A conceptual framework for risk management in aquaculture

Aquaculture is considered a high-risk industry in which the heterogeneity of the productions hinders the development and application of risk management. However, risk sources have still received little attention in aquaculture research. The present study aims to provide a framework of the main risk sources perceived by aquaculture producers. Firstly, we conceptualize the different dimensions and typologies of risks. Then, we integrate the main risk sources into a comprehensive framework based on a review of the literature providing empirical evidence on aquaculture producers' risk perceptions in different countries and aquaculture productions. Finally, the opinion of a panel of independent experts provides the vision of other relevant stakeholders in the value chain. This process allowed us to present a picture of risks in the aquaculture industry, consisting of eight risk categories, 19 risk types and 40 risk sources. The most relevant sources of risks for producers in the internal dimension are those related to operations (fingerlings, feeding, seeding and harvesting). In the external dimension, market risks (price variability, inputs price, and changes in demand) and production risks (climatic shocks and diseases) stand out. The perceptions of the stakeholders consulted highlight that producers tend to underestimate important risks, such as regulatory or financial ones. This picture provides a useful risk framework for policy makers, producers, scientists and other stakeholders to address such an essential first step in risk management and governance, the identification of risk sources

Explanatory model of the profitability of marine fish farming companies. Empirical application to the breeding of seabream (Sparus aurata) and european seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) in Spain

RESUMEN. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar cómo inciden los factores biológicos, técnicos, medioambientales y económicos en la rentabilidad de las empresas de piscicultura. Para ello se contrasta, con técnicas de análisis multivariante, un modelo empírico utilizando datos de empresas españolas de cría de dorada y lubina en el periodo 2005/2007. Los resultados muestran cómo los aspectos técnico-biológicos pierden importancia a medida que se estandarizan los procesos productivos, mientras que se incrementa la relevancia de los aspectos medioambientales y económicos.ABSTRACT. The aim of this paper is to analyze how the biological, technical, environmental and economic factors affect the profitability of fish farming companies. The empirical test is applied to Spanish companies of seabass and seabream farming during the period 2005/2007. Multivariate analysis techniques are used. The results show how technical and biological aspects lose importance as production processes are standardized, while the environmental and economic aspects increase their relevance

Dining out and appraisal of farmed fish.

Consumers’ lack of familiarity with aquaculture products and farm practices can cause aversion to farmed seafood. Surveys in Spain found that consumers who ate seafood at restaurants knew more about farmed species and ate more cultured seafood than those who only ate seafood at home. Inclusion of aquaculture products on restaurant menus helps increase the knowledge and consumption of farmed seafood by customers. Thus, the hospitality business is a useful channel to spread positive messages about aquaculture

Varied factors affect shrimp prices, sales. Spanish study finds wild sourcing, brands key to consumer choices.

In a review of hundreds of prawn sales offerings, four factors were ound to help prawns obtain above-average prices in the Spanish market. The most relevant was wild origin, which caused significant price increases in almost all cases. Brand was the second most mportant factor contributing to higher prices. Larger prawns with higher prices were preferred over smaller prawns. Although less important, fresh or defrosted prawns drew higher prices than frozen prawns

E.U. markets for seabass, sea bream: new marketing may help undifferentiated species regain sales.

With the increasing European consumption of seafood and the appearance of new products such as Pangasius, sea bream and seabass have become undifferentiated products with slipping sales. To reestablish their position will require processing that allows consumers to more effectively identify the products and differentiate their quality. The differentiation effort must also establish prices sufficient to offset the additional costs of this strategy and stabilize the performance of producers

Consumer attitudes toward aquaculture: spanish study correlates knowledge, opinions.

Consumer beliefs about the safety and sustainability of aquaculture are statistically related concepts that allow their reduction into a single attitude index. As consumers further identify safety and sustainability in the aquaculture, their opinions about farmed seafood tend to become more favorable. The industry can benefit by assuring that both conditions are satisfied in their operations and communicating them in an understandable language for all segments

Seafood mislabeling and consumer assessment.

Fraudulent mislabeling in the seafood supply chain usually involves substitution of wild species with farmed, and misidentification of common fish as more exotic species. A survey of Spanish households found confusión in how Pangasius fillets were named, labeled and marketed. As expected, consumers paid more when the fillets were sold as flounder. The consumers’ expectation of quality, in terms of taste and other attributes, associated with flounder conflicted with what they perceived with the mislabeled Pangasius and led to dissatisfaction

Operational Risk Management Tool Applied To Offshore Aquaculture.

Aquaculture managers must regularly make decisions that affect efficiency, competitiveness and economic performance. Although qualified managers can make excellent decisions, human nature potentially limits their results. To overcome this limitation when evaluating all possible strategies for maximized performance, firms can apply optimization tools. For example, a particle swarm optimization algorithm can be implemented to assist in determining strategies that maximize gross margins and minimize operational risk in both day-to-day and longer-term strategic decisions

El eco-etiquetado de productos pesqueros en España

RESUMEN: Aunque el mercado de eco certificaciones en España no haya alcanzado todavía su máximo desarrollo potencial, existe una amplia oferta de certificaciones alternativas para la industria agroalimentaria en general y el sector pesquero en particular. En este informe se revisan los esquemas de certificación disponibles más importantes en función de su presencia en el mercado español. El informe estudia, además, las principales características económicas y financieras de las empresas agroalimentarias españolas que tienen suscrito algún esquema de certificación, buscando patrones que puedan diferenciarlas del resto de competidores

El mercado de productos pesqueros en España: Efectos de la crisis en la producción y el consumo

RESUMEN: Este informe recopila y analiza la información que aportan las diferentes fuentes disponibles acerca de la estructura, situación y evolución del mercado de productos pesqueros en España. La descripción del mismo se aborda desde los varios niveles que integran la cadena de distribución de pescado, partiendo de la producción y transformación del producto hasta su consumo ya sea en hogares como en establecimientos de hostelería. El mercado pesquero español se contempla tanto en su dimensión nacional como internacional, y en esta última se destaca la importancia de España como un relevante país importador y exportador de productos de la pesca y la acuicultura. El informe se concentra en la evolución más reciente del mercado, que no ha sido ajeno a la crisis económica y financiera que soporta el país. Los efectos de esta se han hecho notar especialmente en el consumo, que no solo está declinando, sino que además se pueden observar ciertos cambios en los hábitos de compra