Of shrimp production Technologies shaping the future
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Benchmark
Insights
SHRIMP 2019 ISSUE 1
Technologies
shaping the future
of shrimp
production
Foreword
Shrimp production is one of the fastest
growing protein sources, worth around
US$ 39 billion worldwide in 20171.
Growth, however, is impacted by disease
outbreaks which have been reported to
result in losses of up to 40%, amounting
to billions of dollars annually.
We are seeing increasing awareness
amongst all stakeholders around the
environmental, ethical and economic
impacts of aquaculture. A recent report
published by FAIRR2 highlighted 10 key
risk factors in aquaculture including
animal welfare, disease, effluents, habitat
destruction, antibiotic use, and fish feed
supply (see below).
Key risk factors in aquaculture2
Transparency
Antibiotic use
and food fraud
Habitat destruction
Disease
and biodiversity loss
Greenhouse gas
Effluents
emissions
Animal welfare Working conditions
Feed supply Community resistance
1
uture Market Insights (2017) Shrimp Market.
F
2
FAIRR Report (2019).
In a recent participatory poll
Now is the time to bring
Demonstrating social responsibility
is now an essential part of proactive
conducted by Benchmark, reputation management, as well as
‘citizens’ came out on top affecting a company’s ability to attract
top talent, community partners and all of our considerable
as the stakeholder group
which will be the biggest
consumers. Research published by the
London Business School found that expertise to the table for
force for positive change in
companies that genuinely adopted ESG
(Environmental, Social, Governance)
policies beat their peers who did not
the benefit of all
the next five years. Public by 4.8 per cent a year over 18 years1.
awareness around how our Brands that establish a reputation for
environmental stewardship among
food is produced is no new today’s youngest consumers have an
thing – farmers, producers, opportunity to not only grow market
share but build loyalty among the power
retailers and consumers are spending generations of tomorrow2.
all citizens and we can and We know that none of us
need to drive change. are as good as all of us
Through this report we would like to
create insight into the key challenges
in the shrimp industry, highlight experts’
perspectives from multiple disciplines
and showcase the opportunity for this
healthy and nutritious protein source.
There is huge potential in co-ordinating
the biological drivers behind the
efficiency of production. Sustainability
cannot be owned by one company alone.
Collaboration is key in order to share
expertise and develop effective solutions
to positively impact people, animals and
the environment.
1
dmans, A. (2012) The Link Between Job Satisfaction and
E
Firm Value, With Implications for Corporate Responsibility.
2
Nielsen (2015) The Sustainability Imperative.
Putting the right tools in the 08 Introduction
farmers hands will give them 08 History of shrimp farming
the greatest control they have 10 Production overview
ever had over their stocks.
16 Sustainability
16 Sustainability challenges
20 Disease is one of the industry’s
most limiting factors
24 Setting a new benchmark
for fish welfare
30 Expert insights
32 A sea of opportunity
— Philippe Léger, Benchmark
36 Pioneering genetics
— Marcela Salazar, Benchmark
42 Adopting new technologies
— Nonglak ‘Anne’ Thaisin,
Quality Farms
50 Insight into disease challenges
— Andy Shinn, Fish Vet Group
60 Better data management
— Ralf Onken, Benchmark
66 Data-driven decisions
— Liris Madungtyas, Jala Tech
72 Raising the bar in
sustainable aquaculture
— Christoph Mathiesen,
former WWF
76 Antibiotic-free shrimp production
— Loc Tran, ShrimpVet
80 Aquaculture advocate
— George Chamberlain,
Global Aquaculture Alliance
84 Benchmark at a glance
86 Benchmark’s offering
History Dedicated shrimp farming began Major milestones
on a global scale in the 1970’s with Shrimp farming in its earliest
production of 9,022 tonnes1, escalating form began centuries ago in Asia
of shrimp
where wild shrimp juveniles
to over 1 million tonnes in 2000 to migrated into tidal impoundments
intended primarily for milk fish,
over 4 million tonnes in 2017, making mullet and other coastal finfish.
it one of the fastest growing food This resulted in incidental crops
farming
of 100-200kg/ha/year of shrimp
commodities in the world2. with no additional input aside
from trapping/harvesting.
The history of shrimp farming On the West coast of India,
is comparable to that of terrestrial Bangladesh, and the Mekong
Delta of Vietnam, extensive
animal husbandry where traditional production techniques performed
culture of wild animals at low density well due to abundance of wild
juveniles and tidal ranges
in a natural setting progressed to of up to 7m. Farmers would
harvest by trapping shrimp as
intensive culture of domesticated they migrated out with the tide.
animals in a controlled setting. The These systems would produce
as much as 400kg/ha/year
difference is that domestication of with selective harvesting, water
terrestrial animals began thousands management, and fertilisation,
but harvests of 200kg/a/year
of years ago, but that of penaeid were more common.
shrimp began in the last few decades. Little advancement in technology
occurred until the twentieth
century. The primary obstacle
to development was the poorly
understood life cycle of penaeid
shrimp, which involves an oceanic
reproductive phase, a complex
series of larval stages, and an
estuarine juvenile phase.
Reproduced by kind permission of
5m Publishing from the Shrimp Book.
1
shton, E. (2010) The impact of shrimp
A
farming on mangrove ecosystems.
2
lobal Aquaculture Alliance (GOAL)
G
(2018) Global shrimp production review
and forecast.
08 09
Production
overview
Despite making up 6 per cent
of global production, shrimp is
responsible for 16 per cent of
the production value of traded
seafood1. The shrimp market is
expected to grow at a compound
annual growth rate of 5.7 per
cent between 2017 and 20202.
1
SOFIA (2018).
2
alifornia Environmental Associates (CEA) (2018) Shrimp
C
Aquaculture Landscape report prepared for Gordon and Betty Moore
Foundation’s (Moore) Ocean and Seafood Markets Initiative (OSMI).
10 11
Shrimp aquaculture production
by world region: 2010-2020
Producers and exporters The market is segmented into
2017–2020
Projected CAGR: 5.7%
The majority of shrimp production three species. The two main farmed
5.5
5.0
originates in Southeast Asia with
the three largest exporters being Penaeus vannamei species are Penaeus vannamei
4.5 5.6%
India, Ecuador and Vietnam. (or whiteleg shrimp)
(~80% in 2018), the Pacific white
China is the leading producer,
4.0
-5.9% -0.8%
contributing ~60% of farmed shrimp (or whiteleg) native from the
3.5 shrimp to world production. The west coast of South America and
Production (MMT)
highest demand for shrimp comes
3.0
2.5
from Europe, the United States
Penaeus monodon
P. monodon (~15% in 2018), the giant
2.0
and Japan.
(or black tiger shrimp) or black tiger shrimp native from Asia.
1.5 Intensification of whiteleg shrimp
1.0
is responsible for most of the growth
0.5
0.0
of shrimp production, while tiger
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Macrobrachium
rosenbergii (or giant
shrimp production remains stable1.
Southeast Asia Americas Middle East/N Africa
China India Other
freshwater river prawn)
Sources: FAO (2018) and GOAL surveys (2011-2017) for 2010-2016; GOAL survey
(2018) for 2017-2020. Southeast Asia includes Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh,
Malaysia, Philippines, Myanmar and Taiwan. Macrobrachium rosenbergii is not included.
Systems Table 1: Characteristics of shrimp farming systems2
Shrimp farming systems are very Parameter Traditional Extensive Semi- Intensive Super-
intensive intensive
diverse in their management, size
and the people involved. Shrimp Stocking
Supply chains
The export-oriented farmed shrimp
supply chain always consists of four major
segments: inputs (feed and PLs), farm,
processor, and importer. The consolidation,
vertical integration, and inter-segment
interactions differ considerably across
regions, but can be broadly grouped by
geography into Latin America and Asia.
Latin American farms tend towards
vertical integration model.
Most farms in Southeast Asia, India
and China are highly disaggregated,
family-operated production units that feed
into a large, opportunistic, and informal
network of traders and brokers who in
turn supply hundreds of processors1.
Certification
Certifications and rating agencies include
Best Practices in Aquaculture (BAP), Global
G.A.P., Aquaculture Stewardship Council
(ASC), Naturland, and Seafood Watch. To
date, certifications only cover a small
fraction of production in each of the top
producing countries2.
1
California Environmental Associates (CEA) (2018)
Shrimp Aquaculture Landscape report prepared
for Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation’s (Moore)
Ocean and Seafood Markets Initiative (OSMI).
2
Global Aquaculture Alliance (GOAL) (2018)
Global shrimp production review and forecast.
14 15
Sustainability
Top business critical risks in shrimp
production — key environmental, economic
and ethical concerns and challenges
challenges Disease Biodiversity loss
There are significant mortalities resulting There has been extensive mangrove
from episodes of current and emerging deforestation in the past for growing
disease challenges. On average 40% shrimp. In some countries mangrove
of shrimp production is lost to disease. clearances are now banned.
Genetics Employment opportunities
There is a need for quality seedstock and livelihoods
and access to disease free broodstock. Local poor communities sometimes
Faced with a growing global population may not benefit from the profits of shrimp
but finite natural resources to call upon Food safety/antibiotic use farming bringing social imbalance.
there is an urgent need to increase There is a need to ensure that products
are antibiotic free. Hotspots of antibiotic
There are a number of groups promoting
socially-responsible farming.
the productivity and efficiency of use in shrimp production can accelerate
aquaculture, creating a healthy and development of antimicrobial resistance
(AMR) and increase export risks.
Welfare
sustainable source of protein. Eyestalk ablation remains the major
welfare concern. Ablation in shrimp
Pollution production is the removal of one (unilateral)
Major environmental issues include of a broodstock females eyestalks.
the pollution of waterways with pond
Stocking density in intensive production
effluents, chemicals and medicines,
is often overly high. High stocking densities
soil and groundwater salinization.
contribute to disease problems.
Shrimp feed Education
Wild fish is often processed into
There is a need for technological
fishmeal and incorporated into shrimp
improvement of farming methods which
feed. There is a requirement to replace
requires considerable efforts in education
the high volume of fish meal needed in
and technology transfer to farmers.
diets in a cost effective way.
There are also issues related with
feed quality. The long-term expansion
of aquaculture requires sustainable
and scalable supplies of alternative
feed ingredients.
16 17
Sustainable food Aquaculture plays a big and increasing
role in meeting the global protein demand.
production is one
of the biggest World production of shrimp: A good FCR
challenges today
capture fisheries & aquaculture Aquaculture has a lower feed conversion rate
Aquaculture accounted for 54% of world (FCR) than that of terrestrial animals.
shrimp supplies in 2016.
1990 26%
2016 54% 1kg Beef 1kg Salmon
Aquaculture Capture Fisheries 3.5–9.0kg 1.1–1.3kg
Sources: FA O(2018) and GOAL (2011-2018).
China includes freshwater production of P. vannamei.
1kg Sheep 1kg Shrimp
4.0–6.0kg 1.1–1.9kg
1kg Pork 1kg Bass
2.6–4.4kg 1.3–1.6kg
1kg Poultry 1kg Tilapia
1.4–1.8kg 1.2–1.6kg
Source: Rabobank 2018.
18 19Disease is one of Top three disease
challenges in shrimp
WSSV*
White spot syndrome virus (WSSV)
AHPND†
A pathogenic isolate of Vibrio
the industry’s most
is a large DNA virus that only parahaemolyticus, a rod-shaped
infects crustaceans; it is an OIE bacterium, that carries a plasmid
(the World Organisation for Animal encoding two toxins that results
limiting factors
Health) listed notifiable disease. in AHPND. This disease is
commonly called ‘early mortality
Signs/symptoms: In culture
syndrome’ or ‘EMS’ by farmers.
systems, the shrimp may not
Infection resulting in AHPND is
show any distinctive signs but
*
hite spot syndrome virus —
W also an OIE listed disease.
the top viral agent. may be lethargic, stop feeding
†
cute hepatopancreatic necrosis
A or begin aggregating at the Signs/symptoms: Infection
disease — caused by pathogenic isolates edge of ponds. Clinical signs results in significant shrinkage
of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (and other
species) bearing a Pir toxin releasing can include the presence of of the hepatopancreas and
plasmid — the top bacterium. white calcium deposits up the shrimp frequently have
‡
Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei to 3 mm in diameters which soft shells and guts with
— a fungal microsporidian causing
hepatopancreatic microsporidiosis can link to form larger plates, discontinuous contents or
Disease constrains growth — top parasite. shrimp can appear dark with no content. Early signs of an
a red/pink colour to the body and infection include slow growth, a
The graph below shows the percentage year-on-year appendages, may have heavily shrunken, pale hepatopancreas.
change in the growth of Asian and global shrimp production. fouled gills and external shell,
Losses: Infections can result
Episodes of disease have been a key factor in shaping growth. and, heavily infected shrimp may
in entire loss within 30 days.
have a white midgut.
Infection resulting in AHPND
Losses: Infections can result is currently the number one
IHHNV TSV, WSSV, YHV AHPND/EHP in a typical 40% loss of stock bacterial pathogen problem
60
over the first two years of infection within the global shrimp industry.
on site; historically, this is the
50 most significant pathogen EHP‡
impacting on commercial
40 crustacean production. EHP infects the hepatopancreas
of shrimp which can result in
severe growth retardation,
30
morbidity and, in heavy chronic
infections, mortality.
20
Signs/symptoms: Although
shrimp continue to feed, there
10
is arrested growth; a drop in food
conversion ratios (FCR) may
0
provide the first indication of
a potential EHP infection.
-10
1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2005 2010 2015
Losses: While mortality
rates may be low, the farmer’s
IHHNV = Infectious Hypodermal AHPND = Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease World Asia decision to prematurely
and Haematopoietic Necrosis Virus previously known as Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS)
EHP = Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei
harvest may be based on
TSV = Taura Syndrome Virus
WSSV = White Spot Syndrome Virus YHV = Yellow-head Virus farm production economics.
Source: Shinn et al. (2018) Asian Fisheries Science, S31, 210-255.
Image: WSSV infection in shrimp carapace.
20 21At least US$ 45 billion
Scale of AHPND hit Asia hard in 2009, The industry responded well
firstly in China, then Thailand and have done well to manage
the problem
and Vietnam. In Thailand as an AHPND but outbreaks and losses
was lost to shrimp
example, production of whiteleg still occur. This bacterial disease
shrimp in 2010 was close to is now causing major problems
600,000 tons which subsequently elsewhere in Asia for example,
crashed to 189,000 tons. Losses in India.
diseases in whiteleg up to 2017 were in the region of
US$ 7 billion but closer to US$
11 billion if you take into account
In Thailand, the main concern
is now EHP — which causes
shrimp growth to arrest. Mortalities
shrimp (P. vannamei)
for losses in feed sales and value
result from chronic infection;
added product through export.
calculating precise losses is
Across Asia the losses due to difficult but for Thailand these
production alone over
this one disease were approx. are estimated to be in the order
US$ 45 billion (assuming the of US$ 180 million per annum.
same levels of production could
the past decade and is
have been sustained).
the biggest barrier to
sustainable production.1 Figure 1: Geographical distribution
of (EMS/AHPND) in the world
2009
2013 2012
2010
2011
1
Shinn et al. (2018) Asian Fisheries Science, S31, 210-255.
22 23CASE STUDY
WELFARE
Setting a new Eyestalk ablation, or removal
of the eyestalk, to manipulate
Growing consumer demand
for higher welfare products
benchmark for hormone synthesis making egg
production more predictable and
The idea that the welfare of shrimp and
prawns would one day receive similar
recognition to other farmed species was
shrimp welfare efficient is common practice in
shrimp hatcheries worldwide.
once considered unlikely, but influential
organisations like the FAIRR Foundation
and the Business Benchmark for Farm
Animal Welfare (BBFAW) are leaving no
With global aquaculture stone unturned in the drive for greater
transparency and action on sustainability
under increasing pressure throughout the food chain — reviewing
and ranking FTSE companies right through
to improve animal welfare to upstream suppliers and producers.
standards. Sourcing commercial While the power-spending customers
of tomorrow (millennials and generation
strains of non-ablated shrimp X & Z) are seeking out products that
is high on the list of priorities give solid assurances across a range of
sustainability factors, including animal
for producers and retailers as welfare and are quick to reject brands that
consumer demand for higher fall short on their sustainability pledges.
welfare seafood grows. Leading challenge
for EU retailers
Retailers are taking note and, when
it comes to shrimp and prawn products,
the quest for non-ablated shrimp is
a top priority.
The practice of eyestalk ablation has
79%
been used in global shrimp production
since the 1970s to offset the effects of
captive conditions which can prevent
females from developing mature ovaries,
of EU citizens want and cause unpredictable egg production.
Removal, or the ablation of, one of a
higher fish welfare 1 shrimps eyestalks reduces the levels of
a hormone that prevents reproduction,
ensuring shrimp mature on a regular basis,
making egg production more predictable
and efficient. It is now common practice
in shrimp hatcheries worldwide to ablate
one eyestalk (unilateral ablation) of the
female broodstock.
1
omRes (2018) EU citizens and leading fish
C
stakeholders demand better welfare for fish.
24 25A welfare concern Public concern about the practice led
to the European Commission introducing
A number of studies indicate it is highly organic standards in 2009 that prohibit
likely that ablation causes pain and stress. ablation. Some food retailers have also
Studies noted behaviours associated started to report the percentage of their
with pain such as flicking, non-sheltering, shrimp supply coming from non-ablated
recoil and disorientation1,2. Moreover, broodstock in efforts to improve transparency.
experiments using local anaesthetics prior
Someone with first-hand knowledge
to the ablation process show an inhibition
of the demand for non-ablated shrimp is
of various responses associated with the
Ruth Layton, co-founder of Benchmark,
presence of noxious stimuli akin to those
who has been working with blue-chip
observed in vertebrates, suggesting that
companies to drive improvements in the
crustaceans can indeed experience pain
food chain for over three decades.
during the ablation process1.
Ablation in the shrimp industry has been
on the agenda of retailers in the UK and
Europe since the 90’s. It’s encouraging
to see several high-profile retailers now
include information about ablation in
their public reporting and others looking
to source non-ablated shrimp.
RUTH LAYTON
CO-FOUNDER OF BENCHMARK
1
Barr et al. (2008).
2
Diarte-Plata et al. (2012).
26 27Meeting growing demand Oscar Hennig, Operations Director,
Benchmark Genetics, commented:
Geneticists at Benchmark first started
“Our trials comparing ablated and non-
trialing rearing non-ablated females in
ablated shrimp allowed us to quantify
2008 and this is now standard practice
the production parameters, including
across several of their sites. At Benchmark’s
understanding how much nauplii to
multiplication site in Florida, the team
expect from a non-ablated female.
receive the grandparent stock from the
hatchery in Colombia and produce crosses Whilst we have seen a consistent 30%
which are then sent to Benchmark sites reduction in nauplii production, this is
overseas and direct to farmers. offset somewhat by a higher survival
during larval rearing in offspring of
The team have conducted commercial-
non-ablated stock. We have found that
scale trials assessing the production
non-ablated females tend to have a
parameters of their non-ablated stock.
longer life reducing the total number
of breeders needed and require a lower
female-to-male ratio.”
Hennig explained there is no need to
change any protocol at the hatchery but
that additional training may be required
for technicians to navigate new husbandry
requirements. For example, non-ablated
females are quicker to respond which can
make them slightly harder to catch.
The Benchmark team are further
refining their non-ablated lines to
Business case for an alternative Spawning and hatching rate per
day were similar between non-ablated
I saw the dedication of the team enhance productivity and improve
nauplii, while maintaining health and
While ablation may raise ethical and ablated females. Mating success, and the care they have for the welfare. Feeding also has an impact.
High-quality supplementary moist feeds,
concerns over crustacean welfare,
there is also a strong economic argument
mortality of female and number of eggs
and nauplii per tank per day of non-ablated
shrimp. Speaking to them and particularly in the pre-maturation stage,
for commercial producers to look for group were significantly lower than ablated watching them work, it was improves condition and performance and
is highly correlated with egg production.
alternatives to a process that can increase female. The number of eggs and nauplii
energetic demands and result in a loss in per female per day, however, was higher clear they were relieved they Layton visited the facility in Colombia
egg quality and larval mortality. Although
eyestalk ablation is still the most effective
in non-ablated than ablated females.
In addition, the off-spring of non-ablated
no longer had to carry out the to see the work first-hand.
means of ensuring a steady supply of females had significantly higher survival ablation process. “I saw the dedication of the team and the
juvenile decapods for the crustacean to salinity stress test than larvae from care they have for the shrimp. Speaking
aquaculture industry, it appears that ablated females. Identical survival, final RUTH LAYTON to them and watching them work, it was
some species can be effectively produced weight, weekly growth, feed conversion CO-FOUNDER OF BENCHMARK clear they were relieved they no longer
in captivity without resorting to ablation. rate and yield were observed in nursery had to carry out the ablation process.”
and grow-out stages. Overall, the study Layton concluded, “The next step for the
A collaborative study between the
demonstrated that non-ablated females team is to verify the quality parameters
University of Stirling (UK), Lyons Seafoods
can have comparable level of productivity such as egg lipid content, survivability etc.
(UK) and Seajoy (Honduras)1 evaluated the
to ablated females in intensive commercial in order to help further strengthen the
reproductive performance of non-ablated
hatchery conditions. case for non-ablation.”
Paneus Vannamei and the quality of their
offspring under commercial conditions.
28 1
Zacarias et al. (2019). 29Expert
insights
Hear from professionals
working across the industry
on how their work is
driving sustainability in
shrimp production.
30 31Can you start by explaining
your background, and how
A sea of
you started working in the
aquaculture industry?
I graduated in 1978 with an MD in
opportunity
Pharmaceutical Sciences and was invited
to study further for a PhD in virology,
toxicology and organic pharmaceutic
synthesis. I did, however, choose to
do something ‘different’. I enrolled for
an MD in Environmental Science and
Management. In classes on mariculture
— where I first learned about aquaculture
— I met Patrick Sorgeloos as a captivating
teacher who is now referred to as the
‘father of Artemia’. He invited me to
undertake a PhD on the application of
Artemia as a food source in aquaculture.
Aquaculture at that time was a very
small and emerging industry that really
Philippe Léger, former CEO fascinated me for its potential of radically
changing the way seafood could be
of INVE Aquaculture (INVE)*, produced in a sustainable way. Already
the pioneer of advanced nutrition at that time overfishing and pollution of
oceans was in the news.
products, explains how he entered During my PhD there were a number of
the aquaculture industry in the interesting things we discovered as a team
of young bioengineers and biologists. Our
80’s. The mission to produce findings motivated us to set up a spin off
protein that will support a growing from the University of Ghent and in 1983
the company was incorporated as Artemia
INTERVIEW WITH
PHILIPPE LÉGER
population is what inspired Systems (now INVE).
Philippe at the outset, and still Our pioneering work stemmed from our
does today. scientific findings and ideas. Translating
them into technical products that were of
interest to solving some biological hurdles
faced by the aquaculture industry under
development. At that time hatchery
production of shrimp and fish fry was the
bottleneck for the growth of the industry.
Alongside this we worked to specify
and improve the quality parameters of
artemia as a hatchery feed and developed
a number of products that we still sell today
as artemia and live food enrichment diets.
32 *
INVE Aquaculture is part of Benchmark Holdings plc. 33What drives you What are the challenges
on a daily basis? you see for the industry in
What drives me today is the same as
the next few years?
what drove me at the outset. I was thrilled The aquaculture industry is still very young
that there was a new industry emerging and faces multiple challenges. One of the
and one that was holding a big promise biggest I would say is the consistency
in feeding the world with healthy seafood. and predictability of outputs and volatility
I believed that I could make a bigger in the industry due to disease, along with
impact in aquaculture rather than in the antibiotic use, use of water resources,
crowded pharmaceutical business. Today cost of raw materials, animal welfare and
the seafood challenge has not diminished climate change.
with the population growing faster than
was predicted 40 years ago. Volatility in market prices is a big challenge
we are facing today and the lack of
It was thrilling and truly inspiring to equilibrium and distribution of profits in
work closely with the pioneers of shrimp the value chain is an issue.
and marine fish aquaculture. We learnt
and understood the challenges they I believe that all of these challenges can
were facing, and developed products be addressed through research efforts like
and technologies that could help to Benchmark is doing and other partners
solve them. in the industry — working together is the
answer to all of these.
The industry still faces many challenges
so the same aspect of working closely Not being discouraged when ‘the going
together with customers, forging strong gets tough’ …only then ‘the tough gets
partnerships and product development going’! I’m a strong believer of this
is a stimulating driver for us. Contributing attitude. Never give up.
to the success of this promising industry
has driven me for nearly 40 years now.
Not being discouraged when
‘the going gets tough’ …only
then ‘the tough gets going’!
I’m a strong believer of this
attitude. Never give up.
PHILIPPE LÉGER
34 35INTERVIEW WITH Can you tell us a little What impact did experience in plant breeding,
MARCELA SALAZAR veterinary and human medicine,
bit about yourself and becoming part of
biology and genetics, which is
what inspired you to Benchmark have on important when dealing with
become involved in your shrimp breeding
Pioneering
shrimp — they always like to have
shrimp genetics? programmes? the last word and the last laugh.
I’m a medical doctor by training, Becoming part of a big company
What facilities do you
but I’ve always preferred research that, from the beginning, believed
genetics
over clinical practice. I was trained in the potential of our shrimp was have at your disposal?
in immunogenetics in Boston, exciting. As CENIACUA we were Our main laboratory is
where I worked on projects that mainly focused on achieving the located on the Atlantic coast
included designing new methods breeding goals but did not have of Colombia, near Cartagena,
for histocompatibility testing in the resources to commercialise and is isolated from all other
bone marrow transplantation. the product. As part of Benchmark aquaculture facilities in Colombia.
When I got back to Colombia, we are focused on producing The climate is optimal for the
I joined CorpoGen, a biotechnology the best animals for the market growth of P. vannamei, and we
company that was pioneering conditions, using state-of-the-art have plenty of space to expand
molecular biology research technology and facilities, and on and produce the number of
in Colombia. selling them to our customers, all broodstock required by the
within the scope of sustainability. market. We also have access
Getting into the world of shrimp
was an accident — inspired by Being part of Benchmark to a laboratory on the Pacific
the appearance of white spot also means we can count on coast of Colombia where we can
syndrome virus (WSSV) on the the support and collaboration work with a white spot resistant
Pacific coast of Colombia in of other parts of the group, strain without compromising
1999. At the time CENIACUA such as Morten Rye and his the biosecurity of the breeding
(The Center for Aquaculture team at Benchmark Genetics; nucleus. Meanwhile our challenge
Research in Colombia) asked Oscar Hennig, Bruno Decock test facilities are located in Bogotá,
Corpogen to implement the PCR and the team in Asia, who more than a 1000 km from the
diagnostic test for the pathogen are doing an incredible job breeding nucleus, allowing us to
Marcela Salazar, Benchmark’s shrimp and to help in the prevention and of showing the potential of safely work with pathogens that
production manager and one of the control of this virus. our animals under trials and
commercial conditions; and
are exotic to Colombia.
pioneers of shrimp genetics, explains I was involved from the
beginning and found a new,
working with INVE (Benchmark What areas are you
how shrimp breeding programmes exciting field with an excellent
Advanced Nutrition) to create
a synergy between genetics
currently focusing your
have evolved and outlines future team of young researchers.
and nutrition that will help both
research on?
I was hired as scientific director
opportunities with the introduction of CENIACUA in 2000 and since
companies. Learning from the
experience of other breeding
We are currently introducing
genomic selection for
of new technology. then I have been researching
shrimp diseases and genetics.
programmes has enriched ours resistance to WSSV and acute
enormously too. hepatopancreatic necrosis
I’m also proud to be working disease (AHPND) in our
with one of the best teams you populations. Our priority is to
can find — we’ve been working produce clean, safe, specific
together for many years and pathogen-free (SPF) animals
have people with experience in with high growth potential, but
all fields of shrimp breeding. We these must also be resistant
are a multi-disciplinary team with to pathogens and adapted to
environmental conditions.
36 37What achievements are What are the key specific pathogens for at least a misconception that resistance
24 months and must be raised is a qualitative trait and animals
you most proud of in the traits sought by shrimp
in highly biosecure facilities, are either resistant or susceptible,
shrimp field to date? producers — both in following biosecure management while tolerance is a quantitative
We’re very proud of having been
your region and globally? measures, with a suitable trait with different degrees of
able to keep the breeding programme surveillance programme in place tolerance that can be affected
The main trait targeted by
going during very hard times. In terms that uses both molecular and by the environment. In reality
shrimp producers in all regions
of academic achievements, we described histopathological tools. The key both traits are qualitative, and
is growth — we all need an
the effect of hyperthermia in WSSV term here is ‘specific’ — SPF both can be affected by the
animal that grows fast. In Latin
infection, we showed that apoptosis does not mean they are free from environment. It is very difficult
America, the widespread use
is part of the antiviral shrimp response, all pathogens, so the relevant therefore to say if a given line
of large earthen ponds means
we identified the negative correlation pathogens should always be is resistant or tolerant and the
that robustness is also a priority.
between growth and WSSV resistance listed. On the other hand, APE market is using the term SPR/
In recent years, after several
in P. vannamei and we have been able (all pathogens exposed) is a SPT. As for SPFs, if a line is
outbreaks of disease, Asia has
to produce robust shrimp with high term used to describe animals marketed as SPR or SPT it should
also been looking for animals
growth potential. that have been raised in ponds list the pathogen(s), they are
with high survival, making it a
or tanks where they have been resistant or tolerant against.
very interesting market for our
exposed to one or more pathogens
Is the commercial shrimp SPF/SPR animals. The key lesson
— either via challenge tests or What are the main
sector increasingly interested here is that one size does not fit
under culture conditions. The
all. We are developing different challenges the shrimp
in the power of genetics? term is misleading because the
lines — for example, early growth,
animals will never be exposed sector needs to overcome
Yes, although selective shrimp breeding is low salinity and WSSV-resistant and which of these
to all pathogens, but is the term
relatively recent compared to other species — that can be distributed to
different environments and
used at the moment. Those would you most like to
such as salmon, the market for broodstock animals can be carriers of the
has been steadily growing. The most culture conditions. have a role in solving?
pathogens and are a risk for
reliable data on the export of genetically transboundary movements. The main challenge for us
improved P. vannamei broodstock comes Can you explain the is to produce a fast-growing
from Hawaii, home to the some of the main The second group of terms,
difference between specific pathogen resistant
shrimp that is not only resistant
breeding programmes in the US. It shows
SPR, SPF, SPT and (SPR) and specific pathogen
to pathogens but is also resilient
that, from 2003 to 2015, the numbers of under commercial culture
broodstock increased from nearly 100,000 APE shrimp? tolerant (SPT), refer to way the
conditions. Growth in shrimp
in 2003 to 800,000 in 2015. In 2017, the shrimp deals with the pathogens.
Let’s start by classifying the has a very good heritability
export value was nearly US$ 30 million. Resistance is defined as the
four terms into two different and is very easy to select for.
There are also several breeding programmes ability to limit parasite burden,
groups: a) SPF and APE and b) However, the negative correlation
in Asia that are growing year by year. in other words to fight the enemy.
SPR and SPT. The first group is of these traits with resistance
Tolerance, on the other hand,
based on the sanitary status to some pathogens, such as
is the ability to limit the damage
of the breeders. Specific WSSV, and with environmental
caused by a given parasite
pathogen-free (SPF) animals conditions, such as low oxygen
burden — in other words, to live
i are those that have been tested levels, makes our work more
What is specific pathogen and determined to be free of
with the enemy. There are two
different types of defence against
interesting and challenging. It’s
resistant (SPR)? designated pathogens. Under pathogens present in plants,
a question of how to increase
growth rates without increasing
the guidelines established by invertebrates and vertebrates
USMFSP, SPF shrimp stocks mortality levels.
SPR shrimp refers to genetic characteristics and both mechanisms can
that allow them to be resistant to infection must come from a population even be negatively correlated.
from a particular pathogen or tolerant to that has tested negative for In shrimp literature there is
the development of the disease caused by
a particular pathogen.
38 39The numbers of broodstock increased from nearly 100,000 in 2003 800,000 to in 2015 40 41
Adopting
new technologies
Nonglak ‘Anne’ Thaisin, founder What inspired you to What have been your hardest
start producing shrimp? challenges to overcome so far?
and CEO of Quality Farm, has been
producing vannamei shrimp in Before starting my own shrimp business,
I worked at the government’s revenue
Shrimp farming is a never-ending learning
path. Challenges such as disease and
Thailand for 27 years. Here she department. One day, while on the bus shrimp prices are a farmer’s daily concern
explains how adaptability and the to work, I heard people talking about
how successful a shrimp farmer was in
and evolve and change frequently. This
makes us need to constantly monitor and
development of new production Kanchanadit District. After a good harvest analyse situations, think about solutions and
systems as well as new feeds and this farmer had made 400,000 THB profit
per pond, which, at that time, was very
quickly adapt to these evolving challenges.
Compared to when I first started, shrimp
INTERVIEW WITH
NONGLAK ‘ANNE’
health products is essential to impressive. This made me want to try
growing shrimp and I started by renting
farming is getting more and more difficult,
THAISIN maintaining sustainable production. a small six pond farm with help of a bank
due to the increased frequency of new
diseases and combination of diseases,
loan. After a successful harvest I was
such as, acute hepatopancreatic
able to use the profit to open a store
necrosis disease (AHPND), enterocytozoon
distributing aquaculture-related products.
hepatopenaei (EHP), white faeces syndrome
Three years later I resigned from my (WFS) and shrimp hemocyte iridescent
government job in order to focus full time virus (SHIV), as well as challenges related
on the shrimp industry as an aquaculture to environmental pollution.
product distributor and shrimp farmer.
I’m now producing about 280-330 tonnes
of shrimp per year.
42 43Which ones do bacteria, viruses and microsporidia), conduct
intestinal checks and histopathology and
you use and why?
check the water chemistry.
In terms of feeds I use the Sano S-PAK Once we have the analysis reports from both
range as well as FRiPPAK Raceway, as the lab and our on-site visual observations,
I don’t have a nursery at my farm but stock we will take actions accordingly and fine-
the post-larvae directly from the hatchery tune our production protocols if necessary.
to the grow-out farm. This means the
shrimp are small when first stocked into For example, if we see a rise in vibriosis
the grow-out ponds and would otherwise count in the environment over time, we will
struggle to find feed due the strength of use INVE’s Sanocare PUR to disinfect the
the currents from the paddle wheels as water, in order to reduce the concentration
well as the size of my ponds. The S-PAK of vibriosis in the environment. Six hours
range is therefore very important at the later we will apply Sanolife PRO-W, INVE’s
early stages, as its high quality protein Bacillus-based probiotic, which is designed
content makes it very enticing as well as to improve rearing conditions in the pond
giving it good water stability. This product (degrade waste and control algal bloom).
is very complete in terms of nutritional As a consequence of improved rearing
value but will also boost their health conditions, the abundance of harmful
since it contains immune-enhancer bacteria is reduced.
(not provided in regular starter diets).
FRiPPAK Raceway has very suitable
How do you choose
pellet sizes for the early stages of shrimp which products to be used
culture. It has the most complete nutritional in each pond?
What has been your Good feed also helps keep our workers profile for good shrimp growth, particularly
There are countless health products in
motivated, as they recognise particular at the early stages when the growth rate
proudest moment as a the market, for a wide range of prices and
brands for quality that brings them success is the highest.
shrimp producer to date? in production. At the end of a production I choose them based on their value and
returns. Some might appear expensive
My proudest moment was when I produced cycle it is the workers who request to use How do you help to ensure but are actually helping improve farm
a particular brand for the next crop.
330 tonnes of premium quality shrimp in the health of your shrimp condition, performance and profitability.
a single year. These shrimp were large, and maintain suitable water
attractively coloured and met both GAP Why did you decide to Another important point is their ease
quality in the pond?
2011 and BAP 2019 production standards. start using INVE’s advanced of use. For instance, Sanolife PRO-W
I’m proud that our shrimp are attracting environmental probiotics are highly
nutrition products? Firstly analysis is done, based on
buyers from the European market. visual observation compared to optimum concentrated (5x10e10 CFU/g) and do
First of all, INVE is a trustworthy company health standards and experience in not require fermentation. As the product
How important are diets in and known to be reliable. Since starting to shrimp production. This analysis is done can be directly applied to the water there’s
work with them I’ve been producing shrimp no risk of cross-contamination, unlike
ensuring the consistency and on the feed tray, by observing shrimp
those that require fermentation. When
successfully, and their products have helped behaviour, their colour, the content of
quality of shrimp production? me to prevent and solve the main production applying it in the pond we are sure
the gut, their shape, the faeces and the
challenges, such as white faeces syndrome leftover feed in the tray. about what is going into the environment
The quality of the feed is extremely
(WFS), early mortality syndrome (EMS), and get the results expected: control
important and many factors affect the Additionally, we sample the water and the
environmental pollution and vibriosis. Being of harmful bacteria, a reduction of pH
quality, such as the size of the feed shrimp once or twice a week and these
a distributor of aquaculture products, fluctuations and the creation of an
particles, palatability and smell, stability samples are then analysed in a lab. These
I’ve wanted to share my experience and optimum environment for the shrimp
in the water, the protein content and tests will help to check the water quality
recommend and encourage my customers throughout the culture period.
nutritional profiles. If the feed is correct it as well as the shrimps’ biological condition
helps us reduce the feed conversion rate to use INVE products in order to be as
successful as me. and we screen for pathogens (such as
(FCR) and thus maximise profitability and
the consistency of a diet is vital too.
44 45How has optimising your How do you think INVE can
feed and health strategies help you achieve your goals?
affected the performance By continuing to supply top quality Shrimp farming must constantly
of your shrimp ponds? products following good standard
manufacturing processes. Continuous
evolve and new farming and
Optimising our feed management
and health protocols have helped us
development of such products and production methods should be
achieve a consistent and sustainable
services to answer farmers’ needs in
a sustainable way will definitely help
studied and evaluated to overcome
level of production, which helps us
manage our cash flow. It has also
our shrimp business too. future challenges.
reduced the risks of challenges such
as disease outbreaks and our shrimp How do you see the shrimp
now have a consistent growth rate. sector as a whole developing
In our farm area in Surat Thani, for over the next decade?
example, white spot syndrome virus
Shrimp farming will become more difficult
(WSSV) outbreaks are very common,
every year. Problems and challenges such
but our farm has managed to avoid
as diseases, shrimp prices and regulations
infections from WSSV by using smart
will affect production. Added to that, global
disinfectants and probiotics to increase
competition is getting tougher, which also
biosecurity. Besides WSSV, WFS has been
has an impact on the business.
adversely affecting the zoo-technical
performance of the farms in the area The environment is deteriorating and
for about two years. We have also seen water and soil are getting more and more
this syndrome but only 10-15 per cent of polluted. Shrimp farming must therefore
our shrimp are affected and we can still constantly evolve and new farming and
control production until the shrimp reach production methods (such as indoor
our target harvest size, which tends to be farms, nurseries and zero-water exchange
between 15-25g, depending on market systems) should be studied and evaluated
demand. Other farms in the area have had to overcome future challenges.
to harvest prematurely when hit by WFS.
Another key factor for the successful
future of the shrimp industry is the ongoing
How would you like to see genetics work: improvements in disease
your own farm develop? resistance, growth rates and the adaptability
of shrimp to changing environmental
Shrimp farming relies on the surrounding parameters will be another factor needed
environment. Using products that are not for the sustainable development of
environmentally friendly and safe can our industry.
reduce the sustainability of the whole
shrimp industry. Our farm will therefore
develop in an environmental friendly way
to ensure the sustainability of the industry.
Our farm only uses registered products
that are safe for the environment and
our production methods have to be
sustainable — for example, minimising
the release of waste water and treating
it before release. Safety for the workers
must also be considered.
46 47Penaeus vannamei is
the leading farm-raised
species, representing
~80% of production 1
1
alifornia Environmental Associates (CEA). (2018) Shrimp
C
Aquaculture Landscape report prepared for Gordon and Betty Moore
Foundation’s (Moore) Ocean and Seafood Markets Initiative (OSMI).
48 49Insight into
disease
challenges
Can you describe your career I also play a role in the development
of cPCR diagnostic kits for shrimp, which
and experience to date?
is a piece of technology that we have
I have 30 years’ experience of working been using in the salmon industry for
with aquatic parasites and hold a PhD some time to provide quick real-time
in Veterinary Aquaculture. Before joining analysis of disease outbreaks. We are
Benchmark, I was the former head of trialing these cPCR kits as part of a project
aiming to improve health management in
Andy Shinn is Director of Fish Vet Aquatic Parasitology and senior lecturer
at Stirling University. shrimp farms in Thailand in collaboration
Group Asia, and a world renowned I joined Fish Vet Group (FVG) in Asia
with IDH — the Sustainable Trade Initiative,
the Walmart Foundation and the Sustainable
aquatic parasites expert. Here Andy five years ago, where I set up a research
aquarium and challenge facility in Chonburi
Fisheries Partnership (SFP).
explains why disease challenges to conduct disease challenge work. As well as testing new products and
in shrimp production is one of the What activities are you
identifying disease, another area of my
work is to understand some of the factors
industry’s most limiting factors. currently involved in, and how
that contribute to episodes of disease.
We have, for example, through a series
does your work contribute to of published trials looked at biofloc and
INTERVIEW WITH the sustainability of the sector? tilapia-conditioned greenwater on AHPND
ANDY SHINN related mortalities in whiteleg shrimp.
We now have three labs in Chonburi,
Thailand and I assume the management Disease and chemical use is a huge
of these. Our core activities include challenge not only for the shrimp industry
disease challenge work on whiteleg but for global aquaculture and if we are
and tiger shrimp, Nile tilapia, Asian able to develop preventative solutions to
sea bass and grouper where we create mitigate disease and reduce chemical and
environments for different bacterial antibiotic use this is a good step forward
and viral pathogens to trial our health for the industry.
and nutrition products and vaccines.
50 51Can you describe the In a cultural context, this can be
complicated and while it perhaps
current major disease
unfair to overgeneralise, the following
We stand on the edge of a great challenges in production? factors may contribute to increased
sea of possibilities, with the right The top three disease challenges rates of certain diseases:
tools we can glide across it or in shrimp are white spot syndrome
Farm management
virus (WSSV), acute hepatopancreatic
without them remain on the shore necrosis disease (AHPND) and The vast majority (ca. 80%) of Asian
wondering what opportunities Enterocytozoon Hepatopenaei (EHP). shrimp farms are of a small size which
may have been missed. The main threat of disease challenge means that farm budgets are limited.
is man — the Asian shrimp industry has In many states there is no mandatory
ANDY SHINN a mindset that must change. This includes disease testing of shrimp leaving
taking responsibility for the health and hatcheries or being added to ponds.
welfare of the stocks in their care.
Biosecurity
The scale of culture systems are such
that the implementation of biosecurity
measures are either physically difficult
or expensive.
i
Biofloc Water management
There is a vast range of farm systems
Biofloc in intensive closed culture systems is in operation from open, extensive through
favoured, as organic material can be recycled to intensive, closed systems — for those
by microorganisms to help break down waste sharing common water sources (e.g. rivers
and hazardous products (i.e. waste feed, faeces, and lakes), the challenges of maintaining
nitrogenous compounds) into non-toxic substances biosecurity are greater as good site health
and into aggregates of a protein-rich organic is in part also dictated by the level of
material consisting of bacterial biomass, biosecurity practiced by a farm’s neighbours.
microalgae, faecal material, protozoa etc., that
can be consumed back as additional protein Health surveillance
and feed by the shrimp.
The general rate of health surveillance
Interestingly, research showed significantly of stocked populations is low — many
lower levels of mortality when we challenged governments offer a free diagnostic
whiteleg shrimp with a pathogenic isolate of service which somewhat arguably shifts
Vibrio parahaemolyticus causing AHPND held some of the responsibilities of health
in biofloc or in greenwater taken from systems management; in many states there are
in which tilapia had been cultured. Such trials low, or in some states there are no stock
give us greater insight into the culture conditions movement records. There is also no
facilitating to disease outbreaks but, more compulsory destruction of diseased stocks
importantly, how we might manage and which means the probability for pathogens
control them. to persist and to spread is higher.
Image: Fish Vet Group team in
action on shrimp farm in Thailand.
52 53How is the industry working to Unfortunately farm production economics
all too frequently overrides health and
tackle the disease challenges?
biosecurity management.
There are a number of preventative In another study we have been involved
management initiatives that have in, we looked at a number of factors,
helped to reduce the challenge of including the probability of a disease
disease such as: outbreak, the intensity of production and
• Lining of ponds with polyethylene liners the investment in biosecurity measures.
Perhaps not surprisingly, in systems with
• Installation of shrimp toilets to collect
a low intensity of production with no or low
and remove faecal waste uneaten feed,
biosecurity, there are high probabilities
moults etc
of disease outbreaks, but these losses
• Better pond bottom management are generally low when outbreaks occur.
through the use of toilets and by
observing the distribution of sludge By comparison, for systems with high
following the draining of ponds and intensity production and with high levels
then redeploying aerators to ensure of investment in biosecurity, there are
proper pond bottom cleaning low probabilities of disease outbreaks,
however, the losses can be extremely high
• Cleaning and maintenance of liners
when disease events do occur.
• Water treatment
• Installation of crab and bird Do you think we will ever
predator nets
eradicate any of the major
• Stocking with shrimp that have been
genetically selected to be more
disease challenges?
resistant to disease No, a vision of eradication I think
There is, however, much to do such as: is unrealistic.
• Greater awareness of the routes In most cases, the key will be in the
of shrimp diseases development of better management and
control to minimise the magnitude and
• Disease testing prior to stocking
frequency of disease episodes and loss.
and throughout the production cycles
• Increased biosecurity Some of the bacterial and viral agents i
• Use of functional feeds that include
are so ubiquitous in their infection, What is a shrimp
that their eradication is unlikely. The
ingredients that help promote general
potential for viruses to mutate and pond toilet?
gut and shrimp health
for bacteria to acquire transposable
• Breeding of specific pathogen disease elements which may change A shrimp pond toilet is essentially exactly
resistant shrimp lines their current pathogenecities are also what it sounds like. A drain in the middle of
• Closed system farms that are less a concern. a circular or square shrimp pond that is used
susceptible to contamination and have to carry away excess solids and sludge.
effective on-site management. As shrimp toilets are more expensive to install
and maintain, they only really make sense in
intensive, super-intensive and hyper-intensive
systems where the capacity for a rapid build-up
of shrimp waste (or uneaten feed) can prove
toxic and dangerous to stock. This is why
tracking ammonia is critical.
54 55What diseases Where do you
are on the horizon? see the future?
Predicting the unpredictable I see more sophisticated
is a difficult question to answer whiteleg shrimp farms and
but perhaps not impossible management in the future.
as history can help inform There will always be challenges
our future. in any biological system,
however the implementation
We can learn from our past
of new technologies and better
experiences and, perhaps, where
management can help to
certain threats may arise and
reduce risks and create more
loosely in what form. There is,
sustainable systems.
therefore, a need to be prepared
and to have in place the tools There are a number of disciplines
for surveillance and for the early that I see as important in moving
detection of new threats. this forward.
As global aquaculture operations • Data and the continued
continue to intensify, greater development of farm analytics
environmental pressures placed which increases farm efficiency;
on viral and bacterial communities • Genetic technologies to
may consequentially lead to the breed stronger shrimp that are
emergence of new isolates with more robust and have a higher
increased virulence. level of resistance to disease;
With that said, we are aware • Diagnostic methods
of some more immediate threats with increased sensitivity,
such as shrimp hemocyte specifically detection of
iridescent virus (SHIV) which is pathogens at lower levels
causing losses in China. Again we which would thereby detect
need to be vigilant and to ensure the initial stages of infection
our programmes of surveillance and simultaneous diagnosis
include the necessary tests to of multiple diseases;
detect this pathogen in any • In-pond sensing — the
given population. use of eDNA approaches to
monitor the health of cultured
populations and in the early
detection of potentially
pathogenic agents;
The implementation of new
• Improved welfare standards technologies and better management
in commercial production
without the need to ablate
can help to reduce risks and create
an eyestalk of broodstock to more sustainable systems.
stimulate maturation, and in
humane methods of slaughter. ANDY SHINN
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