Synthesis of FMSP Experience and Lessons Learned for Fisheries Co-Management, Final Technical Report

In November 2012, the UK Department for International Development (DFID) set the terms of reference for a commissioned assessment of fisheries and aquaculture science. The task was to complete a "scoping review", consisting of an in-depth assessment of the existing evidence related to fisheries and aquaculture activities in developing countries and their contribution to economic growth, food security and nutrition. For this the assessment was expected to identify the existing evidence and 'evidence in the pipeline' (i.e. to be published imminently) from the existing literature, compile it, and provide an assessment of the strength (in the sense, scientific rigor) of that evidence, and identify knowledge or evidence gaps. In addition the assessment was to be complemented by a mapping of existing relevant interventions in fisheries and aquaculture. In order to conduct this assessment, the team of consultants adopted a six step methodological protocol that allowed them to assess in a consistent manner the scientific quality of the documents included in the assessment, based on quality, size and consistency of the evidence. After scanning, 202 documents were retained. The main evidences from these 202 documents were organised under two main threads: (i) Developmental outcomes, including food security; nutrition; health; economic growth and (ii) Mediating factors focusing on governance; and gender

Attitudes towards the use of insect-derived materials in Scottish salmon feeds

Fishmeal is an important source of high quality protein in aquaculture, but concerns about its cost and sustainability are making it a less attractive feed material. Replacing fishmeal with plant proteins can impact on the nutritional quality of farmed salmon. In theory insect meals could be substituted for fishmeal without affecting the quality of the fish produced. They could also provide a way of adding value to the bio-wastes used to rear the insects. However little is known about consumer or producer attitudes towards the use of insect meals. This paper reports findings of a survey of consumer attitudes in the UK, towards the incorporation of cultured insect larvae (maggots) – derived feed materials into commercial formulated fish feeds for the Scottish salmon farming sector. It provides results of investigations on the attitudes of other stakeholders (salmon farmers, feed producers and fish retailers) via semi-structured interviews. Consumer attitudes towards the use of insect meal were found to be favourable (only 10% were opposed to the inclusion of insect meal in salmon feed; n=180), with vegetable waste being the preferred waste stream for rearing insects. The interviews suggest that feed and salmon producers are in principle open to the use of insect meals, provided the feeds are proven to be safe and reliable. However producing insect meal in sufficient quantity, quality and at a price that is competitive with existing feed materials will be challenging. In conclusion, a large part of the population is uninformed, or misinformed, about the benefits of insect-feed. Because people tend to know very little about feeds and their impact on the environment, they generally have no strong opinions about the subject, and purchasing decisions are guided by other factors. More information may increase awareness and likelihood that people will accept Insect-based feeds

A review of aquaculture production and health management practices of farmed fish in Kenya

Warm water aquaculture is widely practiced in Kenya and is dominated by the culture of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) (75% of total production) followed by African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) at 18%. Aquaculture started in Kenya in 1920's and has been on upward trend until 2014 when it peaked at 24,096 MT. However, production reduced drastically in the past 3 years, with 14,952 metric tonnes (MT) reported in 2016. Most farmers practice earthen pond based semi-intensive culture system. Commercial intensive culture of Nile tilapia (O. niloticus) in cages in Lake Victoria has grown significantly in the last five years with a production of 12 million kg of fish every cycle (about 8 months). Recirculation aquaculture system (RAS) is also gaining popularity mainly in intensive hatcheries. The freshwater cages have been marred by increasing frequencies of fish kills with obvious financial and environmental implications. Although limited information exists on fish disease outbreaks across the country, certain well known diseases in farmed fish have been reported. These include; fungal, mainly saprolegniasis, bacterial, mainly hemorrhagic disease and pop-eye diseases. Parasites have also been documented in farmed O. niloticus and C. gariepinus. Although prophylactic treatments are used in some hatcheries in order to prevent infections, limited biosecurity measures are in place to prevent diseases in farmed fish. This is because of inadequate knowledge of the economics of fish diseases, poor infrastructure and inadequate human resource specialized in fish diseases. This review describes the aquaculture production and health mangement practices of farmed fish in Kenya in order to document actions required for effective monitoring and regulation of future fish health problems across the country

Growing Green: the emergent role of non-tilapia attributes in marketing tilapia

This paper is focussed upon the emergent emphasis of environmentally friendly (ENVF) attributes in fish with particular regard to tilapia in the UK. The focus is upon the technical production issues, marketing implications, public health and adoption responses from a 3 years multidisciplinary Research Councils UK project which examined the prospects for UK (agricultural) farmers to diversify into production of warmwater tilapia. The proposed production process and product characteristics abound with green credentials, consistent with emergent market demands. This combination might enable small scale producers to access growing UK niche markets for fresh fish and to compete through upmarket positions with expanding EU tilapia imports. Having ascertained the wider market characteristics, primary research was undertaken through consumer focus groups and in-depth interviews with organisational channel members. The results supported the initial premise of niche markets existing for tilapia produced from local, small-scale environmentally-friendly units. Three target groups in the UK were identified: ethnic consumers, green consumers and discrete segments (gastro-pubs and upscale fish restaurants) within foodservice. Having established favourable market prospects the propensity of farmers to diversify into this novel area of activity was explored. Investigation of farmer entrepreneurship, undertaken in 2006 and 2007, explored perceived challenges in the new aquaculture venture. In-depth face to face and telephone interviews with agricultural farmers identified a number of factors that both encouraged and dissuaded them from diversification into tilapia. Despite the ongoing interests of some, and other emergent adopters, the majority seem disinclined to commercialise their interest. The paper concludes that a more holistic support perspective will be required to promote a more favourable reaction and reviews the prognosis for the success of local fish production

What influences the intention to adopt aquaculture innovations? Concepts and empirical assessment of fish farmers' perceptions and beliefs about aquafeed containing non-conventional ingredients

The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) has so far found few applications in aquaculture research. Using Rogers’ innovation adoption characteristics as a complementary framework, we explore its relevance in describing Indian carp farmers’ perceptions of the attributes of fish feed containing non-conventional ingredients (seaweeds, freshwater macrophytes, microalgae and microbes), and in understanding the factors influencing their intention to use these feeds. We find that fish farmers familiar with manufactured feed tend to have more positive attitudes to the inclusion of non-conventional ingredients in fish feed than those who are not. Perceived peer pressure, importance and benefits from the novel aquafeed, perceived comparative advantage and uncertainty regarding outcomes from its use are the main determinants of intention to adopt the proposed feed innovation. The combined application of the TPB and Rogers’ innovation framework provides valuable insights into fish farmers’ attitudes and behavioural intention towards innovation adoption, and we recommend its wider use for designing interventions that promote technological innovations and improved farm management. By exploring the underpinnings of intention to adopt an innovation, our study contributes to the literature on fish farmers’ behaviour and attitudes to innovations in aquaculture

Identification of Tilapia Lake Virus in Egypt in Nile tilapia affected by 'summer mortality' syndrome

Egyptian fish farms have faced unexplained mortality of tilapia during the summer months in recent years. Epidemiological surveys indicated that 37% of fish farms were affected in 2015 with an average mortality rate of 9.2% and a potential economic impact of around US$ 100 million. Despite a number of researchers and organizations investigating potential causes results so far have been inconclusive. Meanwhile recent reports emerged of the presence of a new orthomyxovirus, Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV) in Israel, which shares a border and migrating avifauna with Egypt. Tissue samples from seven farms affected by ‘summer mortality’ were tested at the University of Stirling for TiLV. Samples from three of seven farms tested positive using PCR; the first time that TiLV has been identified in Egypt. Sequence analysis yielded a TiLV sequence with 93% homology to the published TiLV sequence described from Israel. More research is required to determine if TiLV is linked to ‘summer mortality’

Evaluating the potential of innovations across aquaculture product value chains for poverty alleviation in Bangladesh and India

Evidence is presented that innovation across aquaculture value chains can contribute to poverty reduction through income generation and increased consumption of nutritious aquatic foods. Innovation is defined and contextualized in relation to aquaculture development. Opportunities for aquaculture innovation across value chains for poverty reduction and sustainable production are described. Contemporary trends in aquaculture development in Bangladesh and India, with a focus on 2011-2020, are reviewed, as understanding transformative change to aquatic food systems during this period could benefit millions of poor and marginal consumers. Market-led commercial production, instigated by private sector entrepreneurs for domestic markets, has underpinned the surge in freshwater fish culture in key geographical locations. In contrast booms in shrimp production have been associated with export opportunities and related cycles of boom-and-bust have been described, with busts attributed to falling market prices and disease outbreaks. Innovation could safeguard supplies of affordable fish to poorer groups (especially young children and pregnant and breastfeeding women) and enable better health management of aquatic animals including coordination of surveillance and disease control measures. Innovation to effectively promote better management practices and integrated services provision to large numbers of small- and medium-scale producers could contribute to poverty reduction. Opportunities for future innovation to ensure that aquaculture development is sustainable are critically reviewed. Innovative strategies to add value to byproducts and utilize waste resources could avoid negative environmental impacts, recycle nutrients and create income generating opportunities. A new paradigm for development assistance that identifies and supports promising innovation trajectories across jurisdictions, product value chains, institutional regimes and food systems is needed. Government agencies must be responsive to the needs of businesses throughout aquatic food systems and devise policies and regulatory regimes that support transformative and sustained growth of the aquaculture sector. Investment in capacity-building, education, research and training and action to promote an enabling institutional environment must be regarded as essential elements to maximize and share equitably the benefits arising and avoid potential negative impacts of inappropriate innovations

Effects of replacing fishmeal with black soldier fly larval meal in the diets of grower-finishing guinea fowls reared under tropical conditions

The study was conducted with the view to determine the impact of replacing fishmeal with black soldier fly larval meal (BSFLM) on growing guinea fowls. BSFLM replaced fishmeal (3% in the control diet) in the ratios of 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100% to produce six dietary treatments, which were iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous. Two hundred and forty-eight-week old guinea fowls with mean live weight of 273.2 ± 10.9 g were tagged, weighted, and randomly assigned to 24 (6 × 4) floor pens; each pen was treated as a replicate. Feed and water were provided ad libitum during the entire period, which lasted 10 weeks. Feed consumption differed among the treatment groups (P = 0.0072) with the 100% fishmeal diets recording the lowest. Daily gain was significantly (P = 0.009) higher for birds fed high BSFLM diets compared to the control (100% fishmeal diet). The inclusion of BSFLM in the diets elicited positive linear effect on weight gains of the guinea fowls (R2 = 0.91) with increasing concentration resulting in higher live weight gains. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) also differed between treatments (P < 0.05) but similar for the 100% fishmeal (control) and 100% BSFLM diets. Organ and haematopoitic integrity were equally assured regardless of levels of the protein sources fed to the birds. Generally, meats from birds fed 60 to 100% BSFLM and from hens were more acceptable. A study to evaluate the economics of utilising BSFLM in guinea fowl production is recommended

Diversification into the UK Market for Locally Produced Tilapia

This paper is focussed upon the marketing implications and adoption responses from a 3 years multidisciplinary Research Councils UK project which has examined the prospects for UK (agricultural) farmers to diversify into production of warm-water tilapia. The proposed production process and product characteristics abound with green credentials, consistent with emergent market demands. This combination might enable small scale producers to access growing UK niche markets for fresh fish and to compete through upmarket positions with expanding EU tilapia imports. Having ascertained the wider market characteristics primary research was undertaken through consumer focus groups and depth interviews with organisational channel members. The results supported the initial premise of there being niche markets for tilapia produced from local, small-scale environmentally-friendly units. Three target groups in the UK were identified: ethnic consumers, green consumers and discrete segments (gastro-pubs and upscale fish restaurants) within foodservice. Having established favourable market prospects the propensity of farmers to diversify into this novel area of activity was explored. Investigation of farmer entrepreneurship, undertaken in 2006 and 2007, explored perceived challenges in the new aquaculture venture. In-depth face to face and telephone interviews with agricultural farmers identified a number of factors that both encouraged and dissuaded them from diversification into tilapia. Despite the ongoing interests of some, and other emergent adopters, the majority seem disinclined to commercialise their interest. The paper concludes with an assessment of what might need to be done to promote a more favourable reaction and reviews the prognosis for the success of local fish production

Seafood in Food Security: A Call for Bridging the Terrestrial-Aquatic Divide

The contribution of seafood to global food security is being increasingly highlighted in policy. However, the extent to which such claims are supported in the current food security literature is unclear. This review assesses the extent to which seafood is represented in the recent food security literature, both individually and from a food systems perspective, in combination with terrestrially-based production systems. The results demonstrate that seafood remains under-researched compared to the role of terrestrial animal and plant production in food security. Furthermore, seafood and terrestrial production remain siloed, with very few papers addressing the combined contribution or relations between terrestrial and aquatic systems. We conclude that far more attention is needed to the specific and relative role of seafood in global food security and call for the integration of seafood in a wider interdisciplinary approach to global food system research.Additional co-authors: Neil L. Andrew, Gulshan Ara, Gill Banner-Stevens, Ben Belton, Malcolm Beveridge, Jessica R. Bogard, Simon R. Bush, Peter Edwards, Joao G. Ferreira, Angus Garrett, Iain Gatward, Faruk U. Islam, Marian Kjellevold, Froukje Kruijssen, Abullah-Al Mamun, Birgitte Krogh-Poulsen, Belinda Richardson, Nanna Roos, Elin Röös, Tori Spence-McConnell, Sharon K. Suri, Shauntala H. Thilsted, Kim D. Thompson, Michael F. Tlusty, Max F. Troell, Raffaele Vignola, Wenbo Zhan