Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, friends and colleagues. Welcome to the Shrimp Aquaculture Conference 2024. We hope you are excited for these upcoming days. I know I am.
I want to start this by giving you some fun facts about SAC. SAC officially started from last year 2023, before that, we just call this annual event as the PMI conference. The decision to rebrand it was made so that we can reach out to more young people outside of Indonesia. To add to that statement, we proudly say that around 40% of this year’s SAC participant came from abroad. we hope that in the future, more and more people from abroad would also check our event out, especially the young people in the industry. This is also the second time I asked my peers to change the name of our event to Balsac. Bali SAC. But through their good judgement they rejected my pitch.
A lot of people asked me and the organizers on why we do this? Many people also thought that we are a professional organizer and that this is our main job. For that question I can state here for the record that no, we are not a professional organizing company that does events. The organizers of this events are first and foremost shrimp farmers. We are doing this not for our financial gain, but for the goodness of the industry.
Any profit that we made on our programs are invested back to the PMI to create even more programs to achieve our main goal, which is to ensure the sustainability of our industry.
CEOThe Chief Editor Overview
When we talk about sustainability, we are not just talking about the environmental aspect, but also to ensure that there will be a next generation that will continue what our predecessors have started.
This year, we are excited to see many young farmers from the region coming to our event. We have farmers from Thailand, from the Phillipines, and from Vietnam. There might be more farmers from other countries that came that we are not aware of. But nonetheless, we welcome you to our event. We hope that through our event, we can spread the energy and excitement about aquaculture. To get more young people interested in our industry. In short, we want to make aquaculture sexy again.
The theme, aquaculture
renaissance was chosen because we want to see a rebirth happening in this industry. From before where aquaculture is seen more as an art, where decisions are made using gut felling and guesses. To an industry which is driven by technology, data, and science.
Lastly, this year’s tag line, veni vidi fishy, perfectly embodies what we are trying to achieve here. We believe it signifies how, we came to this industry, we saw the problems it is having, and we conquered them through hard work and innovations.
Now I won’t take too much time out of you, we had amazing days ahead packed with cutting edge information, networking, and fun.
And with that, I hereby officially open this year’s SAC 2024
Rizky Darmawan Chief Editor
WARTICLE Genics Offers a Fresh Approach to Successful Shrimp Farming
are clinically sick, and the cause is sought afterward. But now, Genics is implementing early detection to prevent outbreaks.
ith the growing threats of shrimp diseases, Australian disease analytic service provider, Genics Pty Ltd offers innovations to minimize farmers’ losses and improve their success.
According to Co-Founder and CEO, Dr. Melony Sellars, shrimp farms face ongoing challenges, making Genics helps the industry access the best methods to prevent diseases. At the Shrimp Aquaculture Conference (SAC) 2024, she shared her experience conducting disease surveillance with proven new tools that have helped the industry in several countries transform. Regarding this, she mentioned three key factors that contribute to diseases, such as pathogens, biosecurity, and breeding programs.
Early Pathogen Detection
Disease surveillance is usually done when animals
Dr. Melony said early detection before clinical signs emerge empowers farmers with data early, giving them time to act and make better management choices. The concept of early pathogen detection before animals become sick and early intervention is a different way of thinking for many farmers.
“If we have something we have all learned from Covid it’s an understanding of how important it is to detect and act early on pathogens to stop the spread and minimize the impact,” she explained. How does it work? First, statistically significant sampling (customized). Second, sampling of correct tissue types. Third, access to highly sensitive and accurate testing platforms (Shrimp MultiPath) that cover all relevant pathogens in the regions. As a result, this knowledge and technology add value and make disease prevention affordable.
Improving Biosecurity
With diseases on the
doorstep, farmers need to prepare and practice the highest biosecurity to prevent incursions in their operations. Biosecurity is crucial as it can increase the reliability
and profitability of production, ensure water treatment systems are adequate and operational, identify areas to strengthen production systems to increase the resilience of farming and business, optimize stock health, and prevent pathogen outbreaks.
“We also need biosecurity response plans. What do we do if we have a problem? So that the team working on the farm knows how to behave. Farms also should be doing biosecurity assessments of how they’re trucking regularly and continually improving the biosecurity on their sites and farms,” Dr Melony explained. Importantly, biosecurity is about education. Biosecurity is difficult because it exposes our weak points. However, it is very effective. “All of our clients who have been involved in biosecurity assessments are very grateful. They learn a lot and can improve farm reliability and systems,” she said, adding that the use of eDNA testing shows great promise with the discovery of the white spot virus in the water about 2.2-2.5 weeks before it is found in the shrimp.
Breeding Programs
Genics also has new tools for precision breeding. They have ShrimpID for identifying the population structure of breeders, managing diversity, achieving cumulative per-
formance gains of up to 30% depending on the selection pressures chosen for traits, and breeding for disease tolerance/resistance. Compared to other systems on the market, ShrimpID shows a highly informative number of DNA SNP.
Meanwhile, in genomic selection, ShrimpID can collect pedigree information and DNA markers to gather all program data. With prediction models, each genotyped animal will have a breeding value for the traits measured. So, Genics brings together data from different scoreboard panels from previous platforms in new programs. It works and we see a huge improvement in the performance of animals in ponds under challenging conditions. Genics also developed ShrimpTracker for breeding programs. It is specifically developed to collect highly accurate data in a way that causes minimal stress to the animals. “We are taking the phenotypes of the animals by imaging them in water and using digital Artificial Intelligence (AI) to calculate the traits that are of interest to then build into our breeding programs,” Dr Melony said.
Realizing the full potential of genotyping data and breeding efforts, ShrimpTracker is set to revolutionize the industry’s conventional breeding programs. “By combining our three global leading technologies, Shrimp MultiPath, ShrimpID, and ShrimpTracker. Genics is a shrimp expert every step of the way,” she added.
TMixscience’s Approach to Sustainable Aquaculture
he Indonesian Young Shrimp Farmers Association (PMI) held the Shrimp Aquaculture Conference (SAC) 2024 with the theme “Aquaculture Renaissance” in Bali on June 5-6. Mixscience, a business dedicated to the farming industry and part of the large French company Avril Group, was present at the event. Jeremie Potier, Asia Territory Manager of Mixscience, expressed several concerns regarding the current state of the aquaculture industry. “Right now, we have high prices for raw materials. We have practices that lead to low success rates, low prices for shrimps, and a lot of pathogens,” he said.
In response to these issues, Jeremie said that Mixscience is working on solutions involving IoT, software, and automation using AI. “We have new practices like multistage farming, RAS, and improved feed solutions, especially in combating pathogens, reducing chemicals, and antibiotics,” he explained. “At the end of the day, it’s all
about providing consumers with shrimp, fish, squid, and other seafood while considering welfare, quality, intensive farming, and heavy use of chemicals. Our goal is to transition away from these practices with our solutions.”
Solution for Mixed-Diseases
In recent years, the Avril Group has adopted a new philosophy: “Serving the Earth,” which emphasizes sustainability. As part of this group, Mixscience must also incorporate this approach into its activities. Maxime Hugonin, General Manager of Mixscience Asia, said, “So as you can see here, in aquaculture, for instance, we want to constantly innovate, create, and propose innovative solutions to promote sustainable aquaculture.”
Maxime shared that in 2014, the company recognized the potential and dynamism of aquaculture. So, they began investing in solutions to replace antibiotics in aquaculture. The goal was to develop broad-spectrum products that could target various pathogens, since aquaculture environments typically host a mix of primary and opportunistic pathogens, not just one at a time.
“So, we wanted to find an active ingredient solution that could target something common to all pathogens, or at least to bacteria and viruses. Then we developed Alive, which targets and denatures the proteins of viruses and bacteria, rendering them non-functional for the pathogens’ survival and replication,” he explained. In 2017, Mixscience launched this product in the Asian and
Vietnamese markets. Specifically for shrimp, the product is effective against the WSSV virus.
Maximizing Prevention and Biosecurity Actions
In addition, one of the biggest issues in the past year has been EHP, a persistent pathogen in shrimp ponds. Maxime said that eradication of this pathogen is not possible, so it must be accepted that it will always be present. The only solution is to control it. “In most cases, farmers often lose money because infections occur too early in the cycle. There are two important points to remember: spores need a host to replicate, and there is a critical limit that should not be reached,” he said.
Maxime revealed that one of the main solutions to this issue is biosecurity. If farmers can master biosecurity and also manage other aspects like water quality and post-larvae care effectively, the likelihood of EHP infections can be significantly reduced. He believes that prevention and biosecurity
together form a comprehensive strategy for controlling disease.
He added that prevention and biosecurity strategies can be enhanced by using the right products, such as A.Coverost. Maxime claimed that this product changes the shape of the spores and absorbs water from them, leading to their de-
struction. With a higher dosage, more spores are eliminated. “We recommend using A.Coverost at four kilograms per ton, which already kills seventyfive percent of the spores at this dosage. It also helps control the EHP load in the stream and supports good performance in weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) for the shrimp,” he said.
However, Maxime clarified that A.Coverost is not a magical solution. The crucial first step is maintaining strong biosecurity. A.Coverost serves as an additional tool within a biosecurity plan to provide extra protection. Farmers should view it as a form of insurance that helps achieve commercial size, which might be difficult to reach without it.
THE CRUST - UTE,AB
Jérémie Potier
Maxime Hugonin
ADVERTEBRATE
China stands as a formidable player in the global shrimp industry, boasting not only high productivity but also an impressive local market size of almost 3 million tons. Intrigued by how China managed to achieve such feats despite high production costs, we decided to visit several farms and processing companies in China, eager to gather valuable lessons that JALA and, eventually, Indonesia can hopefully implement.
Impressed with the Integrated Research and Technology in China’s Shrimp Farms
Stepping into the stateoftheart indoor shrimp farms, we were immediately struck by the advanced technologies in use. Wastewater is processed with Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) or partial recirculation technology, ensuring minimal environmental impact and promoting the sustainable use of resources. This recirculated water is used to cultivate shrimp with advanced innovations.
Lessons from China’s Success: Achieving High Shrimp Productivity and Consumption
advanced cultivation operation drives another question to mind: how does China cope with the consequent rising production costs? The answer, it turns out, lies in their exceptional distribution and remarkable local consumption.
Witnessing the Shrimp Journey from Pond to Plate
Most of China’s shrimp farms harvest their shrimp alive and keep them in living conditions throughout postharvest. Trucks with a capacity of 3.5 tons carry the shrimp at a temperature of 15°C, ready to take them on a journey of over 20 hours. Supported by China’s robust infrastructure, the live shrimp can reach various regions of China in prime condition until they are sold to customers.
A High Local Demand for Shrimp, Driven by Culture
China is doing for their success. For a start, Indonesia’s local demand for shrimp is relatively lower compared to fish as shrimp is still considered an expensive source of protein for most households.
Comprehensive research is needed from broodstock, shrimp fry, feed, technology, to market analysis. For instance, fry genetics should be developed to suit local needs, which will then influence feed requirements and other aspects of cultivation. Some of the hatcheries in Indonesia have already begun efforts in this direction, and these initiatives should be continued and expanded.
ensure a consistent supply for future demands.
While a national campaign to promote shrimp consumption could help, we too can play a significant part in educating the importance of shrimp nutrition for future generations. The goal is that, eventually, shrimp consumption is no longer a luxury, but a culture and lifestyle deeply rooted in our diverse ethnicities, even as important as beef or chicken in our local cuisine.
Looking Ahead
These farms stock carefully selected shrimp fry with genetics suited for their living environment, nourishing them with feeding programs carefully designed to reach optimal growth. This level of precision and care is made possible through the support of researchers, many holding advanced degrees, who are dedicated to supporting the shrimp farming industry.
This trend of indoor shrimp farming has been the splash in China’s cultivation for the last 56 years, while recirculation efforts are done to comply with the government’s strict regulations regarding waste disposal. However, this
The appetite for seafood among China’s population is more than just a trend, it’s deeply embedded in their culture and their celebrations. During Chinese New Year, as an example, the price for shrimp could rise to roughly IDR 200.000/kg for size 40, a staggering twofold increase from its average price, and customers would still buy it without hesitation. The diversity of local menus that incorporate shrimp as their ingredient, backed by the consistent supply of shrimp, allows local consumption to soar. In fact, imported shrimp, mostly from Ecuador, are sold at a much cheaper price than their local harvests.
Essential Takeaways from Our Insightful Visit
In some ways, it’s true that we can’t mimic everything
From a farming perspective, adopting environmentally friendly technologies, particularly in waste management, is crucial. Improving distribution and logistics systems is equally important, as both quality and availability are key factors that can boost local consumption.
Reflecting back on China’s efficient and wellintegrated shrimp distribution system, Indonesia has much ground to cover. But for us, this is an important inspiration, underscoring the need for adequate transportation infrastructure and advanced harvest distribution methods to
At JALA, we are committed to strengthening Indonesia’s shrimp industry by enhancing the current logistics system. Our aim is to create a more seamless distribution chain while prioritizing freshness. Better quality can ultimately increase the local demand for shrimp, empowering shrimp farmers without overdependence on export markets.
Finally, our message to all stakeholders in the shrimp industry is this: let’s keep driving innovation and initiatives to enhance the local market. To shrimp farmers, keep producing highquality shrimp, and we will work tirelessly to ensure a more efficient and sustainable industry that benefits everyone involved!
AARTICLE Managing Nitrogen and Phosphorus to Slow Pond Aging
s the day of shrimp culture (DOC) increases, more organic
matter builds up in the pond water. This happens because nutrients, waste, uneaten feed, metabolic byproducts, and biomass—including plankton and bacteria—accumulate and decompose in the pond. As the DOC continues to rise, the increasing organic load can reduce the pond’s capacity to support shrimp life. Chiow Yen Liew, Regional Marketing Manager Aqua for Greater APAC at dsm-firmenich, called this phenomenon “pond aging”.
“So pond aging is an inevitable process. It’s a natural process that happens over time where the changes in the ecosystems then affect the productivity and the health of your pond,” she said at the Shrimp Aquaculture Conference (SAC) 2024 in Bali recently.
The Root Causes of Pond Aging
However, while most farmers aim to keep their ponds healthy over time, they often overlook the issue of pond aging. She explained that the root cause of pond aging is the high organic load, specifically
nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) elements. Since this phenomenon is also triggered by overfeeding, it’s also important to manage the nitrogen and phosphorus levels in the feed as well.
“The mother of all problems is the nitrogen and phosphorus loading in your pond. So, to reduce nutrient input, choose the right balanced feed for your pond. The balanced feed should have the right digestible nutrients and a good protein profile that fits your culture system,” she said.
Based on her observations, phosphate and ammonia (NH3) levels increase more when farmers feed shrimp with higher crude protein levels. She added that higher protein content in the feed, which is not well digested by the shrimp, can stimulate the rapid growth of harmful plankton like dinoflagellates and blue-green algae. The presence of these plankton serves as a bio-indicator for farmers to improve their water quality management by different strategies.
Increase Protein Digestibility with Enzymes
So, where does the phosphorus in feed come from?
Liew explained that phytate
phosphorus is usually found in plant-based raw materials. As feed producers increasingly choose plant-based proteins for sustainability reasons, the amount of phytate phosphorus has risen. To address the side effects of these raw materials, she suggested using an exogenous phytase enzyme, which can break down phytate phosphorus.
“So very significant on the phosphorus reduction, if you look at close to, let’s say 200 grams of phytase and even at 25 grams of protease is around 34 percent of reduction,” she added the details.
Meanwhile, nitrogen in shrimp ponds mainly comes from protein ingredients in the feed, whether animal or plantbased sources. The amount of nitrogen in the pond increases if the protein is hard for the shrimp to digest. Liew noted that the level of digestibility is also influenced by some factors like processing conditions, the type of raw material, and the inclusion level.
In the case of nitrogen, Liew suggested using protease enzymes that can break down proteins into amino acids and peptide molecules,
making them easier for the shrimp’s digestive system to process.
“So here, I have a combination of phytase and protease,” she explained, referring to one of dsm-firmenich’s products. “This combination can reduce nitrogen loading compared to negative control (Liew’s research). If you use about 200 grams of phytase and 50 grams of protease per ton of feed, you can achieve a reduction of nearly 19.6% in nitrogen loading in your water.”
Liew concluded that reducing the concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in the pond can rejuvenate it, making the pond’s condition appear fresher than its actual Day of Culture (DOC). Each day during shrimp cultivation, the concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus tend to rise as the farming duration and shrimp biomass increase. By reducing both through the addition of enzymes in the feed, the pond’s condition becomes more youthful, which helps keep it fresher and healthier for the shrimp.
Chiow Yen Liew
THE CRUST - AB
Revolutionizing Water Treatment in Shrimp Farming
“Seawater conditions will continue to get worse, not better.”
Kamaru Budiyanto, Director of Yuki Water Treatment, opened his presentation with this statement at the Shrimp Aquaculture Conference organized by the Indonesian Young Farmers Association (PMI) in Bali, 5-6 June. He explained that several factors contribute to this deterioration.
Firstly, the seas absorb twenty-five percent of anthropogenic carbon emissions, which causes the water to become more acidic. This increased acidity is a significant concern for the shrimp farming and aquaculture sectors, especially in Indonesia. “This will increase your mortality rates because WSSV and other viruses and bacteria will survive longer,” Kamaru explained.
Another factor affecting seawater quality is global warming, which is linked to carbon emissions and raises the temperature. Unfortunately, as seawater gets warmer, it becomes more susceptible to diseases. Additionally, changes in seawa-
ter temperature impact other water parameters such as dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, salinity, and so forth.
This situation increases the workload and costs for shrimp farmers, as extra effort is needed for water treatment. This could potentially make shrimp farming unprofitable in the long term. Additionally, the effectiveness of treatment becomes a challenge when the materials used are no longer suitable for the changing conditions.
He said, “When we use chemical disinfection, we are changing these pathogens to become more resistant in the long run, including HPV (Hepatopancreatic parvovirus) and EMS, which are more resistant.”
Save Money with Proper Water Treatment
In response to this challenge, Kamaru offered the use of UV for disinfection as a solution. He highlighted that switching to UV systems can lead to significant cost savings, as farmers don’t incur recurring expenses per cycle.
“We’ve been installing UV systems for almost forty years in various sectors. Residential, restaurants, cafes, factories, hospitals, and some hotels, and how successful are we? Very!” he claimed.
Some shrimp farmers have already started using UV systems, although there are challenges regarding their effectiveness. One issue is that the raw water often contains many particles due to a lack of pre-filtration before it enters the UV system. A good pre-filtration system is
necessary to ensure that the water entering the UV system is clean enough. “Particles can allow viruses and bacteria to hide and not be exposed to UV light. However, if the system is well-designed and properly sized, it will filter out most particles, leading to effective disinfection,” he emphasized.
Therefore, he advised farmers to use pre-filters that are properly designed and sized to remove particles,
for real-time measurements throughout the cultivation period. It can even detect whether seawater temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen are suitable for shrimp, from eleven at night until three o’clock in the morning.
“All the data collected by this technology is stored in the cloud. Users can access it in the form of graphs anytime and anywhere—whether from their phones, tablets, or laptops,” he explained.
microplastics, and chemical contaminants from the water. Pre-filters do more than just clear the water but also help reduce the chemical load in seawater. Kamaru added that with an effective pre-filtration system and sufficiently clean water, farmers can achieve a 99.9% success rate, as UV technology is a proven solution.
“If you have water quality issues and the pre-filter is not working correctly, the condition of your water will drop. The system can detect it and raise an alarm,” he said.
Smart and Real-time Monitoring
The next solution he promoted is smart water monitoring using artificial intelligence (AI). This system allows
Everything Kamaru offered is a preventive measure to keep water quality optimal for shrimp and to prevent disease spread. “We know seawater is getting worse; it’s inevitable. So take care of your seawater, and it will take care of your shrimp. We can help you with this because we are a solution provider. Many of our customers still use our water treatment equipment today, and we continue to support them with after-sales service. We interact with all our manufacturers based in the US, Canada, and Europe. Imagine how much money you can save. We do things differently. We treat the water,” he concluded.
Kamaru Budianto
All parameter data (temperature, pH, salinity and DO) are collected and store at cloud and made accessible to users via mobile phone, tablet or laptop
GUndergoing Shrimp Renaissance
oing along with the theme of this month – Renaissance, we’re thinking there’s no better way to reflect on the market situation than looking into the European market. With a notable comparison of the US.
The endeavor to effectively accommodate customer requirements was not without its challenges. Though 2024 was predicted as a growth year for the Indonesian shrimp industry, many lacked backup plans. Post-pandemic recovery has been slower than expected, with oversupply, inflation, and declining consumer confidence impacting the market.
In addition, to protect domestic shrimp processors, the US government investigated potential anti-dumping and countervailing practices by exporting countries. As a preliminary determination, Indonesian shrimp exporters face an estimated 6.30% additional duty for warm-water shrimp entering the US. In contrast, Euro Zone countries impose a 4.2% tariff on raw shrimp and 7% on cooked and breaded shrimp. This reduces Indonesia’s competitive edge, as Vietnam and Ecuador have a 0% tariff for raw shrimp entering European markets.
Shrimp commodities to the US and European markets have one main distinction – net weight. The US market prefers 100% net weight products, while the European market prefers glazed products (80-85% net weight). This situation is mainly affected by market confidence and customer preference. The US market is more willing to pay a higher price but expects the full weight of the product. While this sounds advantageous for Indonesia, the US market used to be dominated by shrimp from India and Indonesia. But it was all then disrupted by the flood of Ecuadorian shrimp.
The European market, with lower net weight products, demanded cheap but certified products. Both aspects undoubtedly can be fulfilled by the shrimp producers from Vietnam. Heavy advertisement of the importance of traceable seafood was conducted throughout Europe, starting around 2010 when the first Aquaculture Dialogue standard was designed. And by the end of 2014, the firstever ASCcertified shrimp, from Vietnam (Vina Clean Seafood) and Ecuador (Omarsa), hit the European market. Which then triggered more demand.
An increasing number of shrimp products certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) are now surfacing in Vietnam, a development largely driven by the surging demand for certified seafood in the European market, encompassing fish, shrimp, and various other seafood products. This shift has
received backing from the Vietnamese government. The certification has yielded palpable socio-economic advantages, including heightened prices and enhanced profitability, fostering positive environmental practices and improved working conditions.
In terms of product specifications, the European market has expressed a preference for non-phosphate treatment in shrimp, which differs from the requirements of American buyers. Approximately 90% of the treatments requested by European buyers involve nonphosphate treatments, specifically citric acid. There is a strong aversion to the use of phosphate treatment in this market, as it is prohibited and any residues of P2O5 are not permitted in food products.
Europe’s preference for more glazed products suggests that the EU’s economic prowess is currently trailing behind the US. In the fourth quarter of 2023, the EU’s GDP growth was only at 0.3%, whereas the US experienced a significantly higher growth rate of 2.5%. Furthermore, IMF projections on GDP per capita indicate that the EU still falls short in comparison to the US, with the EU at $58,838.00 and the US at $85,373.00. Additionally, data from the World Bank reveals that the GDP per capita (PPP) for the EU is also lower than the US, with the EU at $60,348.50 and the US at $81,695.20. This detailed comparison underscores the economic disparity between the EU and the US.
In the year 2023, there was a noticeable decline in the demand for shrimp among European consumers. This decline was evident from the reduced sales and increased inventory levels in both retail and restaurant sectors, particularly when compared to the figures from the preceding year. Despite the soft price trends in international trade, the European Union experienced a decrease in shrimp imports during the initial and subsequent quarters of 2023. Specifically, imports into the European Union fell by 11.65% (179,330 metric tons) during the January-March 2023 period compared to the corresponding period in the previous year.
The packaging regulations in the EU are more intricate compared to those in the US, requiring multiple-language labeling and a single-door system. This complexity can create difficulties for suppliers trying to adhere to the rules. In the event of any issues, resolving them immediately may be challenging. As a result, many suppliers, especially in smaller quantity markets, consider the EU’s regulations to be overly burdensome. Despite still needing to comply with FDA guidelines, most find the requirements less complicated to manage.
THE CRUST - MIDA
ARTICLE
At the Shrimp Aquaculture Conference
2024, Keone Dodd, Technical Director at AQ1 Systems, was given the chance to share about the application of technology in shrimp farming. She shared her experience at AQ1 on integrating technology to improve profitability and production. According to her, many farmers are seeking a lower feed conversion ratio (FCR), higher growth, greater biomass, and better survival rates at harvest. To achieve these goals, they have begun adopting automated feeding systems to boost production and growth and reduce costs.
Keone emphasized that technological advancements are essential to remain competitive in a market dominated by low-cost producers. However, it is important to remember that the effectiveness of technological solutions depends on their proper application to each unique farming situation. “Key considerations when adopting new technology. First, site-specific assessment. Second, select-
ing appropriate tools. Third, training and support. Fourth, cost-benefit analysis, and lastly, scalability and flexibility,” Keone said.
Success Stories with Acoustic Feeding Systems
AQ1 introduced an acoustic feeding system based on hydrophones. The hydrophones listen to the sound of the shrimp eating, which is then sent to a controller on the bank, making decisions about how hungry the shrimp are at any given time. The system also has an integrated DO and temperature probe, which can wirelessly control aeration so that it turns on and off automatically.
Based on trials on two farms that have different environments, the system was able to provide good results. The first farm had never used feeding technology before and relied on a blower truck feeder for feeding. The challenges in this trial were extremely low temperatures for shrimp farming, only being able to feed 2-3 times per day due to labor constraints; and the high aeration leading to strong water currents and high background noise.
“So, what we did on this farm was to be able to deliver feed consistently over more hours of the day, we put in two automated feeders around a hydrophone, and we were able to adapt to meet shrimp demand, and the difference was
Understanding Shrimp Needs Through Technology
that we went from feeding 2-3 times a day to 10-12 times an hour, the same amount of feed,” she said, adding that feed was also programmed to meet the best environmental conditions of the day.
As a result, survival rate increased by 30%, FCR reduced by 40%, and harvest biomass increased by 44.3%.
“The key factor is the harvest biomass, as higher yields made the farm much more profitable. Even in challenging environmental conditions, we were able to turn the farm from unprofitable to profitable,” Keone stated.
Meanwhile, the second farm has used acoustic feeding technology for over 7 years and has also focused on improving water quality. They set up two hydrophones with 3 feeders around each. This 10-hectare means greater biomass, higher survival, and increased stocking density. But, feeders have a halo-shaped infill pattern and a 10-12 meter radius. This results in an insufficient feeding area, affecting shrimp competition, causing size-based hierarchies, size disparity, and reduced growth because not all shrimp have simultaneous access to feed.
“With these conditions, we introduced two more hydrophones for accuracy and coverage. So, we now have four feeding zones, each with two feeders around them,” Keone explained. The new feeders
have a greater spread radius (15 meters), which means much better feed delivery to a larger population in the pond. As a result, survival increased by 13.8%, length of cultivation (DOC) reduced by 22.7%, and harvest biomass increased by 10%.
Technology Improves Solutions
Keone emphasized that the challenges of shrimp farming are formidable. It’s not just pond configuration, but thinking about farm operations, feed, environment, and health issues. “As our knowledge of shrimp nutritional requirements grows, the need to understand how best to deliver these nutrients through the application of appropriate technologies also increases. That includes tailoring feeding solutions to meet farm carrying capacity and environmental constraints, and selecting the right technology for individual farm environments,” she said.
The goals are to minimize feed wastage while maximizing shrimp growth, stronger shrimp with better survival and smaller size differences at harvest, and an overall increase in yield and profitability. “So, the essence of both stories is that technology is the solution, but it must be applied effectively, and technology is the key to achieving sustainable and profitable results,” Keone concluded.
Keone Dodd
Sustainable Innovations for Shrimp Aquaculture
One of the most engaging sessions at the Shrimp Aquaculture Conference (SAC) 2024 in Bali was a talk show featuring panelists from various backgrounds. On the first day, the talk show, moderated by Liris Maduningtyas, CEO of JALA, focused on innovations in shrimp farming. The panelists included Krishna R Salin, a scientist from the Asian Institute of Technology and Director of the World Aquaculture Society (WAS) Asia-Pacific Chapter; Rubiyanto Haliman, Head of Research and Development at CP Prima; and Michael Phillips, Co-Founder and Director of Futurefish.
“I think some of the most important innovations have come in genetics and breeding, as you have seen in the morning, in the first presentation (Melony’s presentation). We have innovations that have improved broodstock quality and disease resistance, reducing susceptibility to diseases. Overall, stock quality has improved,” Krishna said when asked what the most important innovations have been so far.
He also emphasized the need to improve the environmental efficiency of shrimp farming. He said that innovations that can enhance water quality are emerging, particularly through better aeration efficiency using nanotechnology and nanobubbles. Effective waste treatment is also crucial, given the increasing awareness of the climate impact associated with industrial shrimp farming.
Rubiyanto also acknowledged the importance of genetics innovation, as these innovations enable shrimp to have multiple advantageous lines tailored to different pond characteristics and needs. “Each of these lines requires
specific environmental conditions and culture systems. This allows farmers to select the best or most suitable broodstock lines or post-larvae (PL) conditions for their farms,” he explained.
Rubiyanto also emphasized the importance of innovations in supporting aspects, such as digital PCR, With its high sensitivity in analysis, digital PCR provides much more accurate and faster results, greatly supporting shrimp health management.
Innovations for People and Planet
In addition to high-tech innovations that drive productivity, Krishna also emphasized the importance of developing more solution-oriented aspects, such as improving farming efficiency to reduce environmental impact. Higher productivity tends to lead to greater environmental impact. He also highlighted the need to provide solutions for small-scale farmers who may not have access to advanced technology. Traditional production systems, especially those integrated with mangroves, tend to be more environmentally friendly and have a lower carbon footprint.
“A few studies of mangrove shrimp farms in Vietnam have shown that the climate impact or carbon footprint is much lower in mangrove-based farming. In contrast, industrialized farming has a significantly higher carbon footprint, which can reach up to about 30 kilograms of carbon dioxide, nearly equivalent to the carbon footprint of beef production or just below it,” he noted. “So right now, the focus is on how to improve smallholder farming systems
or intensify them without causing significant environmental harm. This is the idea I’m currently working on.”
Bringing Practical Future Innovations
Technological advancements are not always practical in the field. According to Michael Phillips, many advanced research developments are often difficult to apply. Therefore, his company is focused on bridging this gap to make these innovations applicable, especially when the research or startups have a significant potential impact on people.
“So the purpose and vision of the company is to bring people together, work with partners, and translate research innovations into practice. Our focus is really on seeking out innovations and collaborating with entrepreneurs and businesses in regions where we can effectively implement these innovations. We are very interested in innovation,” Michael said. “I think Indonesia is a fantastic example, with many innovative startups, and I would love to see that energy spread across the region.”
In the end, as science and technology advance rapidly, some technologies from outside the aquaculture field could potentially solve aquaculture problems. For example, advancements in digital technology, artificial intelligence, and machine learning are already being applied in
shrimp farming. “We are seeing these developments today, and they will continue to evolve,” said Krishna.
Agreeing with this, Rubiyanto mentioned that the development of digital and online platforms, which produce real-time data, will be extremely beneficial for farmers in managing water quality, health, and overall farm management.
Rizky Darmawan, Rubiyanto Haliman, Michael Phillips, Krishna Salin, Liris Maduningtyas
BREAK TIME Rum Revelations
Rum, a distilled alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane byproducts such as molasses or sugarcane juice, boasts a storied past intertwined with adventure, trade, and even rebellion. Its origins date back to the Caribbean in the early 17th century. The first distillation of rum likely took place on the sugarcane plantations of Barbados, where slaves discovered that molasses, a byproduct of sugar refining, could be fermented into alcohol. By the mid-1600s, rum had become a popular drink throughout the Caribbean and the American colonies, with production spreading to islands such as Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Cuba.
Rum played a significant role in the maritime economy, particularly among pirates and sailors. It was part of the daily ration for British Royal Navy sailors, mixed with water and lime juice to prevent scurvy, known as “grog.” Rum also became a key element in
the triangular trade between Europe, Africa, and the Americas, often used to purchase slaves who worked on the sugarcane plantations.
Fun Facts About Rum
Rum and the American Revolution: Rum was so popular in Colonial America that it is said to have played a part in the American Revolution. The British imposed taxes on molasses, leading to the Molasses Act of 1733 and the Sugar Act of 1764, which fueled colonial discontent and contributed to the desire for independence.
Navy Strength Rum: The British Royal Navy issued “Navy Strength” rum, which is 57% alcohol by volume (ABV). This high proof ensured that gunpowder would still ignite even if it were soaked in rum, a practical consideration for naval warfare.
Drink of the Pirates: The image of pirates swigging rum is rooted in reality. Pirates often plundered rum from ships,
and it became a staple of their daily life. The term “rum-running” originates from the prohibition era when smugglers transported illegal rum into the United States.
Rum has distinct characteristics set it apart from other popular spirits. When compared to vodka, rum carries a variety of flavors influenced by the type of sugarcane, the production process, and aging. Vodka is often used as a base in cocktails where the mixer is the primary flavor, whereas rum contributes its own distinct taste to drinks. Whiskey on the other hand, are made from fermented grain mash, has a complex flavor profile influenced by the type of grain and the aging process. Rum, especially dark or aged varieties, can have similarly complex flavors but is generally sweeter due to its sugarcane base. Lastly, tequila, which are made from the blue agave plant, has a unique earthy and sometimes spicy flavor profile. Rum’s versatility allows it
to range from light and sweet to rich and smoky, whereas tequila’s flavor is more consistent due to the agave.
Rum can be enjoyed in various ways, each offering a different experience. When enjoying premium rums, especially aged varieties, you can sip it neat or on the rocks to appreciate their complex flavors. Light rums pair well with mixers like cola, ginger beer, or fruit juices, creating refreshing and accessible drinks. Rum is also a versatile base for numerous classic and modern cocktails such as the Mojito, Daiquiri, Mai Tai, and the Pina Colada.
Rum’s rich history, from its Caribbean origins to its central role in naval traditions and colonial trade, makes it a spirit with a story. Rum also pairs well with the aquaculture scene which is mainly done near the beach and other water sources. So, next time you feel you have a scurvy, take a swig of the ol’ rum medicine and enjoy your time.
Rizky Darmawan more I know, I realize understand. humble on learning.
Gemilang Lim
My secret to joy in life is in finding balance. Balance in family, sweating, and making decisions.
