weigh about 10kg and are spawned naturally in four 35m3 tanks. Each tank is housed separately so as to control the temperature and photoperiod of each, allowing full year-round production of egg supply. The spawning period lasts for about three months with the best quality eggs being obtained around the middle of this period. Machrihanish is now producing the first totally captive farm-reared broodstock and the first eggs are expected from these during 2008.

Once the eggs are collected they are placed in upwelling 250l incubator jars. The temperature is kept at 8°C and the eggs hatch after 10 days. The eggs can either be hatched in the incubators or moved to the larval rearing tanks just prior to hatching. Both methods are practiced on the farm although hatching in the incubators gives better hygiene as egg shell elimination is easier. Self-cleaning rearing tanks There are 16 larval rearing tanks, twelve of which are 8m3 capacity with the remainder being 5m3. Each tank is fitted with an automatic self-cleaning arm at the base of the tank run by a small electric motor. This arm rotates once an hour and any debris falls into a sump which runs from the centre of the tank to the side wall. Debris can be removed either by manual siphon or by opening a valve at the base of the tank. The unit is served by two water purification systems consisting of protein skimmers, UV and ozone generators. One of these is fitted with a submerged fluidised bio tower for full recirculation.

Site manager Julian Pajak standing in front of the seawater intake pipeline.

Progressive diet Larvae are fed on rotifers produced in the adjoining live feed room. There are no live algae rooms at Machrihanish, or artemia rooms for that matter. The rotifers are fed on algae paste imported from Japan and Korea and the cod larvae are fed with rotifers until about 20-30 days post hatch (dph) when they are weaned onto Skretting Gemma dry diets. The fish are fed Skretting during these weaning stages until they are big enough to transfer onto organic Biomar cod diets. Disease issues Like many marine fish hatcheries, Machrihanish has recently experienced problems with a type of gastric enteritis in their larvae. It is thought that the quality of the water used in today’s hatcheries is partly to blame for this syndrome. Filtering of the seawater in combination with UV and ozone sterilisation leads

Cod larvae.

Checking cod larvae using the cheap and novel Intel Play QX3 microscope.

to such pure water that the fish are not able to acquire indigenous gut bacteria. It has been found that the rotifers with which the larvae are fed can carry large quantities of more pathogenic bacteria which can lead to intestinal cell damage when ingested and ultimately to death. Probiotics to the rescue Julian Pajak, the manager at Machrihanish, has been experimenting with the use of probiotics as a means to solving this issue and his trials have been a resounding success. The problem normally manifests itself at 15 dph but with the use of a probiotic sold under the brand name of Remus, the current batch of larvae have shown

H ATC HERY I N T E R N AT I O N A L

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7 > > 2 7

PROFILE

Motor driven cleaning arm in an empty rearing tank.

Julian Pajak introduces a bucket of rotifers to one of the cod larvae tanks.

Cod larvae in one of the early rearing tanks.

no sign of the problem and are now at the stage of weaning onto dry food. Julian has so far only applied the probiotic to the rearing water itself, but in the future would also like to apply this to the rotifers as well. More research is needed in order to find the best indigenous bacteria to use in these applications and it may be that protocols will be drawn up which demand the use of probiotics in the rotifer and the larval rearing tanks along with the use of prebiotics in the weaning diets. The combination of probiotics which is the application of active “friendly” bacteria and prebiotics which enhance and stimulate these bacteria is called synbiotics and is a field of research which is currently attracting much attention within the marine hatchery industry. Extensive grading The cod are kept in the larval rearing unit until they reach 1g in weight. First grade is between 60 – 65 dph when the fish measure 25mm in length and weigh 0.2g. A rotary Vaki grader is used intensively and the populations are graded once a week until 5g. Between 5g and 20g a further two or three grades are needed to avoid cannibalism. The fish are graded into the nursery section of the

farm housed in the poly-tunnel at about 1g in weight. They are pumped first into eight 20m3 D-ended raceways which are ideal for grading as they lend themselves easily to crowding. The codlings are kept in these tanks until their first vaccination at 3g. This vaccination is administered as a dip and an autogenous vaccine is used, sourced from two local strains of vibrio and manufactured by Ridgeway Biologicals. The same vaccine is used at 20g but is then delivered via injection. Between 3-20g, the cod are housed in larger circular tanks of 50m3 until they are pumped into transport tanks atop trucks which transport them up to Shetland 450 miles away, including a 12 hour sailing by ferry. With the falling catches in the North Sea and the restrictions being placed on cod landings throughout the UK, hatcheries like Machrihanish and their customers Johnson Sea Farms are doing what they can to make sure that the ubiquitous “fish & chips” remains just that. Julian Pajak can be contacted at: julian.pajak@btconnect.com Richard Prickett of Marine Farms AS can be contacted at: Prickett.mft@virgin.net Derek Robertson of Stirling University can be contacted at: DAR@stir.ac.uk

2 8 > > J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7

HATC HE RY I NTE R NATI ONAL

FEATURE Rick Onders with a mature, wild-caught paddlefish.

Culturing Paddleﬁsh Fingerlings

at Kentucky Wastewater Treatment Plant B Y S T E V E N M I M S , R I C H A R D J . O N D E R S A N D T I M OT H Y PA R R OT T

quaculture is “the world’s fastest growing food producing sector” according to the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization, and nearly half of the food fish consumed in the world are now grown rather than captured in the wild. This trend will likely continue since it is predicted that by 2030, an additional 40 million metric tons of aquatic food will be required just to maintain current consumption levels. The only option is aquaculture. However, some potential bottlenecks to large scale production include the high cost of capital investment compounded with a lack of interest by investors, shortage of land and freshwater, increasing demand and competition for price and availability of fish meal (a limited resource), rising energy costs, and environmental impacts. Recognizing these concerns, the aquaculture industry must seek alternative species and production strategies consistent with goals for sustainable development.

One such species suitable for US growers is the paddlefish Polyodon spathula, because of its filter feeding capabilities that enable it to grow in existing water bodies. Paddlefish are valued for their white boneless meat and highly prized black roe (caviar). They are native only to the Mississippi River basin and adjacent Gulf drainages of the United States. Paddlefish grow rapidly especially under lake conditions where zooplankton is plentiful. (See Hatchery International, Vol. 2/1, January, 2001; Vol. 5-4, July 2004) Two production strategies, polyculture with channel catfish, and reservoir ranching, rely on stocking phase II fingerlings that are 35 cm long and weigh 150-250 g (see www.sare.org/publications/ factsheet/0705.htm for more information.) Stocking paddlefish with channel catfish is a suitable method for producing meat without incurring additional feed costs. Reservoir ranching is suitable for producing both meat and caviar. Paddlefish

Stocking paddlefish juveniles.

filter out natural foods and grow until reaching sexual maturity in 8-12 years. The main bottleneck for both systems is a reliable supply of phase II fish. Traditionally, in tank culture larval fish diets are used during the first 30-40 days after hatching, until the fish reach about 7.5 cm, or phase I. At this size they can be trained to take a 1.5 mm floating pellet, and are usually stocked into ponds for further grow out over the next 90 days to phase II. Unfortunately, currently available diets are not species-specific for larval paddlefish and are not economical, mostly due to low survival rates of 10 to 20%. Live Daphnia (water fleas) are known to be the first food of choice for larval paddlefish, but obtaining a large supply is difficult. Hence, the benefits of using a waste-water facility for aquaculture generally and for paddlefish specifically. Why Use Wastewater? Wastewater treatment plants are today integral parts of any urban community. However, at the beginning of the 20th century, only a few US cities and industries had sewage treatment facilities. During the 1950s and 1960s, the U.S. government provided funds for constructing municipal waste-treatment plants, technical training and assistance, and water-pollution research. However, in spite of these efforts, expanding population and industrial and economic growth caused both pollution and public health issues to increase. In response, the National Environmental

Policy Act (NEPA) was enacted, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created to oversee pollution-control programs. The Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 expanded the federal government’s role in water pollution control and significantly increased funding for waste-treatment works. With better methods for processing wastewater now available, many municipalities are now building new, larger facilities, and decommissioning the old ones, many of which include sedimentation ponds and tanks that could easily and economically be converted for fish culture. Many are being needlessly demolished, when recycling them as fish hatcheries could avoid demolition costs, create new jobs, and generate revenue. Most of the new facilities are being built adjacent to the old, and would conveniently allow processed wastewater to be used in the hatchery, provided it meets EPA water quality criteria safe for humans, wildlife and aquatic life. Which brings us to experiments ongoing in Kentucky. Pilot Study Staff at the municipal sewage treatment plant located in Frankfort, the Capital City of Kentucky, in collaboration with Kentucky State University Aquaculture Research Center, began evaluating the growing of paddlefish fingerlings using three, on-site, sustainable resources: 1) Tanks —two circular 1125 m3 digester tanks and a 135 m3 circular sludge

H ATC HERY I N T E R N AT I O N A L

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7 > > 2 9

FEATURE thickener tank) that were no longer used in daily operations, 2) Ozone-disinfected wastewater that is otherwise released into the Kentucky river, and 3) Daphnia (commonly called water fleas), a food source for larval paddlefish, that grow naturally in four 1500 m3 clarifier tanks. The plant processes on the average 22,500 m3/day of wastewater that is disinfected with ozone before it is released into the Kentucky River. By using the plant’s pumping infrastructure, processed water can be delivered to the fish tanks then returned to the head of the plant once more for treatment. This source of water is potentially very valuable since only limited ground water is available in many parts of Kentucky. Furthermore, the water is saturated with oxygen, pH is 7.0-7.2, total ammonia nitrogen is below 1.0 mg/l, nitrite is below 0.1 mg/l, and chloride levels are 6-10 mg/l. Daphnia, optimum food for phase I larvae, are available in large numbers. In other circumstances, Daphnia can be a nuisance because in large numbers their swimming movements disrupt the sludge blanket in clarifier tanks, causing total suspended solids to

supplied with processed wastewater at a flow rate of 100 l/min. They were bred, incubated and hatched at KSU Aquaculture Research Center then stocked at the waste water plant 6 days after hatching, when they were ready to start feeding. Live Daphnia collected daily from the clarifier tanks with hand-pulled plankton nets were fed to the paddlefish. Fish grew to phase I size in about 4 weeks. Thereafter, from mid-May to mid-June they were fed a 1.5 mm, 45% protein, floating salmonid diet. Suitable oxygen levels (> 4 mg/l) were maintained with a 0.1 hp (75-w) surface aerator and air diffusion. Nitrite was the only parameter that exceeded acceptable levels of < 0.1 mg/l, but the chloride level of 6-10 mg/l naturally blocked the uptake of nitrite via the gills, to potentially prevent brown blood disease. By mid June fish measured 1214 cm and weighed 30-45 g. More than12,000 fish were harvested, giving a survival rate of over 80%. In mid-June, the two 1125-m3 digester tanks were stocked respectively with 3,000 and 7,000 phase I fish (harvested from the 135 m3 circular sludge tank), and filled with processed water. Water was static during the culture period, but each tank was supplied with one

Harvesting paddlefish fingerlings prior to stocking

increase and often causing discharge permit violations. Since chemicals may not be used at this stage in processing, mechanical removal is the only option for solving this problem. Feeding them to paddlefish turns waste into a new resource. In mid- April, 2006, 15,000 paddlefish fry were stocked into the 135 m3 circular sludge tank

0.33-hp (250-w) surface aerator and air diffuser to provide oxygen and prevent stratification. Again, all water quality parameters were within acceptable levels for paddlefish except nitrite, which was near 2 mg/l and required additional sodium chloride (i.e. 50 mg/l of chloride) to be added to block lethal uptake of nitrite by the fish. Of 3000 fish in tank

Clump of Daphnia for feeding to paddlefish larvae. Inset shows close-up.

Digester tank ready for paddlefish. The aerator is in the center.

Fingerlings feeding on pelleted food.

Modern sewage oxidation ditches with an old digester tank in the foreground.

1, 2959 survived, (98.6%). These fish averaged 35 cm total length, and 225 g. Survival in tank 2 was 6,389 of 7,000 fish (91.3%). These fish measured 3035 cm and averaged about 150 g. The fish were then stocked into two watersupply lakes for harvesting as mature fish for meat and caviar in 10 years time. This pilot study has successfully produced phase I and II paddlefish at high survival rates for further grow-out. Other species such a largemouth bass and hybrid striped bass fingerlings are scheduled for testing under similar conditions in spring, 2007. Additionally, other wastewater treatment plants in Kentucky that have decommissioned old facilities are now interested in exploring their potential for aquaculture. Such sustainable resources could be useful in advancing aquaculture and the supply of seed stock for production of a number of suitable species. Dr. Steven D. Mims is Principal Investigator at Kentucky State University Aquaculture Research Center. For more information contact him at: steven.mims@kysu. edu

Individual Counting Station

Control System

Count On It Northwest Marine Technology’s new Individual Fish Counter is a fast and accurate way to count small or juvenile fish when they are being processed by hand, such as for fin clipping or vaccination. One Control System tracks total and individual counts for up to 12 Counting Stations.

Visible Implant Elastomer

NMT specializes in implant tags for aquatic organisms. You can count on us to help you identify your animals.

Coded Wire Tags

Tel: (360) 468-3375 • www.nmt.us

3 0 > > J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7

Manufacturing fish feed is an advanced science. Our products are carefully formulated using time tested research and field data to produce fish feeds that meet the challenging nutritional specifications of today's aquafeed customer. For our full line of feeds visit www.corey.ca

Telephone: (506) 444-7744 â&#x20AC;˘ Fax: (506) 444-7740 Toll Free: 1-800-561-0072 â&#x20AC;˘ E-mail: info@corey.ca 136 Hodgson Road, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada E3C 2G4

HATC HE RY I NTE R NATI ONAL

H ATC HERY I N T E R N AT I O N A L

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7 > > 3 1

TECHNOLOGY

Computer Simulation Helps Alewives Return to their Spawning Grounds

Flow through fish ladder after renovation.

BY JOHN E. RICHARDSON

fish ladder built 60 years ago at Third Dam on Somes Brook in Somesville, Maine, (image at right) had deteriorated to the point that it prevented diadromous alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) from migrating to their freshwater spawning habitat. To address this problem, Woodlot Alternatives, Inc. (Topsham, Maine) was hired by a private land trust to determine how the fish ladder could best be restored. Woodlot Alternatives used a one-dimensional hydraulic analysis to evaluate flow over the five weirs in the fish ladder. But, because analyses of this kind assume that the flow will conform to empirical relationships that are not necessarily accurate for a given situation, it was difficult to determine whether the proposed restoration would actually enable alewives to climb the ladder. Recognizing this limitation, Woodlot asked Blue Hill Hydraulics (Blue Hill, Maine) to complete a threedimensional, free-surface flow analysis to determine water surface elevations and velocities within the fish ladder in order to validate the proposed restoration design. This analysis was accomplished using the FLOW-3D ® CFD analysis program from Flow Science Inc. (Santa Fe, New Mexico). The computer simulation validated the renovation design and was used as part of the grant application for funding. Now that the ladder has been rebuilt, observations show that flow through it matches the simulation predictions quite well.

Migratory Fish Alewives have one of the largest diadromous fish populations in Maine, and are an important commercial and ecological resource. Each spring, alewives migrate from the ocean through rivers and streams to spawn in freshwater lakes and ponds. After hatching, young alewives spend two to six months in freshwater and then migrate to the sea. Alewives are important to the ecology of the freshwater, estuarine and marine environments, and both adults and juvenile are prey for striped bass, brown trout, eels, ospreys, salmon, cormorants and piscivorous mammals. Since the early 1970s, more than $12 million of federal, state and private utility funds have been spent on fish ladders to allow diadromous fish to return to their historical spawning areas. Fish ladders are typically placed on or around man-made barriers such as dams. Pool and weir fish-passes enable fish to swim past the barrier through a series of relatively low steps. The velocity of the water falling over the steps has to be high enough to attract the fish to the ladder but cannot be so

Third Dam in Somesville, Maine.

Deteriorated flow-through fish ladder.

high as to wash the fish back downstream, or to exhaust them. The fish ladder at Third Dam comprises two lateral walls set perpendicular to the dam spillway, and five internal weirs. The two upstream weirs and connecting lateral walls are of concrete with the higher weir set inline with the spillway. The invert of this weir is set below that of the spillway, and all flow passes through the upstream-most weir when water levels are below the spillway invert. The lateral walls of the upstream weirs are set approximately 0.15 feet above the spillway invert so they function as lateral weirs when overtopped, modulating flows that occur in the fish ladder during periods of high flow. One-Dimensional flow analysis The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hydrologic Engineering Center River Analysis System (HECRAS) hydraulic modeling software was used to analyze one-dimensional flow over the fish ladder under the assumption of hydrostatic conditions. The analysis completed with the HEC-RAS software included flow through the fish ladder and lateral overflow of the concrete walls between the upstream weirs. A limitation of one-dimensional hydraulic analysis is that velocities are assumed to be the same across channel/river cross-sections. However, lateral velocities in a fish ladder vary considerably. These variations

contribute greatly to the fishes ability to climb the ladder. For example, alewife swim at about 3-ft (90 cm) per second, and are able to sense lower velocity zones. So, for a fish ladder to be successful, there must be contiguous pathways where water velocities do not exceed the fishes swimming speed. To ensure that these conditions would be met, Woodlot Alternatives hired Blue Hill Hydraulics to perform a three-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation of flow through the proposed fish ladder. These simulations provided accurate predictions of water surface elevation and velocity, making it possible for engineers to evaluate the anticipated performance of the fish ladder in detail. Blue Hill Hydraulics chose the FLOW-3D ® CFD software system because of its ability to model free surface flows (e.g., flow through fish ladders and in rivers). FLOW-3D ® uses the volume of fluid (VOF) method to simulate free-surface fluid motion. The program includes special algorithms that maintain sharp liquid/gas interfaces, and applies boundary conditions at solid- and free surfaces. This last feature was essential to modeling the dynamic flows associated with this project. Three-Dimensional CFD simulation Flow through the deteriorated fish ladder was initially evaluated by Woodlot Alternatives using a ComputerAided-Design (CAD) model created based on field survey information and exported in an STL format. The data were imported into FLOW-3D ®, the grid size specified, and a 84,000 hexahedral computational mesh was generated automatically. Pressure boundary conditions were specified at the upstream end of the fish ladder, and a downstream continuative boundary condition (i.e., free outflow) was applied. The FLOW-3D® model results matched observed fish ladder flows closely. Figure 2 shows that the flow configuration through the ladder is quite similar to the actual flow configuration in Fish ladder designs: (a) Existing, (b) Proposed Continued on page 44

You work hard for your hatchery.

We work hard for you. You’ve always worked hard. Now you deserve equipment that works around the clock for you, like the YSI 5200 continuous monitor with AquaManager™ software. We built it to help you make money, reduce costs, and save time. From one hard worker to another.

937.767.7241 (USA) 5200@YSI.com www.YSI.com

3 2 > > J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7

HATC HE RY I NTE R NATI ONAL

CONSERVATION ENHANCING THE WILD STOCKS

Canadian researchers study optimal release time for coho re-stocking facilitated by the BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences (CAHS) in Campbell River in partnership with Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ Quinsam Hatchery, Enhanced and wild coho salmon A-Tlegay fisheries, British Columbia survival is being studied through a Salmon Farmers Association, Pacific collaborative research partnership in Salmon Forum and the BC Ministry of British Columbia, Canada. The project Environment. will involve monitoring of phytoplankton/ Coho salmon remain an important zooplankton levels in northern Georgia sport fish for northern Vancouver Island. In Strait to determine optimal release recent years there have been extreme coho dates for improved survival of juvenile, population fluctuations at most federal enhanced coho. The collaboration is being hatcheries. In particular, Quinsam River Hatchery near Campbell River, BC, has observed declines in coho ocean survival from highs of 10% in the early 80’s to recent survivals of less than 1%. During this time, fixed coho release dates have been used based on research into determining best size and time of release done in the early 1980s by Fisheries & Oceans Scientists. Dave Ewart, manager of the Quinsam Hatchery, recognized that the returns A-Tlegay fisheries tech John Duncan preserving plankton samples in using this protocol may have

Ocean productivity under the microscope in BC

the field.

been affected by shifts in early marine productivity in the Gulf of Georgia. This regime shift may be contributing to this decline; including ocean productivity changes, specifically the timing of optimal levels of feed (plankton/ zooplankton abundance) for the newly released coho smolts. As a result, the researchers will be looking at local phytoplankton and zooplankton levels and stomach contents of the captured coho. “It is great to have a research facility that is so accessible and focused on local issues,” says Ewart. The development of this project will lead to a longer term monitoring program that will help guide the release time of enhanced coho in this area. Sampling for phytoplankton and zooplankton started in February this year and will continue twice weekly through BC Centre for Aquatic Health Science technician Elan Downey identifying plankton. mid-July. Fisheries technicians are doing the collection and are financial support of the Ocean and Marine bringing the samples to the Centre for Fisheries Division of the BC Ministry Aquatic Health Sciences for analysis. of Environment. Finding local solutions Quinsam hatchery is releasing coho and for local science questions is just plain samples of these fish will be collected from practical,” says Linda Sams, CEO – BC beach seining along local near shore marine Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences areas. The fish will be evaluated for health (CAHS). and stomach content to determine what For more information, contact Linda Sams, they are feeding on as they move out to sea. CEO, BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences, “This is a very exciting project and Tel: +250 286 6102 would not have been possible without the support of all the partners and the

H ATC HERY I N T E R N AT I O N A L

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7 > > 3 3

RESEARCH IN REVIEW BY MARY J. NICKUM

Research in Review brings you summaries of new research on finfish culture from around the world. Source information will be given for each summarized paper for easy follow-up. Specific topics will vary with each issue as new research becomes available.

Can catfish fry production be optimized with forage fish and lipid supplements? Researchers from Auburn University in Alabama performed a study in an attempt to isolate nutritional lipids that lead to high quality egg production in female channel catfish. A 10 week feed trial was conducted in ponds at Auburn, Alabama. In March, 219 female channel catfish broodstock were stocked into nine ponds 0.04 ha in size for an approximate stocking rate of 1,332 kg/ha. Three dietary treatments were randomly allocated to the fish. Diet 1 was a standard 32% crude protein, 6% lipid floating catfish feed. Diet 2 was the same feed supplemented with forage fish at approximately 28 kg/ha. The third diet was the aforementioned catfish feed top-coated with 2% lipid (1%

Menhaden fish oil, 0.5% high DHA oil and 0.5% high ARA oil). The fish were fed the prepared feeds three times a week at 2% body weight per feeding. Dissolved oxygen and temperatures were measured twice daily at dawn and dusk and low DO events were mitigated by nighttime aeration. In May, the females were harvested, administered LHRH injections to induce ovulation and strip-spawned. The eggs were fertilized with blue catfish sperm and incubated in paddle wheel troughs. Percent viable fry was estimated by egg mass assessments 24 hours pre-hatch and resultant fry counts. Preliminary data indicates that broodfish fed the high lipid diet displayed an increase in percent spawn, general fecundity, embryo viability at 24 hours pre-hatch and overall fry production per kg of broodfish stocked. Data is available for percent spawn, fry production, egg size and weight, as well as biochemical composition of the eggs. Presented at Aquaculture 2007, February 26 – March 2, 2007, San Antonio, TX. Presented by Evan R. Durland, D. Allen Davis, Rex Dunham and Herbert E. Quintero, Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures, Auburn University, 203 Swingle Hall, Auburn, AL 36849-5419, USA, durlaer@auburn.edu

Barramundi workers survive run-in with biofiltration unit at Massachusetts recirc facility

Enhancement, Early-rearing & Recirculation for Better Profits.

Never in danger says management escuers had to cut through a big fibreglass biofiltration tank to reach trapped workers at Australis Aquaculture’s barramundi hatchery and production operation in Turners Falls, western Massachusetts a few weeks ago. Director Josh Goldman explained later that the incident, which was widely misreported throughout the country by a wire service, began after four employees were sent into the empty tank to carry out maintenance and repairs. The staff members were standing on a stainless steel beam in the process of removing some shiny black plastic biofiltration material, when the beam suddenly collapsed, causing the thick filtration pad they were standing on to tilt and tip them backwards into the bottom of the tank some eight feet or more below. Goldman said that some of the filtration slanted up over one of the personnel completely covering him. Shortly thereafter, when firefighters from the Turners Falls Fire Department arrived to help rescue the trapped men, one of them mistook the shiny black material for faeces, initially reporting that the men had fallen into thick fish faeces and one of them had been “submerged.” Goldman’s efforts to correct the misinformation in the press were unsuccessful. “The tank was dry,” said Goldman, adding that the employee who was completely covered was in no danger and the biofiltration pad was held up from

pressing against him by other material on the bottom of the tank. He suffered a sprained ankle and was taken to hospital where he was kept overnight for observation. The only other injuries were some scrapes and bruises. Goldman said the five-metre-deep tank at the hatchery-and-growout operation had previously been used for other purposes and had been retrofitted with a couple of beams to hold up the thick corrugated plastic pads used to help culture microorganisms to act as a biofilter and clean the water of ammonia. He noted that as a result of the accident, the company would be conducting an internal review to try to ensure nothing similar happened again in future; and indicated that the addition of one or two more beams might help to prevent a repeat of the accident. Goldman said that Australian-based Australis installed the hatchery at the Turners Falls production site in the middle of last year. The entire operation, which produces about 1,000 tonnes of harvestsize barramundi a year for the North American market, relies heavily on water recirculation and treatment. Asked about the hatchery, Goldman said it currently only produces a fairly small proportion of the fingerlings the operation grows to harvest size. Airfreight shipments of juveniles continue to arrive from Australia at varying intervals to restock the operation.

2008 Get Your Product Seen by Hatchery Managers

365 DAYS OF THE YEAR On The Hatchery International 2008 Wall Calendar Poster SOLD

SOLD Limited number of advertising spaces remaining.

SOLD

Free ad design service included Contact us now for details Jeremy Thain Advertising Manager Hatchery International Sales@hatcheryinternational.com Tel: +1-250-474-3982

SOLD SOLD

SOLD

3 4 > > J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7

HATC HE RY I NTE R NATI ONAL

SHOWCASE RECIRC TECHNOLOGY

Australian C-Box manufacturer survives troubled times 23-26 September 2007

Securing Sustainable Economic Prosperity

5JCY %QPHGTGPEG %GPVTG 'FOQPVQP #NDGTVC

Part of the provincial economic boom, Alberta aquaculture has over 100 commercial producers (most with sophisticated indoor recirculation facilities) realizing $10 million annually in revenue from 730 tonnes of cultured fish (trout, tilapia, eel, buffalo fish, and triploid grass carp). Faisant partie du dĂŠveloppement ĂŠconomique provincial, lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;aquaculture en Alberta a plus de 100 producteurs commerciaux (la majoritĂŠ avec des systĂ¨mes de recirculation sophistiquĂŠs) faisant un chiffre dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;affaire annuel de $10 millions avec 730 tonnes de poissons cultivĂŠs (truite, tilapia, anguille, poisson buffalo et carpe de roseau triploide).

Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s forum on the business, science and technology of aquaculture Le forum canadien sur les affaires, la science et la technologie en aquaculture

www.aquacultureassociation.ca

General information/Renseignements gĂŠnĂŠraux: Christopher M. Pearce: AAC President, PrĂŠsident de lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;AAC Tel: 250-756-3352, E-mail: PearceC@pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Photo courtesy of Dr. Dave Little, University of Stirling

The Cumminscorp aquacultureequipment and water-treatment systems company of Queensland, Australia, which garnered huge amounts of attention for its bright-blue, fish-production C-Boxes last year, is struggling to re-establish itself following several months in voluntary administration. Chief Executive Officer Warren Greiner, who took over the post from Ian Cummins, said in interview recently that he cannot speculate on when the company, which ceased trading on the Australian Stock Exchange in April last year, will The manufacturer claims that alleged problems with the C-Box be able to resume trading again. stemmed from clients not operating them correcting, specifically â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a new board with regard to regular cleaning of the filtration systems. formed, with new members, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re dealing with that,â&#x20AC;? Greiner said from his and the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s said Greiner, adding that the company is point of view, they were trying to look determined to keep its eyes firmly fixed on ahead and not backwards, with the full the future, pay back its entire $2.8-million intention of paying back â&#x20AC;&#x153;every single centâ&#x20AC;? debt load, and put the financial problems of of the money it owes its creditors. the past behind it. He also said he believes the productivity The number of employees has been cut problems with the C-Boxes stemmed from from just under 40 to about 20, including the people who were operating them rather the new management and administration. than the systems themselves. He indicated In the meantime, new company that in some instances the filtration and president Robert Simes has been reported production systems had not been cleaned as saying that the company has managed to as often or perhaps as thoroughly as they reinvent a steady cash flow by a return to should have been. making rainwater tanks. In some cases, he indicated, people The corporation ran into financial had not even been cleaning the system difficulties and also received some once a month, never mind once a week as complaints that the C-Boxes it was making suggested by the company for most efficient as mini-recirculating systems didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work as production. well as some clients had been led to believe. In the final analysis, said Greiner, he Asked about the boxes, Greiner made it believes that the boxes are a good, efficient clear he was not prepared to go into details and workable system for producing fish. about problems, if any had been identified, No technical changes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; at least none of any with the boxes. significance â&#x20AC;&#x201C; had been made to them in the interim.

New fry feed from Coppens Working Together to Alleviate Poverty

Aquaculture without Frontiers

Requests Your Assistance The independent non-profit organisation Aquaculture without Frontiers (AwF) promotes and supports sustainable aquaculture initiatives in developing countries around the world. AwF is currently teaching poor families in Bangladesh, India , Malawi and Thailand to raise fish for food and income through small-scale responsible aquaculture. AwF has also assisted tsunami-devastated shrimp farmers in India and Indonesia. Further information on our activities, including how to donate to help our future work, can be found at: www.aquaculturewithoutfrontiers.org Aquaculture without Frontiers - be a part of something special.

Coppens International BV, the Dutch-based company that develops, produces and markets diets for the aquaculture industry recently introduced its newest line of fry feed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Noblesse, an extruded micro pellet available in three sizes: 300 Âľm, 500 Âľm and 800 Âľm. Coppensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Noblesse is produced with specialised extrusion technology which the company says results in uniform micro pellets with less dust and a high water stability. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The pellets are slow sinking thereby giving fry a longer time to take up the feed before it reaches the bottom,â&#x20AC;? notes a press release from the company. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A special attractant makes these micro pellets very palatable to young fish for maximum feed uptake. This all contributes to high water quality and improved tank hygiene.â&#x20AC;? The Noblesse diet also includes a selection of naturally occurring nucleotides which Coppens says improves growth, gut health, disease resistance and stress reduction of young fish. For more information go to www.coppens.eu

H ATC HERY I N T E R N AT I O N A L

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7 > > 3 5

SHOWCASE SHRIMP FEED

Dana Feed signs agreement with Bangladesh marketing partner Earlier this spring an agreement was signed between Dana Feed, Denmark and Primex Corporation Ltd of Bangladesh for the latter to be an exclusive distributor of the Larviva shrimp feed range in Bangladesh. For Danish fish feed supplier Dana Feed this is the first step into the shrimp feed business in Joining forces for introduction of the new shrimp feed range (from left to Bangladesh and opens right): Gazi Ziaul Hasan, Managing Director of Primex Corporation, Marleen new horizons for the Dehasque, Larviva brand manager, Henning Christensen, Managing Director of Dana Feed, and Mohad. Jahangir Alam, Chairman of Primex Corporation. supply of products to the region. Dana Feed offers a complete shrimp feed line under the Larviva brand, ranging from agglomerated larval feeds to PL and juvenile extruded granulates and grower feed pellets. Primex Corporation Ltd is a marketing company based in Bangladesh. It serves the agro-based aquatic industry, animal husbandry & poultry sectors. Primex Corporation Ltd also provides installation and after-sale service of Danish shrimp and fish processing plants for Bangladesh, India and Myanmar. A technical team for installation and after sale service is being developed with a view to serving the Asia Pacific region in addition to Bangladesh. Primex also owns the biggest fresh water prawn (Macrobracium rosenburgii) hatchery in the country namely, Scampi World Ltd. at Sirajgonj, Bangladesh.

Scottish researcher receives achievement award A top research figure with an extensive background in hatcheries, received a prestigious award from within the industry in the United Kingdom recently. Dr. Randolph Richards, the director of the highly-acclaimed Institute of Aquaculture at Stirling University in Scotland, was chosen from among several nominees to receive the contribution-toaquaculture award at Aquaculture Today – Fit for the Future Awards presentations ceremony in Edinburgh this spring. Richards, who said he was deeply gratified to have been chosen for the award by his peers and colleagues in the industry, has been at the institute for approaching 35 years, starting as deputy director for 20 years and then becoming director 12 years ago. With a strong background in fish- Dr. Randolph Richards. disease genetics, Richards said he’s particularly proud of the work the Richards also recalled that before institute has done in that area. joining the Institute, there was no salmon Although not so involved in hands-on farming. Because of that, he worked briefly research as he used to be, Richards said for a sea bass and sea bream hatchery with he still manages to find time to do some the Greek Alkioni Company in Cyprus. research work besides his administrative The institute is the biggest research function; and he noted that, as a onedepartment in the university, with a time director of a salmonid hatchery, he technical, lecturing and support staff of continues to be a hands-on director with about 140. On an annual basis, it graduates the institute’s marine environment research about 30 to 40 students with Masters’ laboratory and hatchery at Machrihanish Degrees and about 20 with PhDs. on the Kintyre Peninsula.

Microbial Supplements

Lymnozyme® Probiotic

WSR Waste and Sludge Removed proven and tested by Commercial Shrimp and Fish Farms throughout Latin America

Improve Production and Survival Reduce Organic Sludge, Healthier Larger Crops. Call for you copy of Keeton’s Aquaculture Equipment Catalog

3 6 > > J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7

HATC HE RY I NTE R NATI ONAL

SHOWCASE Alitec Chile ramps up marketing efforts to hatcheries in Western US and Alaska Alitec Inc., based in Puerto Montt, Chile, recently announced that it is making moves to step up its marketing of fish feed to hatcheries in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. The company has become a US corporation and is opening a base of operations in Seattle with warehousing and distribution center located in the vicinity of the SeaTac International Airport. Alitec starter feeds, which include micro-pellets and mini-pellets, have customers worldwide including Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Brazil, and the US among others. The company provides feed for a range of species including diets for all salmonids. All Alitec feeds contain Chilean-produced marine fish meal as their primary source of protein and Chilean-produced marine fish oils as a source of fat. For more information get in touch with Alitec by emailing Felipe Muller at: FMULLER@alitec.cl

New wireless tank monitoring system for hatcheries Integrator Aqua Systems Inc. has developed a new wireless oxygen monitoring unit designed specifically for systems of multiple tanks. The units are battery powered and designed to be moved between tanks if needed. The wireless signals from the units can be received by any PC within range that is equipped with a wireless modem. One PC is set up as the host computer. It receives the readings from the units and displays various screens showing the status of each tank and any alarm condition if it exists. The host computer can send wireless commands to wireless controllers to activate motors, blowers, etc. if the oxygen readings reach control limits set by a database in the host computer. The host can issue audible, visual or telephone alerts if problems are detected. The 300 foot range of the tank units can be extended up to 40 miles with repeaters if needed. The system can be expanded by adding more wireless units and changing a database. The data from the tanks can be received by other PC’s or the host computer can be accessed from other computers by telephone or internet connection. If the host has a continuous high speed internet connection the tank status data can be received on any internet capable cell phone. For more information go to: www.jwhiteassoc.com The wireless signals from the units can be received by any PC within range that is equipped with a wireless modem. The host computer can send wireless commands to activate motors, blowers, etc. if the oxygen readings reach control limits set by a database in the host computer

An End to Cold Hands?

for aquaculture Marine phospholipids with high concentrations of DHA and EPA Excellent ratio of DHA and EPA Very high bioavailability and efficacy Superior stability against oxidation Documented effect in marine fish larvae; • Improved survival rates • Higher vitality • Higher growth rates • Significant reduction in deformities

Industrivegen 42 | N- 6160 Hovdebygda | Telefon: +47 40 00 28 60 | Telefax: +47 70 04 91 01

www.natural.no

Perfect Fit Glove announces new line of palmdipped gloves

The Tuff-Coat line of palm dipped gloves includes a new ‘hybrid’ style that has a lightweight stretchy nylon liner combined with a durable latex coating for resistance to cuts, punctures and abrasion. This combination provides flexibility and dexterity and is designed for use in light duty applications. In addition there are cut-resistant styles made with Kevlar® fiber shells and general purpose styles made with cotton/ polyester blend shells. The Tuff-Coat Series offers a range of gloves that can meet budget objectives without compromising safety standards. For additional product information, contact: Perfect Fit Glove Co., LLC: 800-245-6837, Email: perfectfitglove@ perfectfitglove.com or visit: www.perfectfitglove.com

Pharmaq vaccine gets thumbs-up from Chilean gov’t Company announces big jump in revenues The Norwegian-based Pharmaq pharmaceutical company recently announced that it has received approval for a new four-component vaccine for salmonids in Chile. The Alpha Ject 4-1 includes protection against the salmon rickettsia syndrome (SRS) furunculosis and vibriosis, and infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN). “This is a historical breakthrough for our Chilean customers and for Pharmaq,” said Bernd Wrege, technical director for PHARMAQ Chile, in a company statement announcing the approval of the vaccine by the Chilean medicines control agency. “We are proud to provide our first contribution in the fight against SRS in

Chile. SRS is the most economicallydevastating disease to the Chilean aquaculture industry and we strongly believe that Alpha Ject 4-1 will be of a substantial value to out customers in controlling this disease.” Pharmaq, which holds strong market positions in the major salmonid vaccine markets of Norway, Chile, the United Kingdom and Ireland, recently announced a huge jump in its 2006 earnings at the annual shareholder’s meeting in Oslo. The year’s overall revenue rose more than 40% to $23.9 million (Euros), compared with $16million (Euros) in the previous year, with a net income after taxes of $3.4 million, close to four times the 2005 level of $900,000 (Euros).

H ATC HERY I N T E R N AT I O N A L

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7 > > 3 7

SHOWCASE Updated device for C02 measurements The latest version of the OxyGuard CO2 offers simple ”zero” and ”span” trimmer adjustments making is easier to use than past versions. It is available in fix-mount and portable versions and the portable version can also be supplied with a data logger. The instruments have a range of 0-50 mg/l dissolved CO2. For more information go to: www.oxyguard.dk

Multi-purpose Feeding Robot Storvik AS of Sunndalsøra, Norway manufactures the automatic Robot feeding system pictured at right. The system is designed for feeding juvenile fish with granules or pellets in tanks indoors. However, Storvik notes that it is also excellent for distributing live feed to juvenile marine species and can handle up till four types of feed simultaneously (dry or live feed). The system consists of one to four feed silos. Each of these have a feeding mechanism that handles different types of feed, using a railing installed in the ceiling above the fish tanks. It provides accurate dosing from less than 1g up till 7kg/minute, says Storvik. The robot is connected to a PC with software that stores data in a log that can be used to regulate feed doses in relation to water temperature. For more information go to: www.storvik.no

Skretting announces new line of feeds for marine hatcheries Earlier this year Skretting launched a new concept in enrichment feeds for rotifers and artemia. Branded as Ori-Go, Skretting claims that the new feeds provide higher yields of more nutritious and active live feeds, more reliably and in half the time than traditional feeds. Skretting says that options offered by four Ori-Go feeds in the range enable hatchery managers to steer the nutritional value of live feeds to match the needs of different fish species and stages of development. “Hatchery trials show that better water quality is a further benefit of Ori-Go feeds,” notes a press release from Skretting, “which means 40% less oxygen is required. Coupled with the shorter enrichment time and higher density enrichment, this leads to a substantial reduction in energy consumption per batch.” The four Ori-Go feeds are Ori-Culture, OriGreen, Ori-Gold and Ori-Pro and they complete Skretting’s Spectrum portfolio of feeds for marine hatcheries, launched in 2006 for species such as sea bass, sea bream, turbot, meagre, cod and halibut. Ori-Pro is a blend of micro-encapsulated natural phytoproteins with marine HUFAs and phospholipids. It’s intended to raise both the protein and HUFA contents of the enriched artemia. Formulated as a free-flowing yellow powder, Skretting notes that it is easy to prepare and has a long shelf life.

Ori-Green enrichment feed is based on natural algae, proteins, phospho-lipids and marine oils rich in highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs). Formulated as micro-particles, Skretting notes that Ori-Green is a dry powder, which when dispersed in water provides nutrition for rotifers and artemia that is close to the natural zooplankton, with a higher protein content and better lipid balance than conventional feeds. Ori-Gold is a blend of natural marine HUFAs and phospho-lipids with added protein micro-particles and algae derivatives. Formulated as a concentrated oil that converts quickly to a stable emulsion, Ori-Gold is designed to provide a high level of enrichment for artemia. “The oil formulation is very stable, giving a long shelf life without the need for aggressive preservatives to prevent deterioration,” says Skretting. Ori-Culture is a rotifer culture diet based on a selection of algae naturally consumed by rotifers. Skretting describes it as “a stable free-flowing powder, providing good reproduction, with high levels of activity in the cultivation of rotifers over a range of densities. Because it matches rotifer needs so closely, there is little waste, bacteria do not flourish and the water remains clean for longer.” Rotifer culture with Skretting’s new Ori—Green.

CompHatch and EasyHatch : The perfect solution to your hatchery! TM

New! CompHatch

A simple system containing 8 levels that provide a capacity of 360 000 roe grains and fry

To find out more about these two exciting new hatchery products contact your nearest distributor: Alvestad Marin AS Fish Farm Technology

New! EasyHatch

Patented hatching substrate for easier cleaningand handling. High capacity; 90 000 fry of salmon on each m2

EUROPE: Alvestad Marin AS Sveinung Alvestad

NORTH AMERICA: Higgins Equipment Ltd David Higgins

SOUTH AMERICA: Comercial Norchi Aqua, Ltda. Victor Varagas

Sales Manager

President

Sales Manager

Tel: +47 24 20 00 30 Fax: +47 24 20 00 34 Mob: +47 954 87 467 post@alvestadmarin.com www.alvestadmarin.com

Tel: +1-506-458-9271 Fax: +1-506-458-9697 higginsd@nbnet.nb.ca

Fono1: +56-65-267215 Fono2: +56-65-437941 Fax: +56-65-267216 victor@norchi.cl www.norchi.cl

3 8 > > J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7

HATC HE RY I NTE R NATI ONAL

SHOWCASE Ewos announces Want To improvements Target Hatcheries? to larval weaning feed

As a supplier to the hatchery sector, no matter what you are promoting, be it… • a new range of starter feeds? • the latest in recirculating technology? • or new water monitoring equipment for measuring temperature, pH and DO levels? Hatchery International should be your No.1 choice for advertising to Hatchery Professionals all over the world. With more hatcheries now subscribing to Hatchery International than ever before, it’s fast becoming the world’s leading publication through which equipment suppliers can easily target the hatchery sector.

More hatcheries……More readers …… More news….....More feedback! What’s more, for a limited time only, with any booking of six advertisements you will receive a FREE additional ONLINE SUPPLIER GUIDE marketing package. Contact Jeremy now for further details at: INT Telephone +1-250-474-3982 North America: TOLL FREE 1-877-936-2266 Email: sales@hatcheryinternational.com

www.hatcheryinternational.com

Ewos recently announced news about improvements to its larval weaning feed, AgloNorse. According to Ewos, the improved AgloNorse has been nutritionally optimised with a particular focus on blending highly digestible marine proteins, balanced levels of phospholipids and triglycerides and bioavailable vitamins and minerals. Some key features of the feed include: • Added attractants to stimulate feeding. • Improved water stability and tank hygiene. • A unique blend of highly digestible raw materials. • Soft, palatable particles to reduce weaning periods. • Consistent, reliable nutritional and physical performance. • Improved size distribution. The company notes that Ewos AgloNorse has been developed in conjunction with several commercial marine hatcheries for use in both cold water and warm water recirculating hatchery systems. For more information go to www.ewos.co.uk

Filipino engineer invents waterless system for shipping live fish The name of Filipino Bonifacio F. Comandante Jr. may become legendary in aquaculture as the inventor of a revolutionary new way of putting fish into a state of suspended animation for as many as 24 hours so they can be shipped live all over the world without water or ice. With water accounting for up to around 75% of the weight of airfreight shipments of live fish, the system is expected to result in enormous savings for long-distance fish shippers. Comandante reportedly discovered by accident that fish can put themselves into hibernation in 1989, when, at the end of an extremely long day working on a sustenance program with some fisherfolk in a Palawan community, he put some fish into a thick cloth bag filled with ice, and then fell asleep. When he woke up six hours later, one was sitting in the tripod position with its fins and tail flat on the ground, so that its gills remained open – and it was still alive. That was a turning point for Comandante, who quietly worked on putting other fish to sleep over the next two years and managed to get groupers up to about seven hours. Using a bubble-foam box, he managed to ship his first batch of fish to Hong Kong. But Comandante, an agricultural engineer based in Dumaguete City, had no money to start a seafood-export business, so it wasn’t until 2001 that he found a way to put the system before “the right people” at Siliman University. In 2003, he was ready to present potential investors with improved results that included edible and ornamental fresh as well as crustaceans and shellfish. The list is now cited as including: brown, black and green groupers (24 hours); tiger grouper (18 hours); koi, carp and tilapia (12 hours); salmon and snapper (mayamaya) (eight hours), red grouper (six) – danggit and milkfish (bangus) (three to four hours). Using the system, blue swimming crabs (alimasag), tiger prawns and the smaller variety of prawns called swahe in Filipino can stay out of the water for 12 hours, while clams, oysters and mussels are said to be able to survive for up to two weeks. Comandante keeps some parts of his special technology – which he calls Buhi (meaning “live” in Visayan) – firmly under wraps, with an international patent pending earlier this year that would allow him to fully commercialize the

shipment technology. According to various reports, including information from company partners and the Filipino government, the process involves a careful and extended conditioning and acclimatization process followed by bathing the fish in what Comandante calls Buhi Blend, described as “an organic compound found naturally in the water,” to put them into a state of hibernation. A statement from the Filipino government says that for warm water marine species the fish are held overnight without feeding in filtered, circulated water at about 30°; and are then transferred to brackish water in another tank initially kept at 4°C, which is then gradually allowed to climb to 18-20°C. “An anti-stress conditioning-and-acclimatizing procedure then follows,” says the statement, adding that the Buhi Blend mixture is then added to the tank water. After being immersed for about four minutes, the stunned fish are then arranged in cooled boxes at 18-20°, lined with plastic bags; and the bags are filled with medical oxygen and tightly sealed for transportation. The fish are held upright in the boxes so their gill covers stay open. The inventor, who recently signed a $4-million contract in Australia to apply the technology for top-grade Australian seafood exports such as tuna, rainbow trout and salmon destined for the United States and Japan, is reported as saying that one of the main benefits is that it allows fresh fish to be shipped live but without ice, a massive saving in air-freight charges. The system is expected to enable fish traders to bring in much-increased quantities of fish in smaller containers and in greatly improved condition, commanding a higher price premium and creating increased profit for the traders. A recent test referenced by the Filipino government showed that groupers were delivered to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) central-office laboratory in Quezon City using the waterless technology. They were seen to regain consciousness after eight hours of travel with the temperature in the storage box at 25°C. “The fishes were observed to be initially disoriented but eventually recovered after acclimatization in aerated tap water to which Biomix seawater formula had been added,” says a statement from BFAR.

H ATC HERY I N T E R N AT I O N A L

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7 > > 3 9

Introducing a new line of starter feeds for aquaculture, designed to achieve great nutrient delivery. ■

Exact size: smaller and homogenous particles facilitate consumption (< 0.4 mm meal, 0.8 mm, 1.5 mm, 2.2 mm)

■

Perfect formula: precisely balanced sources of energy leave more protein for muscle building

■

Superior technology: extrusion process improves stability and nutrient delivery in floating and sinking particles

Aquaxcel is available globally. For more information, please contact one of the following locations: United States: 1-800-928-AQUA (2782) Latin America: 52 644 410-62-35 Asia: 84 61 836528 or visit us online at www.aquaxcel.com

4 0 > > J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7

HATC HE RY I NTE R NATI ONAL

EVENTS J U LY

Water Reuse for Intensive Fish Culture-Short Course, July 9-13, Dubois, Wyoming. www.freshwaterinstitute.org Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course, July 23-27 in Waimanalo, Hawaii; and July 31-August 3 in Ithaca, New York. Email:th47@cornell.edu AUGUST

Asian Pacific Aquaculture 2007, August 5 - 8 2007, Hanoi, Vietnam www.was.org Aqua Nor 2007, August 14-17, 2007, Trondheim, Norway, www.nor-fishing.no Tilapia 2007, August 23-25, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia www.infofish.org/tilapia2007 SEPTEMBER

American Fisheries Society AGM, Sept. 2-6, 2007, San Francisco, CA www.fisheries.org

Aquaculture Canada 2007, September 23-26, 2007, Edmonton, Alberta, www.aquacultureassociation.ca World Seafood Congress, Sept. 25-28, Dublin, Ireland www.worldseafoodcongress07.com OCTOBER

International Sustainable Marine Fish Culture Conference, October 15-17, 2007, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Fort Pierce, FL, October 15-17, 2007. www.sustainableaquaculture.org Recirculating Aquaculture Systems: Principles of Design and Operation, October 18-20, 2007, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Fort Pierce, FL www.aquaculture-online.org Aquaculture Europe 07, October 24-27, Istanbul, Turkey www.easonline.org

H ATC HERY I N T E R N AT I O N A L

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7 > > 4 1

Ozone Safety in Aquaculture Systems

BY MICHAEL GEARHEART AND STEVEN SUMMERFELT

optimum ozone dosage rate can be highly zone is a dangerously reactive, variable. However, recent research at the oxidizing gas. By itself it is not Conservation Fund Freshwater Institute combustible, yet it poses a serious shows that only modest ozone dosages fire and explosion risk by reacting with in combination with a UV irradiation other combustible materials. It is very dose of 50 mWtoxic, and the sec/cm2 in a well US Occupational Safety and Health designed RAS, Administration (e.g., one with an (OSHA) has set effective solids a time-weighted removal system) average (TWA) can give nearly for an 8-hr human complete bacterial exposure to ozone inactivation in the gas at a maximum recirculating flow. limit of 0.1 ppm. Production The 10-minute System Risks short-term exposure limit (STEL) is 0.3 Just as critical ppm. Exposure to as human exposure ozone gas at 5 ppm is the risk of can be immediately Material Safety Data Sheets must be posted prominently. exposing fish dangerous to to high ozone life and health. concentrations, Potential effects which can produce include dryness gross tissue of the mouth, damage and even coughing, and kill the fish. The irritation of nose, dissolved ozone throat, and chest, concentration difficulty in that damages gills breathing, headache, or kills rainbow dizziness, and trout is reported fatigue. Ozone can to be between also irritate the eyes 0.008 and 0.06 by causing pain, ppm. Dissolved lacrimation, and ozone can destroy inflammation. It is the epithelium important to note covering the gill Hand-held ozone sensor that the detectable lamella, resulting odour threshold in a rapid drop in for ozone gas varies widely. Ozone has a serum osmolality, and if mortality does not sweet smell that is noticed by some at a occur immediately, can leave the fish highly concentration as low as 0.005 ppm; others susceptible to microbial infection. The first may not detect it until the concentration is signs of exposure to toxic concentrations as high as 2.0 ppm. are noticeable changes in fish behavior. Fish stop feeding and congregate near the Ozone and Water Quality surface and sometimes gasp for air. Their Ozone is now commonly used for swimming behavior becomes progressively disinfecting water in intensive aquaculture erratic, attempts to jump out of the tank and seafood processing applications, and increase and some fish show darting more recently in recirculating aquaculture behavior followed by listless swimming. systems. Ozoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strong oxidizing potential Fish then lose vertical equilibrium and breaks down, or helps to remove finebecame pale, with vertical patches of dark and colloidal solids, organic compounds, pigment on the sides of the body. Fish that nitrite, and pathogens. Its effectiveness reach this latter condition rarely survive. depends on concentration, contact time, Gills of fish exposed to high levels of pathogen loads, and the concentration ozone show excess mucus, hyperplasia, and of organics and other constituents in aneurysms. the water. Depending upon the system Additional concerns arise when design and the species being farmed, the ozonating brackish or seawater systems.

The bromine- and bromate byproducts that can result from ozonating water that contains any bromide are also toxic to fish, and have a much longer halflife than dissolved ozone itself. When ozonating brackish or seawater systems, restrictions on the ozone dose or the oxidative reduction potential (ORP) are sometimes used to minimize bromine production. For example, modest levels of ozone can be applied safely to seawater RAS to improve water quality, and it is also possible to control bromine accumulation using high dosages of UV irradiation

Cyclobio fluidized sand bio-filter at the Conservation Fund Freshwater Institute. The CO2 stripper is stacked directly above a low head oxygenator and UV irradiation filter. The LHO unit is used to transfer an ozonated oxygen feed gas into the 4,800 l/min recirculating flow.

Buy the Best. Pure and Simple.

The original Microbubble Diffuser or

The flexible modular TM Wedge-Lock Diffuser

With almost 20 years of oxygenation experience!

Making your water better! Phone: +1 604 759 2114 Fax: +1 604 759 2115 Toll free: 1-800-267-9936 sales@pointfour.com Email:

103 - 16 Fawcett Road Coquitlam, BC V3K 6X9 CANADA www.pointfour.com

4 2 > > J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7

HATC HE RY I NTE R NATI ONAL

monitoring instrumentation (e.g ozone analyzer or ORP sensor) can be placed at the inflow to or inside the culture tank, and connected to the ozone generator with a shut-off mechanism that would be activated toxic ozone levels are encountered. To help prevent toxic dissolved ozone concentrations in the culture tank, encourage dissolved organic carbon and nitrite in the system by ensuring that fish are fed whenever ozone is being applied. The mass of ozone being applied should be no greater than approximately 15-25 g ozone per kg of feed added to the system. This is a strong enough dose to achieve satisfactory water quality. Ozone generator and high-concentration ozone gas monitor used at the Conservation Fund Freshwater Institute.

Ozone generator emergency shut-off should be located OUTSIDE the generator room!

or activated carbon filtration (or both). Bromate production, on the other hand, can be minimized during ozonation by maintaining a modest concentration of total ammonia nitrogen. Long-term ozone use can also introduce some risk to bio-filter performance. When nitrite is removed primarily by ozonation over an extended period, there is the potential for losing nitrifying bacteria. If ozonation were to suddenly cease, then a potentially dangerous nitrite spike might follow. If fewer nitrate-forming bacteria were present, the bio-filter would be less capable of converting nitrite to nitrate. This complication does not always occur: for example in an RAS that incorporates a highly efficient bio-filter that does not export nitrite.

mechanisms for safe and effective ozone use. A fully enclosed system using type 316 stainless steel for all materials, piping, and valves (with Teflon gaskets and membranes) is recommended for use with high concentrations of dry ozone gas. There are several locations where ozone may be injected into an aquaculture system. Choosing this location will depend on the results desired, and must take into account the effect of residual O3 concentrations on the system, fish stocks, effluent, and personnel.

Design Considerations

Engineering Controls

Ozone is generated on-site with a commercial ozone generator and must be used immediately. Generating ozone involves using a dried air- or oxygen gas feed, and an excitation of oxygen molecules to create atoms of oxygen (O) that bond to molecules of oxygen (O2) in the feed gas to create ozone (O3). Generating and transferring ozone to the culture system requires proper design and construction of reactor and transfer

Due to the risk of fire and explosion electrical sparks, heat, and intense light flashes must be avoided. A mechanical ventilation system should be operating at all times to eliminate any build up of ozone gas in and around fish production and ozone generation rooms. Ambient ozone gas monitors should be installed close to the ozone generator, and in a central location of the production area. To be conservative and effective, these monitors should be connected to alarms (audible and visible) that will engage at levels below the TWA, of 0.07 ppm. Hand-held ozone detection devices should also be available to make spot-check measurements around piping and poorly ventilated areas, e.g., sumps and low-lying vessels. Concentrations of ozone in air that are measured at the dedicated monitoring locations, and at specific locations tested with the hand-held unit should be recorded. In addition, there should be controls that will shut off ozone generation in the event that the water supply at the injection site becomes too low, reducing the likelihood of ozone gas escaping into the room. Emergency shut-off switches controlling the ozone generator should be located outside the ozone generation- and ozone transfer rooms (i.e. outside the building) eliminating the need to enter the building if an emergency shut-down is required.

SeeBrite

Underwater Light Intensity Meter

Production System Safety Measures

Most Advanced In the Industry • 340° light sensor • Plotting Software

www.iasproducts.com

IAS Products Ltd. 1415 Dominion Street North Vancouver BC V7J 1B3 Tel: (604) 924-1844 Fax: (604) 924-1848 email: info@iasproducts.com

Ozone monitoring instruments and analytical capabilities are vital components to the safe management of the production system. A dissolved ozone analyzer, indigo method reagents and supplies, and/or an oxidation reduction potential (ORP) sensor should be utilized routinely to screen the culture tank for any build-up of dissolved ozone. If fish show signs of ozone stress, if the ozone concentration in the culture tank meets or exceeds 0.01 ppm, or if the ORP measured in the culture tank exceeds approximately 350 mV in freshwater, then the ozone generator should be turned off immediately. Continuous on-line

Personnel Protective Measures The first and foremost concern is for the health and safety of the personnel. Everyone who could potentially be exposed to ozone gas must be familiar with the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for ozone. This document, and a placard indicating when ozone is in use, should be posted at the entries to the production- and ozone generation rooms. Staff should be familiar with the LED screen on the ozone generator, and the dedicated ozone gas detection equipment, so that they can identify when ozone is being generated. They should know the location and operation of the ventilation fans, the hand-held and dedicated monitoring instruments, and all safety procedures. If the ozone detector alarm is activated in the production or generation room, the recommended actions are as follows: 1. Exit the room immediately. 2. Go to the control switch located outside of the room or building, and turn off the ozone generator. 3. Ensure that the room ventilation fan is operating. 4. Contact the designated ‘ozone safety officer,’ who will inform all staff that a leak has occurred, and address any questions or concerns that arise. 5. Do not return to the room for at least 30 min after the ozone generator has been shut down, and the room has been well ventilated. 6. Return to the production and generation rooms with a hand-held ozone monitor to ensure that room air concentrations are below the TWA (<0.1 ppm ozone) before allowing others to return. To be entirely safe, the operator returning to monitor the room should wear a supplied air respirator (SAR) that meets the company’s Respiratory Protection Program (RPP). These procedures are used at the Conservation Fund Freshwater Institute. Others can develop their own written safety procedures by referencing this article and reviewing local site-specific conditions with their own Safety Committee. Implementing these types of measures to protect personnel and components of the aquaculture system can reduce the risks and hazards associated with using ozone as a disinfectant, and its safe and effective use can lead to strong improvements to the productivity of your aquaculture system. Michael Gearheart and Steven Summerfelt are with The Conservation Fund Freshwater Institute, Shepherdstown, West Virginia. For more information contact them at: m.gearheart@freshwaterinstitute.org or s.summerfelt@freshwaterinstitute.org

H ATC HERY I N T E R N AT I O N A L

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7 > > 4 3

Breakthrough

in Breeding Eels in New Zealand

Photomicrograph pf Anguilla australis larva BY JOHN MOSIG

ahurangi Technical Institute (MTI), started by Paul Decker as a private marine training centre in 1997, is now a joint private-government enterprise. Situated at Warkworth, 65km north of Auckland, its prime purpose is ‘To encourage a love of knowledge by the teaching of essential skills for living in today’s modern world’. But MTI is more than that: they have developed a research branch that has taken them down several paths, none more exciting than the spawning and hatching of short-finned eels (Anguilla australis).

THE HATCHERY Although Warkworth is on a tidal stream, seawater for the hatchery is brought in by tanker from an oceanic collection point and treated on site. The system holds 20,000-l. Raw water is passed through a sand filter and an 80-watt UV filter, then through a 5µ cartridge-filter and further exposure to UV light. The water at this point is considered suitable for broodstock. Before going on to the hatchery it is screened at 0.5µ, and the salinity adjusted to suit the species being raised. THE EEL PROJECT The NZ eel fishery is not insignificant but suffers from wildly varying catches. The fishery is controlled by transferable quotas. The main market is export,

Hatchery technician Victor Mankov with conditioned broodstock.

however there is a growing interest from the domestic market, and eels have always been of cultural importance to the Maori. In 2000, exports peaked at 381 tonnes worth NZ$3.5 million. The eel project, led by Dr. Tagried Kurwie, started five years ago. Tagried and her family fled the Saddam Hussein terror in Iraq, and now have New Zealand citizenship. What started as a bit of interest and challenge for the student intake has developed into a major project. Their breakthrough came in 2005. Project Manager, David Copper said that had they missed that window they probably would have given up. It was at the end of 2005 that they bred eels successfully, and in large numbers. Since then, using relatively low technology, they have fine-tuned their hatchery process, and hatchery vessels and design, and reached the point where, when a TV crew wanted some action shots David said “If you arrive on Thursday, say at 11 o’clock, we’ll have a spawning for you.” The crew arrived at 10, and set up. “At 11 o’clock we were spawning eels. It was probably one of the best spawnings we’ve ever had.” It gave them a lot of confidence. David continued, “We made a fuss of it in the media. Applied for more funding, leased the building we are now in and fitted it out to incorporate what we had learnt over the years.” David pointed out that so far they had only produced larval eels, as have others, notably the Danes and the Japanese. However, they can now condition eels to spawn at on demand, and are ready for the

Project manager David Cooper with some of the spawning tanks at MTI.

Some of the broodstock held at MTI’s Warkworth facility.

next step, to take them past the post larval stage to the “glass eel” leptocephali stage. COMMERCIAL APPROACH Being a commercial venture with commercial goals, MTI has concentrated successfully on keeping the process low-tech. They are also looking at other commercial aspects of eel farming through three side-projects. The first goal has already been achieved. Eels are catadromous, going from fresh water to the marine environment to breed. While the team is still using spawners captured by the wild catch occean fishery, they feel confident that they will be able to identify and condition breeding stock from farmed fish when that opportunity presents itself. They found that wild broodstock, collected at the beginning of their breeding migration, if not used in the breeding program, would start feeding again. From studies of their breeding cycle, it is known that female eels may make several attempts to make a breeding run. However, if, when they get to the river mouth, they lack the energy to finish the long marine journey and complete vitellogenesis, they will return to the upper

reaches of the river system until they do. It is estimated that they only use 20% of their avasilable energy for the journey. The balance is reserved for breeding. The second side project also has commercial aspects. Glass eels are sexually indeterminate. As they enter the estuaries, some remain in the tidal influence where food is plentiful and stocking densities are high; the same conditions as in aquaculture. Glass eels remaining in the estuary are predominantly males, while those that push on up stream become the females. As females grow to market size faster than the males, there would be an obvious advantage to eel farmers to receive glass eels that will become female. MTI believe that they may be able to achieve this although this is by no means certain.. Preliminary trials by other researchers raising Anguilla australis in recirculating aquaculture systems have indicated that a percentage of the stock grows at a much faster rate than the rest. Whether this is a genetic trait or simply a bunch of greedy eels has yet to be determined but either way it makes sense to select these faster growing eels as future brood stock. The third project MTI is looking at is beyond the preliminary stage. Once the breeding loop has been closed, genetic selection can be brought into play. They are looking forward to the day they can select broodstock from the better performers on the farms and develop breeding lines that will improve growth rates and feed conversion. ...over

4 4 > > J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7

HATC HE RY I NTE R NATI ONAL

least 12 months, without losing any significant condition. BREEDING PROTOCOL

Some of the water sterilizing and monitoring equipment at MTI.

BROODSTOCK TREATMENT Professional eel-trappers bring wild-caught eels to the hatchery during the migration season, which runs from the end of February to as late as May, but peaks in March. They know what Tagried is looking for and they select the best-conditioned stock for the hatchery. Incoming broodstock go through a rigorous quarantine protocol. The animals are de-wormed and treated for external parasites and any capture trauma that could lead to infection. They are held in

quarantine for up to two weeks, then in acclimatization tanks at ambient temperature: 20 ± 2oC. Salinity is increased to 33‰. Injured animals are dissected to check the gonadosomatic indices (GSI) of the batch — comparing the weight of the gonad against body weight — without having to destroy healthy broodstock. This has yielded valuable and consistent data. They have learned to hold the broodstock in a forward breeding condition by lowering the temperature to 16oC. This lowering of the metabolic rate allows them to hold stock for at

The breeding protocol, while low-tech, is quite involved. Breeders are brought from the conditioning tanks to the hatchery, where the water temperature is increased to 24oC. Males are injected three weeks before the females, with weekly doses of HCG at 1IU/g of body weight. Females are injected with salmon pituitary extract (SPE) at 20mg/kg body weight. Within 7-13 weeks the body weight starts to increase as the eggs hydrate. Samples are taken to assess shape, size and appearance of the eggs. They should be round, between 750 and 1,000µ, and clear in appearance. Once the eggs are nearing ovulation — usually between 7- and 13 weeks after the first injection — they are given two boosters (priming 20mg/kg SPE, and DHP (17,20 ß-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one) 24 hours apart. They are ready to be stripped 12 hours after the second booster. Originally they were giving between eight and 13 injections to trigger ovulation. This is now down to three or four.

Females are dried off and hand-stripped into a dry bowl. Males are stripped into the same bowl and the sperm and ova mixed gently. The eggs are then rinsed and placed in purposedesigned hatching vessels. While all precautions are taken at this stage, David pointed out that the water may not be totally sterile. “Our aim is to develop a commercial model. While our hatchery water is sterile in a practical sense, the procedures we are developing can be duplicated under the factory conditions required of a commercial hatchery.” THE NEXT PHASE The eggs take 37 hours to hatch. The larvae feed off the yolk sac for between five and eight days, which is as far as MTI have taken their work. Now that they are able to mass produce larvae relaiably they will concentrate on developing diets that will take the larvae through to the leptocephali stage glass eels and beyond. The mouth gape of the five day old larvae is very small: approximately 2mm, and the teeth are backward slanting and locking. Eel larvae are pelagic,

Computer Simulation from page 31 A new labor-saving product for the fish farming community...

Smith-Root’s

ELECTROANESTHESIA UNIT A viable alternative to chemicals for anesthetizing (or euthanizing) large numbers of cultured fishes. We also offer custom-built tanks with elevator systems.

The EA-1000A System optimizes fillet quality while eliminating the incidence of injury.

Our tank design aligns fish between the electrodes.

It’s safe, effective and inexpensive to use.

SRI can design a system to meet your exact anesthesia needs. See our website for a real-time demonstration video.

smith-root.com ELECTROANESTHESIA 14014 NE Salmon Creek Ave. • Vancouver, WA 98686 USA 360-573-0202 • info@smith-root.com

the deteriorated fish ladder. Additionally, the CFD model provided detailed velocity information making it possible to determine where changes to the fish ladder’s design should be made, so that the likelihood of alewife upstream migration could be increased. Designing the fish ladder renovations The next step was to design the renovations for the fish ladder and evaluate its performance over a range of flow conditions. Woodlot Alternatives provided an initial concept design based on the HEC-RAS and FLOW-3D® model results. While there were no drawings of the original ladder, the engineers were able to surmise its approximate shape and then make modifications that would slow the water-flow through certain parts of the structure, and provide a passage that the fish could negotiate easily. To facilitate these improvements, the middle weir was designed to maintain the asymmetrical shape of the two downstream masonry weirs, and its height was increased to equalize the hydraulic drop between it and the upstream weirs. Blue Hill Hydraulics then updated the original CFD model to evaluate the proposed changes. The simulation results showed clearly how the proposed renovation would affect the flow of water in the fish ladder, and predicted the distribution of flow, water surface elevations, and water velocities. The model also showed water velocities at different cross-sections of the ladder, confirming the likelihood that alewives would be able pass any given area. This provided confidence that the proposed

opportunistic feeders and one clue to their diet is that zooplankton faeces have been found in the guts of wild caught larvae of Anguilla japonica. Another creature that could hold a clue to the dietary requirements of eel larvae is the larvacean house. This small creature drifts near the surface of the water. It surrounds itself with a gelatinous web-like case (house) that catches falling detritus (as small as 1µ, from which it extracts nutrients. When the house becomes overloaded, a segment breaks off and sinks toward the bottom. This material has also been found in the guts of the Japanese eel larvae. Tagried and her team at MTI are looking at several options, including shellfish larvae and commercially available food small enough for eel larvae, and easy to digest. Without doubt, the next few years at MTI’s Warkworth research facility will be as exciting, and hopefully as rewarding, as the last five. For more information contact Project Leader David Cooper by email at: david@mti.net.nz.

design would accomplish its intended purpose. The revised CFD model can also be used to simulate fish passage performance over a range of conditions. This is important because variations in river flows occur throughout the entire fish migration period (e.g., spring-summer-fall flows for diadromous fish species migration – adult and juvenile) and we needed confirmation that these variations were not great enough to prevent fish passing up the ladder. Renovations to the fish passage were completed in September 2006. Computer simulation shows how actual water flow over the renovated ladder closely matches the CFD predictions. The Third Dam fish passage restoration project work performed by Blue Hill Hydraulics Incorporated was performed as part of a collaborative arrangement with Woodlot Alternatives, Inc. Work performed by Woodlot Alternatives, Inc., was sponsored by the Somes-Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary, with funding provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Gulf of Maine Coastal Program. The contributions of Mr. Michael Chelminski (Woodlot Alternatives), the manager of this project, are gratefully acknowledged. Graphics from FLOW-3D® output were produced using Fieldview from Intelligent Light. John E Richardson is a senior engineer with Blue Hill Hydraulics Incorporated, Blue Hill, Maine. For more information on FLOW-3D® contact Flow Science Inc., Santa Fe, NM. Ph: +1 505 982-0088, E-mail: cfd@flow3d.com, Website: www.flow3d.com

H ATC HERY I N T E R N AT I O N A L

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7 > > 4 5

Have No Fear – Retrofit for Re-use in Your Hatchery! BY GENNY WEST

Water, water everywhere? Not so! We are learning about water shortages and water quality problems from every industry these days, aquaculture included. Decreasing availability of water, and progressively stringent discharge regulations make it increasingly important to control and regulate the supply and discharge of hatchery water. Surprisingly, in aquaculture facilities generally, flowthrough technology is still the most common strategy, but water re-use is quickly becoming popular since less water is required, or productivity can be increased. It is not difficult to convert a flow-through hatchery to partial re-use: not a lot of equipment is required and it can be retrofitted in most hatcheries to both raceways and circular tank layouts. Partial re-use takes water out of a raceway or tank and treats it so that it can be put back into the same culture system. Not all contaminants are treated. Many continue to be flushed from the system before they reach toxic limits. The partial re-use treatment processes usually include gas balancing. They may also include solids removal and disinfection. Recirculation processes typically include biological treatment for ammonia and other nitrogenous compounds. This is the fundamental difference between re-use and recirculation. Aside from the very important advantage of water conservation, adopting re-use technology has many other benefits: • It can assist greatly where there are consumption- or disposal limits – such as overdrawn aquifers or receiving water bodies that are degrading over time • It can make available water go farther, so production can be increased without increasing water demand • It can result in reduced pumping costs if the energy needed to treat and re-use the water is less than that needed to lift new water to the facility • If influent water treatment is required, by reducing the total water consumed, the pre-treatment costs can be reduced. • Similarly, effluent treatment costs can be reduced if flow rates are lower. • In flow through systems, therapeutants like salt used to control fungal infections are quickly flushed away. In a re-use system these therapeutants are also captured and returned to the system, which greatly reduces the amounts needed. There are drawbacks to re-use systems. Any contaminant that is not removed before re-use will build up in the system. For example, if you choose

Centralized treatment systems may be more cost-effective than treating individual tanks.

A drum filter (or some other system) will likely be needed for removing suspended solids from raceway effluent, but may not be needed with self-cleaning circular tanks.

not to filter for solids, then they will be re-introduced into the culture tank or raceway. Pumping needed Pumping is necessary to lift the water from the system discharge back to the head, and is usually needed to lift the water to the head of the treatment equipment. The main water quality problem when reusing culture water is oxygen depletion. Oxygen concentration is an important limiting factor when raising fish, so the treatment equipment usually includes an oxygenator (typically a low head oxygenator or LHO, which uses pure oxygen to supersaturate the water.) For every oxygen molecule consumed by the fish almost one molecule of carbon dioxide is created. Therefore, CO2 stripping will likely be required. This can be accomplished using a forced air stripper which also helps to add oxygen back into the water. Gas balancing is the term used to describe

the combined the treatment processes of CO2 stripping and oxygenation. Additional re-use treatment technologies include solids filtration and disinfection. There are two approaches to treatment system lay out that can be adopted: point of use- and centralized treatments. Simple gas balancing systems may be added at each tank. However, if expensive equipment like disinfection units and solids filters are to be included, it may be economically advantageous to combine treatments for many tanks in one large, centrally located system. Circular tank systems lend themselves very well to re-use technologies because the solid wastes are removed rapidly through the bottom drain with 5 to 20% of the total flow, while the relatively clean side box flows can be returned for re-use. The circular production tank itself becomes the solids-removal system. Since the water motion in circular tanks rotates the water past the water addition point, the tank continued over

4 6 > > J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7

HATC HE RY I NTE R NATI ONAL

remains completely mixed making the addition of treated water back into the tank relatively easy. Raceways are a little more challenging to retrofit than circular tanks because they don’t mix well. Water quality degrades from the head of the raceway to the lower end, so water could be supersaturated with oxygen at the top and oxygen-deficient at the bottom end if the raceway is too long or the flow rate is too low. Raceways are also not as efficient at removing solid wastes. Frequently, the re-use water is added at several points along the raceway, adding oxygen supersaturated water at regular intervals. This will significantly improve the distribution of oxygen. Another alternative is to

combine the re-use water with new incoming water at the head of the raceway to give a greatly increased overall flow. This will improve the transport of both oxygen and solids down the raceway, and overall water quality. How much will it cost? The cost of partial re-use equipment will depend on the volume of water that is actually treated. The amount (percentage)of available water flow that can be re-used without toxin build-up will be determined primarily by culture densities, the quality of the incoming raw water, the amount of feed used, the oxygen requirements of the fish, and the method of solids removal. Remember, you will not need an expensive biofilter,

so these needed functions may be provided relatively inexpensively. Water re-use is a versatile technology that can easily be added to flow-through raceways and circular tanks without serious disruption to the current layout of most hatcheries. So if fish production at your hatchery is limited by a shortage of water, discharge regulations, or water quality problems you should seriously consider the payoff of adopting partial re-use as a solution. Genny West is a Mechanical Engineering Technologist with PRAqua, Nanaimo, British Columbia. For more information, contact her at: genny@praqua.com.

Cut-away schematic diagram of an oxygenation tower

Individual tank re-use treatment system comprising a CO2 stripper/aerator and blower.

UV disinfection systems help control pathogens

Connecting Great People with Great Companies Finding a job in the aquaculture and marine science sector is now fast, easy and just a click away. You will find the most up-to-date advertisements available in our industry today

SUBSCRIBE TO HATCHERY INTERNATIONAL For your own subscription to Hatchery International complete form and fax it back to +1.250.478.3979 Yes, I would like to subscribe

Name: Organization:

Aquaculture Employers: Aquaculturejobs.com is a great way to fill your staffing needs. Post online and pay online.

United States & Canada

Address:

One year (six issues): $27.95 Two years (12 issues): $49.95 Europe

Country:

Code/Zip:

Email:

One year (six issues): €40

www.aquaculturejobs.com

Two years (12 issues): €70

Cheque (EURO, US & Canada only) made payable to United Kingdom

info@aquaculturejobs.com

Payment Options

One year (six issues): £26

Hatchery International Credit Card:

Visa

Mastercard

Two years (12 issues): £40 Card Number

Promote your new product, service or people in Hatchery International!

SEND US YOUR PRESS RELEASES If your company has recently developed a NEW PRODUCT that’s applicable to the fish hatchery sector, then please don’t hold back! Send us a press release explaining it’s usefulness to hatcheries and we’ll consider previewing it in the NEW PRODUCTS section. You can email details of your NEW PRODUCT to editor@hatcheryinternational.com or send it in by mail/post (include a product photograph) to: “NEW PRODUCTS” HatcheryInternational, 4623 William Head Road, Victoria, BC, V9C 3Y7, Canada

Rest of World

Security code (last 3 digits on signature strip)

One year (six issues): $US 45.00

Expiry date

Two years (12 issues): $US 80.00

Signature

Fax completed form to +1.250.478.3979 or mail to: Hatchery International 4623 William Head Road, Victoria, BC, Canada, V9C 3Y7 Subscriptions are also available through the website

www.hatcheryinternational.com

FAX BACK TO +1.250.478.3979

H ATC HERY I N T E R N AT I O N A L

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 0 7 > > 4 7

DISCOVER OCTAFORM™ … The number one solution for aquaculture tanks Industrial strength PVC encapsulates the structural concrete walls …. You get the best of both worlds: The strength of protected concrete and the sanitary shell of PVC. The result is a highly effective fish growing environment. OCTAFORM™ – The Better Way To Build • • • •

Unlimited size and shape. Creates a smooth fish friendly environment. Easy clean sanitary finish minimizes bacteria. Low transportation costs through compact shipping of components. • Solid walls allow for equipment mounting. • Suitable for warm, cold, or salt water fish. “AquaOptima has chosen to use the Octaform™ product in our system due to its smooth inside surface, easy maintenance and long lasting material. It is easy to install and has a cost advantage for medium and large tanks.” Idar Schei Managing director of AquaOptima, Norway AS

CALL NOW or VISIT www.octaformtanks.com www.octaform.com OCTAFORM™ The New Generation of Aquaculture Tank Technology

Suite 520 – 885 Dunsmuir Street Vancouver, BC, Canada V6C 1N5 Tel. 1-888-786-OCTA (6282) Fax (604) 408-0595 www.octaformtanks.com www.octaform.com

871 MILLION SALMON SINCE 1996. • Like wild salmon runs, fish farm disease challenge is unpredictable. • There is nothing like extensive field experience to define an effective vaccine. • FORTE is the choice by salmon farmers around the world for maximum efficacy with minimum risk of side-effects. ®

• Don’t compromise your investment!

PROTECTION BELOW FOR SECURITY ABOVE. NORTH AMERICA: 1-877-544-4966 INTERNATIONAL: +1-902-566-4966 Email: tanya.knudson@novartis.com