Responsibility

Total alkalinity is an important variable in water for aquaculture systems, and its concentration frequently fluctuates over time in many culture systems. 

The red emperor snapper, known as “pouatte” in New Caledonia, is valuable throughout its broad geographic range and a highly valued food fish locally. Declining wild catches and market demand have provided the incentive to carry out technical feasibility studies to determine its commercial aquaculture potential. 

Keep adequate concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the culture water by balancing stocking and feeding rates with the amount of mechanical aeration applied. To prevent anaerobic conditions at the sediment-water interface, aerators should be positioned to promote the flow of oxygenated water across the pond bottom. 

In the first part of a series on genetically modified foods, independent advisor Scott Nichols discusses the simplistic decision behind product labels and the more complex question of what could and should be the outcomes of its use. 

Global, sustainable mariculture production, developed on a massive, sustainable scale and using just a small fraction of the world’s oceanic areas, could eventually match the output of land-based agriculture production. Scale and international law considerations require the involvement of many stakeholders, including national governments and international organizations. 

Food security is a priority in India, and there is huge potential for the expanded culture of non-native fish species. While many farmers have improved their socio-economic conditions through farming non-native fish species, their spread into open water resources presents a threat to biodiversity. 

The nonprofit organization established by the leaders of the Global Aquaculture Alliance is answering the growing need for targeted aquaculture training. Its newly unveiled global online education platform will enable the further development of a sustainable global aquaculture industry. 

Liming is an important management tool for preparing aquaculture ponds between and during production cycles. Several products are sometimes used in aquaculture for liming production ponds, including agricultural limestone, calcium silicate (CaSiO3) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3). 

The Lower Hudson Estuary and Chesapeake Bay, two waterways once home to thriving oyster beds, would welcome the shellfish’s return. Aquaculture initiatives in both areas aim to reinvigorate the water and the communities they support. 

Certification programs presently are the best tool to assure that aquaculture products are responsibly produced. But these programs can be burdened by many superfluous requirements and their simplification by focusing primarily on the major issues would be a great improvement. 

Marine gastropod molluscs known as sea hares are relatively unknown animals that have significant importance in biomedical research due to their particular nervous system. And because of their ability to consume large amounts of algae, they can be very useful in clearwater, marine aquaculture systems. 

A new breeding program for genetic improvement of red tilapia was established at the Fish Research Center (FRC), Suez Canal University, in Ismailia, Egypt. It aims to improve the growth rate of the fish and to provide significant benefits to tilapia farmers. 

Six of the world’s leading shrimp producers are in need of aquaculture improvement projects and zone-management strategies that address pressing sustainability concerns, a leading seafood NGO has determined. 

Shrimp farmers can look to the chicken-farming industry for guidance on proper pond management. At the Nicovita Symposium in Ecuador, Dr. Dean Akiyama of Charoen Pokphand encouraged shrimp producers to overcome challenges at hatchery level. 

Proper monitoring of water quality in aquaculture production systems is critical to enable appropriate and timely management decisions. It requires reliable equipment, trained technicians that follow instructions and apply quality control measures, proper reagents and calibrated equipment, and appropriately collected water samples that are promptly analyzed.