Fish biomass in the ocean may be 10 times higher than estimated: Stock of mesopelagic fish changes from 1,000 to 10,000 million tons -- ScienceDaily. With a stock estimated at 1,000 million tons so far, mesopelagic fish dominate the total biomass of fish in the ocean. However, a team of researchers with the participation of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) has found that their abundance could be at least 10 times higher. The results, published in Nature Communications journal, are based on the acoustic observations conducted during the circumnavigation of the Malaspina Expedition.
Mesopelagic fishes, such as lantern fishes (Myctophidae) and cyclothonids (Gonostomatidae), live in the twilight zone of the ocean, between 200 and 1,000 meters deep. They are the most numerous vertebrates of the biosphere, but also the great unknowns of the open ocean, since there are gaps in the knowledge of their biology, ecology, adaptation and global biomass. Duarte states: "Malaspina has provided us the unique opportunity to assess the stock of mesopelagic fish in the ocean. Transport of organic carbon. 10/02/14: Fish traps seen from space.
Opening of Nofima bioprocessing plant. The facility at Kaldfjorden in Troms County will offer high technology companies, universities and university colleges competence and production equipment to help them transfer good research results from the laboratories into commercial production. “This industry produces special products from new marine raw materials and from raw materials that we have not previously managed to utilize.
The potential is huge. Scientists estimate that it’s possible to increase the current market value from NOK 5 billion to NOK 70 billion by 2050. Achieving this requires major investments in research and competence,” said Berg-Hansen. In practice the facility is a mini factory covering an area of around 1000 m² where high technology companies may receive help to transfer good research results from the laboratories and produce advanced products on an even larger scale. The food research institute Nofima is responsible for the establishment and operation of the mini factory. 30/08/13: Reaction to Gray Aquaculture's bankruptcy protection; Nova Scotia cash for fish processing plant; aquaculture in Florida.
Gray Aquaculture filing for bankruptcy protection is indicative of a slight downturn in the industry says the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association, (NAIA). Head of the association, Cyr Couturier, predicts a downturn in the overall output of farmed salmon this year and next. Gray Aquaculture currently produces 10-15 percent of the province's overall salmon output. Despite this, Couturier says he's confident the overall industry will remain strong in the province. Fish processing business, Wave Seafoods Inc. is to receive CA$500,000 from the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The ten-year loan will be help the business restructure to help ensure long-tern sustainability. The family-owned business employs almost 70 full- and part-time staff.
The aquaculture industry in Florida, USA has grown to $69 million a year according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Florida and Florida Agricultural Statistics Services. 29/08/13: Delaware shellfish aquaculture bill signed; Gray Aquaculture files for bankruptcy protection; ocean acidification can affect microbes. Delaware, USA became the final east coast state to have a shellfish aquaculture industry after an aquaculture bill was passed on August 28, 2013. It's hoped the new shellfish aquaculture industry will provide economic benefits and improve water quality in the state's inland bays.
Canada salmon company, Gray Aquaculture has filed for bankruptcy protection days after the Supreme Court ordered the company to pay a $650,000 outstanding bill for feed. The protection gives the company 30 days to restructure its finances. Gray Aquaculture suffered from three outbreaks of ISA over the last year which cost the company greatly. At present the company represents 10-15 percent of aquaculture production in Newfoundland. Ocean acidification can affect microbes according to research conducted at the University of Western Australia. "There has been very little work done so far on the microbial responses to ocean acidification in the benthic (sea floor) zone," said lead author Dr Bonnie Laverock. Sodexo to bring ASC logo to its hundreds of thousands of consumers. Sodexo Netherlands became the Aquaculture Stewardship Council's (ASC) 100th logo licence holder in July, bringing ASC certified fish to hundreds of thousands of people.
With its Better Tomorrow Plan, Sodexo commits to source sustainable fish and seafood in all the countries where it operates by 2015. Once Sodexo Netherlands obtains ASC chain of custody certification, it will be the first contract caterer eligible to use the ASC logo. Sodexo will then be able to display the ASC logo on pangasius supplied by ATL seafood, further demonstrating its commitment to environmental and social responsibility. Chris Ninnes, chief executive, ASC said, “Sodexo’s commitment to sustainability is laudable and the incentives that it provides for further changes in the seafood sector are significant. As a leading food service provider, serving hundreds of thousands of consumers daily, it will be rewarding well managed farms and help transform the aquaculture industry towards sustainability.”
Zheng Chang. 28/08/13: Salmon special - Farmed salmon makes 'eco-friendly list'; reducing interbreeding; salmon scholarships in NZ. Farmed salmon has been given 'eco-friendly' credentials by an aquarium labeling scheme the for the first time. Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch programme which gives fish a red, yellow or green label according to the their sustainability and environmental impact, has added Verlasso farmed salmon from Chile to its yellow list. This means Verlasso salmon is deemed a 'good alternative' to green listed fish which are the 'best choice'.Read more... Interbreeding between farmed and wild salmon is an ongoing problem but a solution may be in sight thanks to research in Norway. Part funded by the Research Council of Norway, six aquaculture companies are working together to raise one million sterile salmon.
The salmon have been bred to using non-GM techniques to have a genetic condition called triploid. Triploid salmon have an extra set of chromosomes from their mother which makes them sterile. The condition can be produced by exposing salmon eggs to high pressure.