Ganix Breaks Ground on Intensive, Indoor Shrimp Farm in Michigan

On August 28, 2008, I chatted with Scott McManus, Chief Executive Officer of Ganix Bio-Technologies, LLC.

Shrimp News: Hi Scott, I’ve heard a couple of rumors about Ganix, and I thought I’d better check them out with you.  I heard that you were building a shrimp farm in Michigan.  Any truth to that?

Scott McManus: Yes, that’s accurate, we’re in the process of building a 50,000-square-foot facility that will produce between 750,000 and a 1,000,000 pounds of shrimp a year.  We’re planning to complete that facility in the first quarter of 2009.

Shrimp News: Where will the farm be located?

Scott McManus: Near Grand Rapids, Michigan, midway between Detroit and Chicago.

Shrimp News: I assume that it will be an indoor farm.  Will it be enclosed in a greenhouse or in a hard-shelled building?

Scott McManus: Neither, we’re using “Cover All”, a fabric that covers a steel framework.  It’s used all over the world to make buildings.  It’s a skin you that put over a framework.  It creates a warm building that can be heated efficiently.  In fact, the manufacturer is in Saskatchewan, Canada, and they know cold up there.

Shrimp News: I also heard that you started a project in Texas.

Scott McManus: That’s not accurate.  We don’t have anything going in Texas.  We’ve kicked around some dirt in Texas, but no deals have been signed.

Shrimp News: You have another project in Pahrump, Nevada.  What’s the status of that project?

Scott McManus: We’re still moving ahead with that project.  We have not started construction yet, but anticipate starting construction before the end of the year.

Information: Scott McManus, Chief Executive Officer, Ganix Bio-Technologies, LLC., 5275 South Durango Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89113, USA (phone 702-304-2649, fax 702-384-2650, email scottm@ganix.net, webpage http://www.ganix.net).

Source: Scott McManus, telephone interview by Bob Rosenberry, Shrimp News International.  August 28, 2008.

Country Reports

Australia

Probiotics for Farmed Lobsters

Researchers at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) are hoping to make rock lobster (Panulirus ornatus) farming profitable.  Dr. Lone Høj, a microbial ecologist, and her colleagues may have discovered how wild lobster larvae resist diseases that have plagued farmed lobsters.  The key appears to the beneficial bacteria that occur on wild larvae, but not on laboratory larvae, because the lab animals are not exposed to the complex ecology of the ocean environment.

Following several field trips to capture tiny, translucent rock lobster larvae from the Coral Sea (off the northeast coast of Australia), Dr Høj compared the natural microbial communities that live on the wild larvae with the microbes present in experimental animals.  She found that wild rock lobster larvae do not have the filamentous bacteria found on farmed animals.  Instead, they have small quantities of other bacteria that appear to be good candidates for probiotics on lobster farms.  “Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that you introduce to the aquaculture system to gain an advantage,” Dr. Høj said.  “For example, they might compete with or inhibit the growth of pathogens and thereby promote the growth and survival of the aquaculture target species.”

Information: Dr. Lone Høj (phone 07-4753-4364, email l.hoj@aims.gov.au).

Source: AIMS Media Releases.  Harnessing good bacteria to move rock lobster aquaculture forward.  Wendy Ellery, Media Liaison, Australian Institute of Marine Science (phone 07-4753-4409, email w.ellery@aims.gov.au).  August 18, 2008.

Australia

Queensland—Funding for Penaeus monodon Research

The state of Queensland has promised a $428,608 grant to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) to advance giant tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) farming in Queensland.

Source: ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).  Tropical North.  August 22, 2008.

Australia

Queensland—Genetically Improved Penaeus monodon to Double Production in Three Years

Desley Boyle, Queensland’s Minister for Regional Development and Industry, said, “Using advanced genetic technologies, scientists from the CSIRO Food Futures National Flagship have been able to selectively breed fast-growing, high-health shrimp, in close collaboration with Gold Coast Marine Aquaculture, one of Queensland’s leading shrimp farming companies.”

“These shrimp possess all the genetic markers for success in terms of size, taste and the ability to thrive, and they take the guesswork out of it for farmers who currently rely on the unpredictability of wild stocks.  It’s also a sustainability win with farmers having to rely less on trawling to replenish their stocks throughout the year and greatly lessens the impact of farming on marine ecosystems.”

“In recent times there has been a strong decline in the production of large farmed shrimp, particularly giant tiger shrimp, as well as a decline of natural stocks in the South East Asian region,” she said.  “Increasing farm yields for Queensland farmers will give them a real market advantage and boost the State’s aquaculture industry.”

The funding will enable CSIRO to expand its work with Gold Coast Marine Aquaculture to include additional farms and hatcheries, like Seafarm in Cardwell and Mossman, and Australian Prawn Farms near Sarina.

Project leader Dr. Nigel Preston of the CSIRO Food Futures National Flagship welcomed the support from Queensland.  He said, “Our work to date gives me confidence to predict that we can help shrimp farmers double their yields in three generations (three years).”

In 2008, Nick Moore, general manager of Gold Coast Marine Aquaculture, with a production capacity of more than 400 tons of shrimp annually, stocked 30% domesticated seedstock; in 2009, he hopes to increase that to 60%.

Source: BYM Marine Environment News.  Australia: Queensland Giant tiger prawns set to take over the world with Government support.  August 21, 2008.

Bangladesh

“National Guidelines on Shrimp” within Three Months

On August 21, 2008, Manik Lal Samaddar, Special Assistant for Fisheries and Livestock, said that national guidelines on shrimp would be finalized within three months.  A draft copy has already been distributed to other ministries and departments for their comments.  Manik Lal Samaddar said the present caretaker government would finalize the guidelines.

The government has upgraded some shrimp processing plants, and all shrimp exports are tested at laboratories in Chittagong, Khulna or Dhaka.

Source: Yahoo.news.  Bangladesh to Finalise Guidelines on Shrimps in 3 Months.  August 22, 2008.

Bangladesh

A Draft of the “National Shrimp Policy”

According to a draft of the “National Shrimp Policy 2008”, the government is going to encouraging public initiatives and private investment in the shrimp industry, including farming, processing and export.  It appears that the government will use an export fee to finance the program.

The goal of the national shrimp policy is to “expedite shrimp farming through developed technology sustainable in the local socioeconomic, cultural and environmental conditions.”  Government officials believe that per-hectare production and income could be increased two to three times if farmers used better technology.

At present, 217,000 hectares of land and about 15 million people are engaged in shrimp farming.  The draft shrimp policy has also proposed introducing practical education on shrimp farming in science textbooks at primary and secondary schools.  Steps are to be taken to create programs in higher education on shrimp farming.  In view of the growing demand for shrimp in the global market, the government and other stakeholders are serious about making the shrimp industry compliant with national and international labor norms and standards.

Source: The New Nation.  Proposed National Shrimp Policy.  August 22, 2008.

Bangladesh

European Union Warns Shrimp Industry on Antibiotics

Following a recent visit to Bangladesh by a European Union delegation, the EU has warned Bangladesh shrimp exporters of likely export restrictions unless they follow the rules.  In a letter to the government, the team expressed concerns about antibiotic residues in shrimp.  They threatened to take action against Bangladesh if chemicals and medicines above permissible levels were detected.

In the last few months, the European Union has rejected 300 containers of Bangladeshi shrimp and has now threatened to close its market to Bangladeshi shrimp.  Currently, Bangladesh exports 45-48 percent of its shrimp to EU countries.  A ban in the EU might encourage other countries to ban Bangladeshi shrimp.

Exports of fish and fish products accounted for about four percent of Bangladesh’s gross domestic product in 2006-2007.  Export of frozen foods, mainly shrimp, earned the country $534 million during the last fiscal year, an increase of about four percent over the $495 million earned during the previous fiscal year.

Source: The New Nation.  Shrimp export under threat.  August 25, 2008.

China

Tongwei Aquanews, from a Chinese Feed Company

Located at the Sichuan Aquacultural Engineering and Technology Research Center, Tongwei Aquanews, provides a synopsis of aquaculture news in China.  The first issue was delivered electronically as a Microsoft Word download.  Here are some items from the first issue that might be of interest to shrimp farmers:

From the Editors of Tongwei Aquanews: China leads the world in aquaculture production; however, information on aquaculture in China has not been well disseminated to other parts of the world, due mainly to the language barrier.  Tongwei Aquanews has been launched by the Sichuan Aquacultural Engineering and Technology Research Center, established jointly by Tongwei, Co., Ltd. (below), and the Sichuan Provincial Government.  The Tongwei Aquanews aims to provide the latest information on Chinese aquaculture and promote information exchange among aquaculturists worldwide.

Shrimp Feed Prices: Since early 2006, shrimp feed prices have increased by $143 a ton to about $1,060.  They are not likely to increase in the near future.

Tongwei—World’s Largest Aquafeed Producer: Tongwei Group Co., Ltd., a private company founded by Liu Hanyuan in 1992, has grown from a small workshop to the world’s largest aquafeed producer and one of the world’s leading livestock and poultry feed producers.  In 2006, Tongwei Group was ranked as one of the top 100 private enterprises in China.  Tongwei, Co., Ltd., controlled by Tongwei Group, Co., Ltd., is a listed company on the Shanghai Stock Market (Stock Code: 600438), mainly dealing with feed production, but also engaged in aquaculture, aquaculture R&D, animal health and food processing.  Currently, Tongwei, Co., Ltd., owns more than 70 branches and subsidiary companies in China and overseas.  It has the capacity to produce almost five million tons of animal feed a year.

Sources: 1. Aquafeed.com (The free E-zine for aquafeed professionals).  Banner Advertisement/News from China/Download the latest issue of Tongwei Aquanews.  Editor, Suzi Fraser Dominy (editor@aquafeed.com).  Volume 8, Issue 32, August 2008.  2. Tongwei Aquanews.  Editor’s Message, Tongwei—World Leading Aquafeed Producer, and Shrimp Feed Price unlikely to Rise Further in China.  Issue 1, June 6, 2008.

Indonesia

PT Dipasena Receives $108 Million Loan

PT Dipasena Citra Darmaja, one of the largest shrimp farms in the world, now part of CP Prima and renamed PT Aruna Wijaya Sakti has, has received a $108 million loan from Bank Rakyat Indonesia to revitalize its shrimp ponds.

Source: Trading Markets.  Indonesian Bank Provides US$108 Mln in Loan for Shrimp Farm.  August 19, 2008.

Madagascar

SPF Broodstock Only

At the World Aquaculture Association Meeting in South Korea (Busan, South Korea, May 2008), Dr. Marc Le Groumellec gave a presentation on the development of SPF broodstock (Penaeus monodon) in Madagascar.  He said:

The shrimp farming industry has been using domesticated SPF broodstock since 2003.  This has provided a year-round supply of seedstock and independence from wild broodstock.  More importantly, we now have a safe source of postlarvae, certified free of all economically important pathogens.

All of our broodstock is native to Madagascar.  All founding populations passed through primary and secondary quarantine.  Our domesticated stocks are free of all OIE (Office International des Epizooties) listed pathogens.  In addition, specific diagnostic tools for each endemic Malagasy pathogen detected since 1996 have been developed and are used for routine surveillance of shrimp stocks, along with the standard diagnostic tools for OlE listed diseases.

From 1999 to 2002, more than 10,000 wild shrimp were collected along the West Coast of Madagascar.  The population was established from 198 selected individuals, representing more than 99.5% of the genetic variability of the base population.  The breeding program was designed to keep as much as possible of the genetic variability within this domesticated population (effective population size >300 at each generation).  After the first five generations the estimated gain in growth rate was estimated to be 15% per generation.

Source: Aqua Culture AsiaPacific (Editor/Publisher, Zuridah Merican, email zuridah@aquaasiapac.com).  Development, domestication and breeding of a SPF broodstock of Penaeus monodon from Madagascar.  Volume 4, Number 4, Page 12, July/August 2008.

Thailand

Things You May Not Know About the IHHN Virus

From abstract: Ponds stocked with domesticated Penaeus monodon postlarvae (PL) that tested negative for seven shrimp viruses including IHHNV became positive for IHHNV and other viruses at variable levels of prevalence during culture in open-air, earthen ponds.

The PLs were from domesticated female broodstock that individually tested negative for the same viruses.  At four months, the shrimp in some ponds without obvious mortality tested positive by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) for IHHNV and three other viruses at variable levels.  Stained tissue sections showed no lesions typical of IHHNV, but in situ hybridization tests with an IHHNV-specific DNA probe showed that the tissues were positive for IHHNV.  There was no significant difference in mean body weight between shrimp groups positive or negative for IHHNV.  Similar results were obtained with IHHNV negative and positive adults at one year.  Adults that individually tested negative for all seven viruses and some that tested lightly positive for IHHNV were bred for the next generation.  There were no significant differences in the number of eggs and nauplii produced by females negative and positive for IHHNV.  The results suggested that IHHNV does not seriously retard growth of P. monodon or affect fecundity of lightly infected broodstock.

Using in situ hybridization tests, only degenerated oocytes were positive for IHHNV.  This result suggested that IHHNV infection in P. monodon might not be transmitted directly, but that it can be transmitted indirectly on the surface of the egg during spawning.

Information: John Cooksey, World Aquaculture Conference Management, P.O. Box 2302, Valley Center, CA 92082 USA (phone 760-751-5005, fax 760-751-5003, email worldaqua@aol.com, webpage http://www.was.org).

Source: World Aquaculture Society.  The CD of World Aquaculture 2008 (Busan, Korea, May 2008).  Page 108.  Low Impact of Infectious Hypodermal and Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHHNV) on Growth, Reproductive Performance of Penaeus Monodon and Vertical Transmission.  Kanokporn Chayaburakul (kchayaburakul@yahoo.com), Boonsirm Withyachumnarnkul, Supak Lao-Aroon, Pornthep Ploadpai, Kallaya Sritynualucksana, Gary Nash and Wisuit Pradidarcheep (Anatomy Unit, Faculty of Science, Rangsit University Muang-Ake, Paholyothin Road Lukhok, Rangsit Pratuntani, 12000 Thailand).

United States

Maine—Shrimp Slushees, Anyone?

James Wright, a writer for SeaFood Business and SeafoodSource.com, reports:

One of the most egregious offenses along the seafood supply chain is short weighting.  A majority of processed shrimp, for example, is protected by a thin glaze of ice, usually not more than ten percent of net weight.  But if the glazing process is intentionally lengthened, seven pounds of peeled and deveined shrimp can easily become a ten-pound box ready for distribution. The buyer essentially pays for three pounds of water—at the price of shrimp.  A “Ten percent [glaze] is not amoral,” a seafood importer told Wright.  “That serves a purpose because it helps prevent dehydration and protects the product.  Twenty percent glaze, no.  Thirty percent glaze.  Why don’t we start selling shrimp slushees at that point?”

Some traders know they must buy that ice or lose business.  They know they’re getting screwed, and so do their customers.  Retailers, accustomed to shrink in the seafood department, shrug their shoulders and bump up the price to cover the loss.  And consumers, unaware of any wrongdoings, are just happy that a one-pound bag of raw shrimp is still $6 a pound.

Who are the losers in this game?  The companies committed to selling at a true weight.  Sometimes their competition beats them by a dollar a pound by using a thick glaze.

Until buyers push back and the federal government actually enforces laws that prohibit short weights and other acts of economic fraud—the ice age will continue.

Source: SeafoodSource.com.  Shrimp Slushees, Anyone?  James Wright.  August 18, 2008.

United States

South Carolina—Dr. Craig Browdy Takes New Job with Novus International

Novus International, Inc., a leader in animal health and nutrition, is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Craig L. Browdy as Senior Manager of Global Aquaculture Research.  Browdy will be responsible for developing a broad based aquaculture research portfolio for Novus International.

“Craig brings extensive aquaculture experience and knowledge of the global aquaculture industry to this position,” stated Giovanni Gasperoni, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Sales at Novus.  With 25 years experience in aquaculture, Dr. Browdy will be building partnerships with government, non-governmental, academic and private sector collaborators to develop new alternatives for maximizing aquatic animal performance in an increasingly competitive industry.

“I will always be grateful to my colleagues at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and the USA Marine Shrimp Farming Program for providing me the opportunity to build the relationships and accomplishments which have furthered sustainable aquaculture development over the years,” said Browdy.  “I am looking forward to making new friends and building value for Novus International and their partners.”

Novus International, Inc., is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, and serves customers in more than 80 countries around the world.  An industry leader in animal nutrition and health, Novus’s products include ALIMET® and MHA® feed supplements, ACTIVATE® nutritional feed acid, ACIDOMIX® preservative premixture, ADVENT® coccidiosis control, MINTREX® organic trace minerals, SANTOQUIN® feed preservative, MERA™MET aquaculture feed additive, AGRADO® feed ingredient and many other specialty ingredients.  The ARENUS™ brand (http://www.arenusperformance.com), part of Novus International, Inc., focuses on developing performance products for the equine and companion animal markets. Novus is privately owned by Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), Inc., and Nippon Soda Co., Ltd.

Information: Jeremy Lutgen, Public Relations Manager, NOVUS International, Inc., 530 Maryville Center Drive, St. Louis, MO 63141, USA (phone 314-453-7705, email jeremy.lutgen@novusint.com, webpage http://www.novusint.com).

Source: NOVUS International, Inc.  News Release.  Novus International Expands Aquaculture Research Staff.  September 4, 2008.

Classified Advertisements
How To Advertise