<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Aquaculture Pro - 'THE' site for aquaculture professionals]]></title><description><![CDATA[Articles]]></description><link>http://www.aquaculturepro.com/</link><copyright><![CDATA[Copyright Aquaculture Pro - 'THE' site for aquaculture professionals]]></copyright><generator>sNews CMS</generator><item><title><![CDATA[Deep sea fish farming going well for Singapore]]></title><description><![CDATA[  Deep sea farming is helping Singapore meet its supply needs. And the republic's clean and sheltered waters are apparently a factor for the success of Barramundi Asia, Singapore's biggest commercial fish farm.  
  Located off Pulau Semakau, the farm about a half-an-hour's boat ride from the city, enjoyed its first harvest last October.  
  It now produces 500 tonnes of barramundi, also known as Asian sea bass, a year.  
  Mr Joep Kleine Staarman, managing director of Barramundi Asia, said: &quot;Fish farming in South-east Asia is mainly done in Indonesia and Malaysia. But Singapore actually has very good water quality. Having a fish farm so close to Singapore brings the fish very fresh to the market.&quot;  
  And with help from Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority or AVA, Barramundi Asia aims to boost its output to 2,000 tonnes of fish by 2012 or 2013.  
  Ultimately it aims to provide more than 80 per cent of the fish consumed here, and efforts in that direction include the 100-plus licensed floating fish farms in Singapore's coastal waters.  
  AVA chief executive Tan Poh Heng said a selective breeding programme was started here about five years ago. &quot;We look for the best breeds, the blue stocks, and these are able to grow much faster by 15 per cent, even up to 30 per cent,&quot; he said, adding: &quot;When you can grow faster, you can have better productivity.&quot;  
  Currently, Singapore gets most of its fish from neighbouring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia.   
]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 08 Jul 2010 01:40:00 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.aquaculturepro.com/asia/deep-sea-fish-farming-going-well-for-singapore-972010/</link><guid>http://www.aquaculturepro.com/asia/deep-sea-fish-farming-going-well-for-singapore-972010/</guid><author>Thu, 08 Jul 2010 01:40:00 +0000</author><comment></comment></item><item><title><![CDATA[FAO Donates US$28,873 Worth of Fish Feed]]></title><description><![CDATA[  In an effort to ensure that the aquaculture sub sector of the Fisheries industry in Sierra Leone realize its potential  the  Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, FAO has donated a large consignment of Fish Feed worth over US $ 28,000 to Fish Farmers from various parts of the country.  
  The programme which was organised in partnership with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources attracted a good number of fish farmers from the North, South and Western regions of the country.  
  Giving her keynote address at the ceremony that  was held at the Ministry of Fisheries Boat yard, Kissy Dock yard, the Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Haja Jeneh Kandeh said there is currently heavy pressure on the harvesting of fisheries resources through illegal fishing practices leading to a global decline in fish stocks.  
  This situation, she said has prompted Government to seriously focus on aquaculture to ensure food security, job creation and export earnings. Haja Kandeh lamented that the sub sector is underdeveloped despite its immense potential and efforts in the past to stimulate its growth.  
  “It’s against this background and in line with President Koroma’s Agenda for Change that the Ministry in collaboration with FAO is giving free feed to fish farmers in the country” she added.  
  The Deputy Minster thanked FAO for providing support to fish farmers through the Technical Cooperation Programme and providing funds to develop the “Strategic Framework for Sustainable Aquaculture development in Sierra Leone.  
  The Acting Deputy Director of Fisheries, Alpha Bangura said they  started fish farming by using rice bran and termites and have not been able to expand aquaculture over  the years due to lack of technology and materials needed to compose formidable feed that helps fish to grow.  
  He admonished farmers to engage in activities that would ensure sustainable development of the occupation.  
  The donation he said was the beginning of accessing quality fish feed by farmers and hoped their ponds would grow from subsistence farming to semi commercial ponds.  
  Giving an overview of aquaculture in Sierra Leone, the National Coordinator, and Aquaculture Karmour Dabo said fish farming started 30 years ago with the establishment of two fish farming stations at Makali and Bo and lamented that the practice is still at the rudimentary stage even though there are 1,500 fishing ponds in the country.  
  He encouraged the beneficiaries to monitor the use of the feed and impart results obtained to their colleagues.  
  A representative of the Fish farmers Hassan Gbessay Kanu appealed for technical assistance to increase their capacities and pledged their desire to help Government in providing fish in the Market as well as employment  
  A representative from the FAO office in Sierra Leone, Enitor Briggs, said the donation was a small component of the organisation’s Technical Cooperation Project that catered for fish farmers in the country.  
  She pledged her organisation’s willingness to people who are willing to promote Fisheries and Agricultural activities in the country. Miss Briggs appealed to all to give fish farming their best, describing the practice as easiest and cheapest way getting fish.  
]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 08 Jul 2010 01:31:00 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.aquaculturepro.com/africa/fao-donates-us28873-worth-of-fish-feed-972010/</link><guid>http://www.aquaculturepro.com/africa/fao-donates-us28873-worth-of-fish-feed-972010/</guid><author>Thu, 08 Jul 2010 01:31:00 +0000</author><comment></comment></item><item><title><![CDATA[Pig manure feeding fish]]></title><description><![CDATA[  South Australian biotechnologist Andrew Ward is breaking down the waste to create methane, irrigation water and nutrients to feed water fleas, which can become fish meal.  
  Dr Ward says there is big potential for other animal waste too.  
  He says it is based on methods already used in many Asian countries.  
  &quot;Basically reproducing what happens in nature. First you grow the algae, then you feed it to the zooplankton and then to the fish - very much like what happens out [in the] natural environment,&quot; he said.  
  &quot;We just pick the things that are most productive and maximise the productivity of them to make it commercially viable.&quot;  
  Dr Ward says fish food created from the waste of land animals could help reduce the environmental impact of aquaculture.  
  &quot;A lot of the fish meal currently is coming from wild-caught fish stocks so with an ever-increasing demand in seafood and less wild fish out there, aquaculture has to fill this role,&quot; he said.  
  &quot;Now if we're actually catching wild fish to produce this fish feed then we're not really getting there.&quot;  
]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:01:00 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.aquaculturepro.com/Oceania/pig-manure-feeding-fish-972010/</link><guid>http://www.aquaculturepro.com/Oceania/pig-manure-feeding-fish-972010/</guid><author>Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:01:00 +0000</author><comment></comment></item><item><title><![CDATA[FHS gets grant for aquaculture]]></title><description><![CDATA[  Florala High School's successful aquaculture program will benefit from a $16,000 state Community Services Grant announced today by Speaker of the House Seth Hammett and state Sen. Jimmy Holley. The money will help the school purchase and install equipment for the program's teaching facility and to purchase a wind turbine to produce electricity for the building.  
  &quot;Florala's aquaculture program is an outstanding example of a school that contributes to the local community,&quot; said Hammett. &quot;The program's hands-on experience pays off for students once they graduate and local residents benefit now by receiving fish raised through the program. This grant will help ensure the program has the tools it needs to help students and the community.&quot;  
  &quot;Florala High School has done an excellent job of developing a curriculum that serves both its students and the community,&quot; Holley said. &quot;These Community Services Grants are aimed at helping schools but, like with Florala High School, they often benefit the local residents as well.&quot;  
  Principal Donny Powell thanked Hammett and Holley for their support of the program. &quot;Our goal is for Florala High School to be the best in their district,&quot; said Powell. &quot;We appreciate their helping us achieve our goal.&quot;  
]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 07 Jul 2010 01:25:00 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.aquaculturepro.com/north_america/fhs-gets-grant-for-aquaculture-972010/</link><guid>http://www.aquaculturepro.com/north_america/fhs-gets-grant-for-aquaculture-972010/</guid><author>Wed, 07 Jul 2010 01:25:00 +0000</author><comment></comment></item><item><title><![CDATA[Norway&#039;s ambassador calls for transparency in salmon farming]]></title><description><![CDATA[  Don't call her &quot;your honour,&quot; &quot;your excellency&quot; or &quot;your worship.&quot; Just &quot;ambassador&quot; will do for Else Berit Eikeland, Norway's representative in Canada, who was in Campbell River last week to get a look at the aquaculture industry.  
  New to the position ,  Eikeland said she came to B.C. to learn more about fish farming. She toured the operations of the three Canadian companies with Norwegian parents –  Marine Harvest, Mainstream Canada and Grieg Seafood.  
  &quot;It is very interesting to me to see areas where there are major Norwegian investments,&quot; she said.  
  Speaking with the media before a reception for industry representatives and politicians last Wednesday evening, the ambassador talked briefly about her background.  
  She grew up in a small coastal village to working-class parents. And she takes a working-class, common-sense approach to politics and the fish farming industry, which should stick to the facts, she said.  
  &quot;Transparency, openness and research –  that's really the key factors for the industry,&quot; she said.  
  The industry is moving in the right direction, with more companies making sea lice sampling data available online for the public to see, she said. And companies need to spend time on research, too, she added, focusing on facts and avoiding emotional and opinion-fueled debate.  
  Although she's new to the job, Eikeland has familiarized herself with the issues facing the B.C. fish farming industry. She offered some insights during her interview:  
  Regulations  
  &quot;In Norway, there are many more fish farms, and they're mostly located in the fjords all along the coast. But the basic technology is the same. It's a little bit different when it comes to the venues. And the regulations in Norway and Canada are more or less the same – strict regulations and control.  
  Environment  
  Eikeland believes the market is growing for farmed salmon in the U.S. and Europe because people are concerned about the environmental effects of farming practices.  
  &quot;People are much more concerned about what they eat, and also more concerned about environmental issues,&quot; she said. &quot;It's much better when it comes to CO2 to eat farmed fish compared to eating farmed pigs, or beef.&quot;  
  Sea lice  
  &quot;It's easier to tackle the problem in B.C. because the Atlantic salmon and the local salmon, they don't mingle the same way,&quot; she said. &quot;But Norway has the world's third-largest Atlantic salmon (population) and it's a concern always to control sea lice.&quot;  
  Eikeland said Norway's problem is farmed Atlantics interacting with wild Atlantics. In B.C., she said, farmed Atlantic salmon don't mingle well with wild Pacific salmon.  
  Closed-containment  
  I don't know if it's ever going to happen. It's probably technically possible, but it's not economically feasible. There have been experiments in Norway, but it's not possible.  
  &quot;The investments are very high, the use of energy and water would be much higher, but the industry is improving all the time, getting more efficient, so the future will tell if closed-containment is an answer. Everything is possible…but the investments would be a lot.&quot;  
  &quot;But the next question is, if it's going to be closed containment, will the industry stay here, or will the industry move closer to markets?&quot;  
]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jul 2010 01:41:00 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.aquaculturepro.com/north_america/norways-ambassador-calls-for-transparency-in-salmon-farming-972010/</link><guid>http://www.aquaculturepro.com/north_america/norways-ambassador-calls-for-transparency-in-salmon-farming-972010/</guid><author>Tue, 06 Jul 2010 01:41:00 +0000</author><comment></comment></item></channel></rss>