Asia-Pacific Marine Finfish Aquaculture e-News No. 30 (3/03/2006)

Asia-Pacific Marine Finfish Aquaculture e-News No. 30

Dear Asia-Pacific Marine Finfish Aquaculture Network list,

The purpose of this e-News is to facilitate prompt information dissemination on marine fish aquaculture research and development, complementing the quarterly marine finfish eMagazine. We welcome your contributions on research and development, news items, market developments, upcoming events and others - please send to

Mr Koji Yamamoto; Dr Michael Phillips; and Dr Mike Rimmer
Asia-Pacific Marine Finfish Aquaculture Network
c/o: NACA
P.O. Box 1040, Kasetsart Post Office, Bangkok 10903, Thailand
Tel: 66-2-561 1728 (Ext 120); Fax: 66-2-561 1727
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.enaca.org/marinefish/

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1. Regional grouper training course- The Asia Pacific Marine Finfish Aquaculture Network (APMFAN) is pleased to announce 4th Regional Grouper Hatchery Production Training Course that will be hosted by the Brackishwater Aquaculture Development Center – Situbondo, East Java, Indonesia during September 2006. The 2005 training course was highly successful (report of the training course is available at NACA website, Click Here). The dates for the 2006 training course will be announced soon. A number of scholarships are also available for private sector participants. More information will be posted on the NACA web site and the following issue of this news letter, and interested participants are invited to register their interest by sending an email to [email protected].

2. Regional Mariculture Workshop to be held in China- The regional workshop “The Future of Mariculture: A Regional Approach for Responsible Development of Mariculture in the Asia-Pacific Region” will be held in Guangzhou, China 7-11 March, a collaborative initiative of FAO, NACA and the Chinese Ministry. The workshop brings together expertise from major mariculture producers in the region to establish a collaborative research and development programme for responsible mariculture, in support of d social and economic development, and responsible seafood production in the Region. The papers, including country reviews and thematic analysis of various aspects of mariculture, will be made available on the marine fish web site as available.

3. Ecologically sound farm-cum-resort project in Malaysia- A joint venture between Global Hi-Q Malaysia Sdn Bhd and Hi-Q Bio-Tech International (Taiwan) Ltd is planning to establish 20ha site in Pangkor Island into self-sustaining and ecologically-balanced grouper fry nurseries, shrimp farm, livestock (chicken, duck and goose) and organic vegetable farm. The project is reported to be based on a high-quality, high-value and yet small-yield production concept which could be adapted by local farmers. The planning for the resort is to have a hotel and villas, a forest walking area and a spa and sauna associated with the farm.
Source: New Straits Times Press, Malaysia, (13 Jan 2006)

4. Large scale Asian Seabass farm in Europe- “New Forest Barramundi” farm is located in the UK’s New Forest, just above the south coast near Lymington. The farm is Europe’s largest indoor Barramundi farm, built into a site which was former pizza factory about a year ago. Initially, over 400 tonnes of fish will be grown each year and the first commercial harvests expected in March. Although, fingerlings have come from Australia there are plans to build a hatchery before the end of this year.
Source: Fishupdate (15 Feb 2006). Click Here for the full article

5. EU had Seafood trade deficit of €10 billion in 2004- The EU’s rapidly depleting fisheries stock and reductions in annual catch are driving the EU’s processing sectors to depend more on imported fish and fish products from the third countries.

According to US Department of Agriculture, the EU had a trade deficit of € 10 billion in 2004. 82 % of imports were non-processed fishery products, and large portion of them are processed in UK followed by France, Spain and Germany. Imports from the US continued to grow dramatically in value during 2005, driven by high-value products, including lobster, wild salmon, cod, and scallops.
Source: Productiondaily.com (3 Feb 2006). Click Here for the full article

6. Ornamental fish in Vietnam- According to Deputy Fisheries Minister Nguyen Thi Hong Minh, the export revenue of the ornamental fish industry doubled from US$5 million (2002) to $10 million (2004). Breeding and trading of ornamental fish is popular in HCM City followed by Ha Noi and Hai Phong in the north, Da Nang and Nha Trang in the centre, and Vung Tau in the south. According to Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), the EU is Viet Nam’s biggest importer, accounting for more than half of the country’s total ornamental fish exports. The Fisheries Ministry and HCM city People’s Committee is planning to build a 20-ha ornamental fish propagation centre in Cu Chi District to support further development of the sector in the country.
Source: VNS (8 Feb 2006). Click Here for a full article

7. Offshore farming in Hawaii - Although there is substantial farming especially shellfish and salmon in U.S. mainland coastal waters, Hawaiian entrepreneurs are the first in the country to develop submerged cages to raise fish in deeper offshore waters. These farms grow Pacific threadfin (Polydactylus approximans) and Amberjack (Seriola dumerili) at the locations half to 2 miles offshore of Hawaiian Islands. According to John Corbin, head of the state Department of Agriculture's aquaculture program, the locations are in states waters where the depth of the ocean steeply dropped, unlike normal continental shore line. He emphasized the importance of aquaculture and its further development, especially environmentally sustainable operations, such as offshore farming.
Source: Honolulu Star Bulletin.com (22 Jan 2006). Click Here for a full article.

8. Marine Fish Wholesales in Hong Kong in January, 2006
The following web link provides marine fish wholesale prices in and Hong Kong. For details of average prices visit www.enaca.org/modules/news/index.php?storytopic=14&storynum=10.

Average price of fish in January 2006 (Dec28-Jan24)

9. Upcoming Events in 2006

March
Seafood Mideast Omen 2006, Technical and Trade conference. (5-7 March 2006) Muscat Oman.
http://www.infofish.org

FAO/NACA/China Regional Mariculture Workshop “The future of mariculture: A regional approach for responsible development of mariculture in the Asia-Pacific Region” (6-11 March 2006) Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China PR.

Aquafeed.com Workshop "Optimize for Profit. (8 March 2006) Bangkok, Thailand.
http://www.aquafeed.com

Second workshop: ACIAR Project – Economics and Market Analysis of the Live Reef Fish Food Trade in the Asia Pacific. (14-16 March 2006) Penang, Malaysia.

Aquaculture Today 2006. (28-30 March 2006) Edinburgh, UK.
http://www.easonline.org/agenda/en/description.asp?id=365

April
Norway Fish & Aqua International, International fisheries and aquaculture fair. (20-22 April 2006) Bergen, Norway
http://www.norwayfish-aqua.com/

May
International conference on Coastal Oceanography & Sustainable Marine Aquaculture - Confluence & Synergy. (2-4 May 2006) Sabah, Malaysia. http://www.ums.edu.my/ipmb/iccosma/

AQUA 2006 -Linking tradition & technology, Highest quality for the consumer- (9-13 May 2006) Florence, Italy.
http://www.was.org/meetings/ConferenceInfo2.asp?MeetingCode=AQUA2006

Tuna 2006 Bangkok, 9th INFOFISH World Tuna Trade Conference & Exhibition. (25-27 May 2006) Bangkok, Thailand
http://www.easonline.org/agenda/en/description.asp?id=366

XII International Symposium on Fish Nutrition and Feeding (XII ISFNF 2006), (28 May – 1 June 2006) Biarritz, France
http://www.st-pee.inra.fr/btz0

July
The 2^nd International Symposium on Cage Aquaculture in Asia (CAA2) (3-8 July 2006) Zhejiang University, China.
http://library.enaca.org/PDF/Flyer_CAA2_email_version.pdf

30th Larval Fish Conference (12 -17 July 2006) New Orleans, Louisiana , USA
http://www.larvalfishcon.org/Conf_home.asp?ConferenceCode=30th

August
Australasian Aquaculture Conference 2006 (27–30 August 2006) Adelaide, Australia.
http://www.australian-aquacultureportal.com/austaqua/aa06.html

September
The Third International Stock Enhancement and Sea Ranching Symposium (18-21 September 2006) Seattle, USA
http://www.searanching.org

(* To Add event to our newsletter, contact [email protected])

10. Recent publications

i) Books and Articles

- Aquaculture Biosecurity: Prevention, Control and Eradication of Aquatic Animal Disease
Edited by: David Scarfe, Cheng-Sheng Lee, and Patricia O'Bryen. December 2005.
Aquaculture biosecurity programs addressing aquatic animal pathogens and diseases have become an important focus for the aquaculture industry. Disease outbreaks have threatened profitable and viable aquaculture operations throughout the world.
Information exchange between leading experts in different countries will increase success in combating infectious diseases.

Key representatives of international, regional and national organizations have presented their views of this important issue as part of a workshop at the World Aquaculture Society Triennial Conference 2004. The chapters of this book cover the wealth of experience from the varied perspectives of these experts on using biosecurity measures to take the offensive against the spread of diseases and parasites.

- Aquaculture in the 21st Century
Edited by: Anita Kelly and Jeffrey Silverstein
More description at http://64.224.98.53/publications/catbooks/x54046.shtml

- The gastrointestinal microflora structure in the marine finfish,
Zhou Zhi-gang, Bin Yao, Su Yong-quan, Wang Zhengnan.
Full article available at http://library.enaca.org/Grouper/Publications/MicrofloraStructure_MarineFinfish_Zhou.pdf

- Introduction to monitoring of spawning aggregations of three grouper species from the Indo-Pacific. A manual for field practitioners.
Pet J.S., Mous P.J., Rhodes K. & Green A. 2006.
Publication from The Nature Conservancy Coral Triangle Center, Sanur, Bali, Indonesia. 98 p.
Available at www.coraltrianglecenter.org

ii) Abstracts on Finfish Health Management from WAS Bali: A selection of abstracts related to marine finfish aquaculture from World Aquaculture 2005, Bali, Indonesia (www.was.org). This issue will include selections of abstracts presented on Finfish Health Management Session. To access the full list of abstracts for this session visit http://www.was.org/Meetings/SessionAbstracts.asp?MeetingCode=WA2005&Session=55

- Disease and vaccination strategies in Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer)
C. Komar, L. Grisez, A. Michel, L. Labrie, E. Ho, B. Wahjudi and Z. Tan
Asian sea bass is a traditionally farmed species in South East Asia. With the prospect of a more global market, intensive farming techniques are being developed to improve production of this species. Supply of is now available throughout the year. However, mortality due to infectious diseases is still a limiting factor for the expansion of this industry. Over the past 4 years, we have identified several major diseases (bacterial, viral and parasitic) involved in serious mortality outbreaks occurring under farm conditions within the S. E. Asian region. During the hatchery and nursery phases, two major viral diseases are identified. Viral nervous necrosis (Nodavirus) is encountered in fry as young as 10 days old causing mortality up to 100%. From 25 days of age onwards, a new bacterial species responsible for acute mortality associated with severe clumping of internal organs, abdominal distension and muscular atrophy has been diagnosed. Subsequently, an iridovirus infection (previously never described in this species) responsible for an acute hemorrhagic syndrome has been identified as small as 1 g. Associated mortality can reach 90%. In addition, Tenacibaculum maritimum can induce severe skin lesions in after handling and/or stocking. Mortality can reach 30% in from 1 to 100 g. During the month of cage farming, Asian sea bass are most susceptible to monogenean parasites such as Neobenedenia spp. Streptococcus iniae is a major cause of mortality during the grow-out phase, right up to market size. Associated cumulative mortality can vary from 30 to 80% and the acuteness of the onset makes antibiotic treatment ineffective. Vaccination is an important preventive strategy for the control of infectious diseases. A Streptococcus vaccine has been developed and data will be presented.

- Bioimarkers as diagnostic tools for evaluating the effects of stress in aquacultured fish
Ahmed Mustafa
The development of sensitive and rapid biomarkers to identify stressful conditions in animal husbandry has been the goal of numerous studies. The overall effect of stress beyond the normal homeostatic state presents a threat to the s health. These stress induced changes include metabolic, hematological, hydromineral, structural, and whole animal responses. Many of these responses can be used as quantitative indicators of stress. Currently, the expression of stress proteins has also been considered as a possible candidate as a stress indicator beside other parameters. The cellular stress response protects organisms from damage resulting from exposure to a wide variety of stressors, including temperature change. The stress response entails the rapid synthesis of a set of proteins referred to as stress proteins, or heat-shock proteins, upon exposure to adverse environmental conditions. These proteins are highly conserved and have been found in organisms as diverse as bacteria, molluscs, and humans. In this research, we will examine the stress response in aquatic organisms, namely farmed from an environmental perspective. We have examined all these indicators as well as the cellular functions of stress proteins within the context of their role in repair and protection from environmentally induced damage, acquired tolerance, and environmental adaptation. In this paper we will discuss all these parameters and show their correlations. This paper will make important contributions to environmental physiology and farming of aquatic organisms.

- Effect of some indigenous herbs in curing the disease of fish
A. N. Hasna Banu
Study and use of herbal medicines have gained special attention to researchers and growers as they are non-toxic, non-mutagenic, eco-friendly and are readily available in the country. Many people are interested in the use of herbal treatments to replace expensive and environmental harmful chemotherapeutants. Herbs are used to prevent and treat bacterial and fungal diseases of fish. Many kinds of herbal medicines have been used in different countries of the world to control diseases and have achieved satisfactory results. The present study was designed due to the high cost of chemicals by replacing cheaper substitute with indigenous herbal medicine to reduce the cost of cultivation. The effect of the indigenous plant products on the mortality rate and curing from diseases were investigated in the laboratory and under farmer’s pond conditions. Prior to treatment clinical external sings and diagnosis of disease were considered. The present investigation the Neem (Azadirachta indica), Garlic (Allium sativum) and Bishkatali (Polygonum hydropiper) samples were used against diseases of fish. The results of the study indicate a good possibility of using herbal medicine in aquatic disease management without environmental pollution.

iii). Aquaculture, Volume , Issue , 2-4 (10 March 2006) - In this issue several articles which may be of interest and abstracts are provided. To access to other abstracts visit the website: www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00448486

- High rate algal pond treatment for water reuse in a marine fish recirculation system: Water purification and fish health
E. Metaxa, G. Deviller, P. Pagand, C. Alliaume, C. Casellas and J.P. Blancheton, Pages 557-565
Regardless of the degree of closure of a recirculation system, effluents are produced and replacement water is needed, which limits the possibility of locating a seawater production system away from the shoreline. At the Palavas Ifremer station, in the south of France, a High Rate Algal Pond (HRAP) was operated during several years to treat the effluent from a recirculating aquaculture system before reusing it. The effect of the HRAP-treated water on the recirculation system and on the fish was investigated and the optimal algae growing conditions were defined. The experiments were carried out in three rearing systems: one flow through, one recirculating and one recirculating with a HRAP. The water flow rate, temperature, pH and salinity conditions were similar in all systems.
The effect of reusing the HRAP-treated water is very limited (1) on the functioning of the recirculation system and (2) on fish performance, but it allows a significant reduction of the dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus concentration in the rearing water. HRAP treatment reduced metal accumulation in muscle and liver of RAS fish, except for chromium and arsenic. All biomarkers presented no significant difference between systems, except for Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and EROD, which showed a higher concentration in RAS and in both recirculating system respectively.

iv)Aquaculture, Volume 251, Issues 2-4 (28 February 2006)

- Effects of dietary calcium, phosphorus and calcium / phosphorus ratio on the growth and tissue mineralization of Litopenaeus vannamei reared in low-salinity water

Kai-min Cheng, Chao-qun Hu, Yan-ni Liu, Shi-xuan Zheng and Xue-juan Qi, Pages 472-483
An 8-week feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate the response of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei to dietary calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and their interaction between Ca and P in low-salinity water of 2‰. Fifteen isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets, containing five graded levels of total P (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5% and 2%) for each of three levels of Ca (0%, 1% and 2%), were fed to juvenile L. vannamei. Prior to the experiment, the postlarvae were gradually acclimated to low salinity and fed a basal diet (0.5% total Ca and 0.5% total P) for 2 weeks. After 8 weeks, survival, hepatopancreas alkaline phosphatase and protein content of muscle were significantly affected by dietary P levels (P < 0.05). The weight gain (WG), ranging from 505.44% to 1187.72%, was significantly affected by dietary Ca, P and the interaction between Ca and P (P < 0.05). In the absence of supplemental Ca, diets containing 0.77% estimated available phosphorus (EAP) (0.93% total P) were adequate for optimal growth. In the presence of 1% supplemental Ca, shrimp fed diets containing 1.22% EAP (2% total P) had better growth performance. The response to dietary P supplementation was dependent on dietary Ca level. Supplementation of 2% Ca to the basal diets yielded a significant reduction in growth, indicating that dietary Ca should be reduced to minimize dietary P supplementation. The Ca, P, magnesium, zinc and manganese content in tissues responded to dietary treatment. However, there was no clear relationship between growth and tissue mineralization.

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