Environment and innovation
The Summit showcased some of the brightest ideas in sustainability for aquaculture
Once again, the annual Aquaculture UK event has been postponed until May next year. Instead, organisers Diversified Communications presented a Virtual Sustainability Summit over 18 and 19 May, sponsored by DSM and Veramaris. The first speaker was Dr Melanie Siggs, Director, Global Aquaculture Alliance who talked about aquaculture and its relevance to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. I particular, she stressed that aquaculture produces lower greenhouse gas emissions per kilo of protein produced, compared with land-based equivalents. She also pointed out that aquaculture can claim a much more efficient feed conversion ratio. In all, she said, food grown in the sea will make a major contribution to feeding a human population that could reach a predicted 9.8 billion by 2050.
Dr Siggs also talked about the initiative to minimise waste in all forms of seafood production, including bycatch. She said: “We should commit to using 100% of every fish taken out of the ocean and every animal we farm.”
Chris Ninnes, Chief Executive of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) noted that in one decade, the ASC has grown substantially and now certifies 1,400 farms, representing 1.85m tonnes of production.
Looking ahead to the ASC’s feed standard, which launches later this month, he said it would require good practice and compliance with the law, a code of conduct for certified producers, proper due diligence, improvement in fisheries practices and a commitment that plant ingredients used in feed would not lead to deforestation.
He said: “We advocate using data to prove impact and drive change.” Ninnes also defended the ASC against charges that it is less than transparent, pointing out that draft and final audits have always been posted online, and in future will be all-digital, making them even more accessible.
He said: “If we do not make information available and transparent, it is harder to overcome the challenges we face.”
The Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation hosted an online panel discussion with SSPO Chief Executive Tavish Scott; the SSPO’s Head of Technical, Ian Berrill; Kate Stronach, Mowi Scotland’s Communities Manager; and Joanna Peeling, Head of HR, Scotland with Mowi.
Kate Stronach talked about some of the community projects her company had undertaken, from housing to education and activities for young people. Joanna Peeling said that in the areas where Mowi farms, challenges include an ageing population and outmigration on the part of young people, so fish farming was playing an important part in providing opportunities for them to stay and work in their local community.
Tavish Scott and Ian Berrill also took questions on a number of topics, including how to implement and measure the SSPO’s Sustainability Charter and the importance of innovation to the industry.
The Summit also included a presentation from the team at DSM and Veramaris, a joint venture between DSM and Evonik set up to develop a new source of algal oils as an aquafeed supplement.The algal oil produced by Veramaris is the first based on natural, non-genetically modified marine algae to win an MSC-ASC certification.
They were joined by Aisla Jones, Fisheries and Aquaculture Manager with the Co-op UK, who explained that as a responsible retailer, the Co-op is keen to promote the adoption of more sustainable ingredients for aquafeed.
She said: “Marine ingredients can be ‘demonised’, but if we are looking to replace them, we need to ensure that it’s from a responsible source.”
The second day was kicked off by Heather Jones, CEO of the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC), who said: “There’s a Blue Revolution coming, and aquaculture is right at the heart of it.”
She said SAIC was backing research into some key topics in the industry, from looking at new, sustainable feed and feed additives to how to maximise the welfare of ballan wrasse as cleaner fish. SAIC is also promoting opportunities for women to progress in aquaculture. The team from the Institute of Aquaculture at the University of Stirling also gave a presentation outlining the Institute’s range of research covering the whole industry “from farm to fork”, including the impact of climate change, exploring whether new species are candidates for domestication and how to prevent the spread of disease.
Finally, Dr Jenny Bouwsema of Ace Aquatec Canada explained how the new generation of acoustic deterrent devices (ADDs) is using an “acoustic startle response” (ASR) approach to change seal behaviour without harming the seals, or other marine mammals.
The UK industry may have had to give up the chance to mingle at Aviemore again this year, but there was plenty of food for thought to be had from the Sustainability Summit.