21st Century Aquaculturefrom empirical farming towards a knowledge-based biotechnology

Patrick Sorgeloos

Laboratory of Aquaculture & Artemia Reference Center

ARC alumni - September 17, 2009

FISH: source of proteins, omega-3 fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, ...

• Oceans are deserts• 60% of fishery resources over-fished or at risk !

from FAO

Fertilising and feeding carp ponds in China

polyculture chicken / fish farming

polyculture aqua / agriculture

Predictable availability of fry, fingerlings, postlarvae, seed,

spores, ...

Overview of different phases in aquaculture productions

marketstockingongrowing

frypostlarvae

seedlarvae

eggssperm

embryos

broodstockspawners

wild wild wild wild

market

FOOD aquaculture BUSINESS aquaculture

Asia, esp. China – long historylarge production

Recent developments - successful new industry

BUSINESS aquaculture

biologytechnologyprofitability

Aquaculture Systems: cages

Photo Schneider

Courtesy Nutreco

Aquaculture Systems: ponds

Photo Azim Courtesy Harache

Courtesy Harache

Aquaculture Systems: tanks

Photo Eding

Aquaculture Systems: indoor systems Photo Schneider

Photo SchneiderPhoto Schrama

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

Thousand tonnes

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

others

Japan

Australia

USA

Ireland

Faeroe Islands

Canada

Scotland

Chile

Norway

World salmon production per country

from FAO

Pangasius catfish in Vietnam

> 1,000,000 tons/year

Pangasius farming in Vietnam surface area production yield

Pond farming of Penaeid shrimp

Taiwan

Ecuador

Chinese mitten crabEriocheir sinensis

17. 5 31. 2 41. 5 60 80 100

172232

286340

380

500

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005Year

Annu

al y

ield

10（

3 to

n）

annual production yiels

Mussel farming

Scallop farming

Red and brown algae farming in China

seaweeds 14 mT (10% in value)

fish 30 mT (55% in value) molluscs 14 mT (15 % in value)

crustaceans 4 mT (20% in value)

Aquatic plants Crustaceans Fish Other Molluscs

aquaculture production by species & environment

Marine31.2 Mt

Freshwater27.8 Mt

Brackish3.8Mt

from FAO

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160million metric tons

80 85 90 95 2000

year

Global Aquatic Production

34.1% or42.8 million ton

in 2001 9.7%

Human Consumption of Fish:1990: 13 kg / person2000: >16 kg / person

Total

Fisheries

Aquaculture

48 % in 2005 or >60 million ton

FAO, 2009

from FAO

Europe imports >60 % of its aquatic foodstuffs

Trade flows of aquatic products into Europe in US$ millions, c.i.f.; averages for 2004–06

from FAO

“Aquaculture is probably the fastest growing food-producing sector, and currently accounts for almost 50% of the world’s food fish and is perceived as having the greatest potential to meet the growing demand for aquatic food.”

“Given the projected population growth over the next two decades, it is estimated that by 2030 at least an additional 40 million tons/year of aquatic food will be required to maintain the current per caput consumption.”

INCREASED MARKET DEMAND

stagnantcapture fisheries

INCREASED aquaculture production

environmental problems?human health risks?

sustainable?

more responsible farming !

Priorities for future aquaculture: from empiricial farming

towards

a knowledge-based bio-industry

Aquaculture: the blue biotechnology of the future ?

• better targeted selection of species for either mass production or for niche markets • • • • • •

Priorities for future aquaculture: from an empiricial towards a knowledge-based bio-industry

Species selection, biodiversity issues, market demands, etc.

herbivorous species diversificationhighly recommended

! market demands ?

! health risks ?

• better targeted selection of species for either mass production or for niche markets • complete independence from natural stocks through domestication• • • • •

Priorities for future aquaculture: from an empiricial towards a knowledge-based bio-industry

Overview of different phases in aquaculture productions

stockingongrowing

extensiveintensive

frypostlarvae

seedlarvae

eggssperm

embryos

broodstockspawners

wild wild wild wild

market

hatc

hery

- algae- rotifers- artemia

• better targeted selection of species for either mass production or for niche markets • complete independence from natural stocks through domestication

•development of more efficient stocks through selective breeding

•

Priorities for future aquaculture: from an empiricial towards a knowledge-based bio-industry

wild stock

domesticatedstock

breeding program

genetic improvement

breedingobjectives

geneticvariation

• disease resistance• growth rate• size / quality• feed conversion• fecundity• ease of domestication

Marine fish larviculture in the Mediterranean

• annual production of 1 billion fry • production cost 15 Euro cents a piece• average survival 20 % by day 60• low survival = critical bottleneck for future cost

efficiency and sustainability of the industry• microbial interference considered to be the main

culprit• no selected breeds available yet

Predictable & cost-effective availability of high-quality fry, fingerlings, postlarvae, seed,

spores, ...

disease free

disease resistantcertified seed

Mud crab : Scylla spp.

Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Penaeid shrimp

Turbot

Sea bass

Larviculture research

Oyster veliger

The magic of the green-water technique

water quality conditioning

light shading direct fo

od source

trigger digestive system supply of micro-nutrients &

immunostimulants

microbial control

Need for innovative microbial management systems

Quantitative analysis of

the bacterial community

Qual/Quant analysis of the bacterial composition

Biochemical analysis

e.g.antimicrobial substances

Biochemical analysis

e.g.antimicrobial substances

Host gene expression

analysis

Marker genes

Host gene expression

analysis

Marker genes

Fish and shellfish Fish and shellfish larvae validationlarvae validationFish and shellfish Fish and shellfish larvae validationlarvae validation

Gnotobiotic Artemia test

system

Gnotobiotic Artemia test

system

Quorum sensing analysis Probiotic bacteria Pathogenic

bacteria

Feeds

Antimicrobial PeptidesImmunostimulantsQuorum sensing

compounds Probiotic bacteria Pathogenic bacteria

Micro Algae /Feeds

Antimicrobial PeptidesImmunostimulants

PerformancePerformance

Artemiasystem

Gnotobioticmodel

systems

Gnotobiotic

Heat-shock proteins

How to study host-microbial interactions?

known micro-

organisms

host

environment

hostsimplificati

on

complex gnotobiotic

reality?

MC

Effect of light stress on survival of xenic sea bass larvae

Axenic sea bass larvae are not sensitive to light stress

Gnotobiotic sea bass test system to study host-microbial interactions

0102030405060708090

100110120

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

time (day)

s urv

ival

(%

)

axenic

xeniclight

dark

dark

light

UGent Aquaculture R&D Consortium(partners in the study of microbial management systems)

Faculty of Bioscience Engineering Animal Production - P. Sorgeloos en P. Bossier Biochemical and Microbial Technology – W. Verstraete and N. Boon

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Morphology – W. Van den Broeck Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases – A. Decostere Virology, Parasitology and Immunology – H. Nauwynck

Faculty of Sciences Biochemistry, Physiology and Microbiology – P. Vandamme and P. De VosBiology – D. Adriaens and W. Vijverman Molecular Genetics – D. Inzé, Frank Van Breusegem

• better targeted selection of species for either mass production or for niche markets • complete independence from natural stocks through domestication• development of more efficient stocks through selective breeding• more microbial management for more sustainable production • • •

Priorities for future aquaculture: from an empiricial towards a knowledge-based bio-industry

70 % of all farmed fish are produced in ponds

What is the role of the microflora ?

Recent documentation:30 % N contribution from bio flocs !

Bio flocs

• better targeted selection of species for either mass production or for niche markets • complete independence from natural stocks through domestication• development of more efficient stocks through selective breeding• more microbial management for more sustainable production • better understanding of immune systems in vertebrates and invertebrates to develop appropriate measures for disease prevention and/or control• • •

Priorities for future aquaculture: from an empiricial towards a knowledge-based bio-industry

DISEASE TREATMENT(antibiotics)

DISEASE PREVENTION

consumerenvironment

DISEASE CONTROL

preventive measures

GOOD MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ° water quality ° aeration ° seed ° stress ° feeds ° effluent treatment

SINGLE AND DUAL EXPERIMENTAL INFECTION OF SPECIFIC PATHOGEN-FREE Litopenaeus vannamei

SHRIMP WITH WHITE SPOT SYNDROME VIRUS AND VIBRIO SPECIES

PhD Le Hong Phuoc

Vibrios

Unstressed shrimp

No mortality

Vibrios

Stressed shrimp

Mortality

Vibrios

Non-compromised shrimp

No mortality

Vibrios

WSSV-compromised shrimp

Mortality

Role of stress factors Role of other pathogens

Polymicrobial diseases in the field

Conclusions & Recommendations for Shrimp Farms• use SPF strains (also in research)• apply strict biosecurity• control vibriosis

• better targeted selection of species for either mass production or for niche markets • complete independence from natural stocks through domestication• development of more efficient stocks through selective breeding• more microbial management for more sustainable production • better understanding of immune systems in vertebrates and invertebrates to develop appropriate measures for disease prevention and/or control• more attention for integration of restocking activities with fisheries management

• •

Priorities for future aquaculture: from an empiricial towards a knowledge-based bio-industry

• juvenile fitness• releasing strategies• impact on wild stocks

RESTOCKING

• better targeted selection of species for either mass production or for niche markets • complete independence from natural stocks through domestication• development of more efficient stocks through selective breeding • more attention for integration of restocking activities with fisheries management• better understanding of immune systems in vertebrates and invertebrates to develop appropriate measures for disease prevention and/or control• more microbial management for more sustainable production • more polyculture systems especially in coastal and off-shore farms, integrating different niches of the ecosystem (fish, shellfish and seaweeds) and maximizing nutrient recycling •

Priorities for future aquaculture: from an empiricial towards a knowledge-based bio-industry

FOOD aquaculture BUSINESS aquaculture

EXTRACTIVE aquaculture

nutrient recycling

FED aquaculture

FOOD aquaculture BUSINESS aquaculture

intensify

polyculture

Integrated farming of marine fish (cage), seaweeds and molluscs (longlines

& lantern nets)

> 5 km

• better targeted selection of species for either mass production or for niche markets • complete independence from natural stocks through domestication• development of more efficient stocks through selective breeding • more attention for integration of restocking activities with fisheries management• better understanding of immune systems in vertebrates and invertebrates to develop appropriate measures for disease prevention and/or control• more microbial management for more sustainable production • more polyculture systems especially in coastal and off-shore farms, integrating different niches of the ecosystem (fish, shellfish and seaweeds) and maximizing nutrient recycling • full independence from fisheries stocks for lipid and protein ingredients in aquatic feeds

Priorities for future aquaculture: from an empiricial towards a knowledge-based bio-industry

The fish meal / fish oil contradiction

ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN / LIPID SOURCES plant protein

soybean corn gluten wheat oats barley

rendered products meat, bone & blood meal poultry by-products meal

single-cell protein /oil recovery protein /oil

seafood processing fisheries by-catch

human health concern?

disease risks?

essential amino acids n-3 and n-6 fatty acids

microbial products genetically-engineered ?

SUBSTITUTION / SUPPLEMENTATION

quality concerns

antibiotics pesticides

Meer omega-3 in dieet = meer vis

contaminants

Fish consumption

omega-3 FA(EPA&DHA)

Positiveto health

Negativeto health

Nutritional-toxicological

conflict

Mercury

PCBs

Dioxins

Risico met visserij NIET met aquacultuur

ViFINET

NACA

AsianFisheriesSociety

China AquaFishNet

China Societyof Fisheries

• FAO/NACA Aquaculture certification• facilitated contacts between the FAO/NACA initiative

and GAA, EUREPGAP, Thai Marine Shrimp Association…

• Thailand Department of Fisheries & Thai Frozen Foods Association

• offered networking services and contactsfor info session on Thai quality assurance programs at Seafood Brussels 2007 and 2008

• Pangasius farming in Vietnam – export to Europe • facilitated contacts between NACA, WWF Vietnam’s

PAD, Research Institute of Aquaculture nr 2, Can Tho University and Marine Harvest Pieters

IMPORTANCE OF NETWORKING

• what is VIFINET• Vietnamese Fisheries and Aquaculture Institutes

Network• establishment in 2005 facilitated by major ASEM

Aquaculture Platform members (Ghent, Wageningen & Trondheim Universities)

• unites 4 universities and 4 research institutes

• objective• to promote collaboration among aquaculture

education and research institutions in Vietnam

• activities related to VIFINET• Best Management Practice in shrimp culture• Training Facility project (Belgian Embassy funding)• WAS Asian-Pacific Chapter conference ’07 in Hanoi • Pangasius Aquaculture Dialogue (PAD) by WWF &

NACA

CAMBODIA

LAOS

CHINA

Can Tho

Ho Chi Minh City

Nha Trang

HanoiHaiphong

Hue

•

•

•

•

IMPORTANCE OF NETWORKING

• what is China AquaFishNet• consortium of leading 5 Chinese universities and 5 research

institutes • establishment facilitated by major ASEM Aquaculture Platform

members (Ghent, Wageningen & Trondheim Universities)

• objective• to promote collaboration

among aquaculture educationand research institutions in China

• planned activities • exchange of students and staff between the China and Europe

(practical training and/or course modules)• develop a priority list of joint research topics (→ joint FP7

projects)• make bilateral agreements for PhD study collaboration• …

75% = water

Training & extension

Mozambique, VAISKenya, VLIR EI

Crater Lakes in W-Uganda salt (extraction) lakes freshwater lakes

www.aquaculture.ugent.be