The USDA Market News Service reports feed ingredient prices for the week ending Apr 27, were mixed. Soybean Meal was mostly .50 to 11.00 lower. Cottonseed Meal was mixed, 4.00 lower to 10.00 higher. Whole Cottonseed was mostly 5.00 to 10.00 higher. Canola Meal was mixed, 5.50 lower to .50 higher. Linseed Meal was steady to 10.00 higher. Sunflower Meal was steady. Crude Soybean Oil was mixed, 15 points lower to 5 points higher. Crude Corn Oil was steady. Meat and Bone Meal was mixed, 14.00 lower to 10.00 higher. Blood Meal was 25.00 higher in California. Feather Meal was steady to 20.00 higher. Fish Meal was steady to 10.00 higher. Corn Hominy was steady to 5.00 higher. Corn Gluten Feed was steady to 10.00 lower, mostly steady. Corn Gluten Meal was steady to 40.00 lower. Distillers Dried Grains was steady to 15.00 higher. Wheat Middlings were steady to 7.00 higher with the exception of Minnesota, which was 8.00 to 10.00 lower

Fishmeal prices have surged in the past year to a record high of $1937 a metric ton, or over 85% in the last year, impacting aquaculture and piglet feeds around the world

Whereas the recent global expansion of aquaculture is unlikely to continue at the same pace, certain regions have underexploited resources and offer considerable potential for further development. A Delphi method was used to identify and analyse opportunities and major impediments to aquaculture development globally and by region. Findings of this effort were reported in a recent FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper, Prospective analysis of aquaculture development: The Delphi method. Although results varied among regions, there was a general consensus that aquaculture should be encouraged given, among other reasons, itspotential contribution to food security and poverty alleviation and the role of aquaculture in reducing pressure on wild fisheries. The report contains valuable information for policy-makers wishing to promote aquaculture

A recent FAO Fisheries and Technical Paper, Commercial aquaculture and economic growth, poverty alleviation and food security - Assessment framework, proposes methods for quantifying the contribution of aquaculture to national economies, poverty alleviation and food security in order to improve the much-needed political and financial support to the sector for its adequate development. Ways to measure the three dimensions of food security - availability, access, contribution to food utilization - are described and explained

Asian Development Bank Pacific Studies Series.
Includes aquaculture for the first time.

Food & Water Watch (FWW) has launched an attack on Hawai'is aquaculture industry in a scathing report

Peru's fishmeal production for 2010 has been estimated at 1.40 million tonnes, about the same as 2009, while exports are expected to decline slightly to 1.3 million tonnes. There is a great deal of uncertainty in Peru about the final figure for the fishing quota for next season, which will begin in late April or early May. It is speculated that the quota may be reduced by about 500 000 tonnes compared with the 2009 quota, which will result in lower availablity of about 125 000 tonnes of fishmeal in the market. A stronger than expected El Niño is likely to impact the anchovy resource, resulting in a lower quota this year

The report provides examples of contributions US soybean farmers are making to assist in building a strong domestic aquaculture industry. It describes ten of the numerous projects, ranging from education to policy, presently funded by U.S. farmers. They are part of the estimated $1.4 million provided for domestic aquaculture in FY10 alone by both the national and state soybean associations through the national soybean check-off and, for lobbying, from soybean farmer membership funds.
By Gil Griffis, Soy in Aquaculture New Uses Consultant, United Soybean Board

The sixth annual USB-Aquaculture Industry Coalition meeting was held at the Town & Country Resort and Convention Center in San Diego, CA from 07:30 -12:00 on March 4, 2010. The meeting was divided into five sections, with the objective of providing an overview of the state of (.S. domestic aquaculture and soybean industries. This report provides a summary of the presentation given at the meeting.
By Gil Griffis, Soy in Aquaculture New Uses Consultant, United Soybean Board

2010 gulf menhaden landings of 463,000 tons forecast, with 80% confidence levels of 344,000 and 582,000 tons

Blackspot seabream is a prized fish on many Spanish tables but it grows slowly at sea, is heavily overfished and is incredibly difficult to farm. No European company had successfully bred it until one Galician company teamed up with a local partner and Norwegian nutritionists to develop a method as a EUREKA project

A new service was added to the WTO’s set of tools for finding out information on customs tariffs

The regional quarterly aquatic animal disease (QAAD) reporting system provides a mechanism for aquatic animal disease information sharing amongst 21 participating governments in the Asia-Pacific region. The QAAD reporting system is a joint activity between NACA, FAO and OIE Regional Representation (Tokyo). The 2009/3 QAAD report - 45th in the series, includes disease information from 16 countries and the foreword provides some information about SPS Measures and OIE Aquatic Code. Download report (PDF) from link below.

Lack of farming output caused some trouble in the industry but in the end the Pangasius processors in Vietnam have been “saved by the bell” – the value of exports reached nearly the 2008 level and ended at 1.3 billion US Dollars

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Global Agriculture Information Network has released an Export Certificate Update for China
Download report from the link below (PDF)

Total catfish feed delivered in the United States during November was 22,594 tons, up 53 percent from November 2008, but down 44 percent from the previous month

Changes to current practices would be needed to satisfy global food demand

Dr Albert G.J. Tacon and Dr. Mohammad R. Hasan, FAO Fishery Resources Officer (Aquaculture) seek help in collecting information for a thematic review on "Assessment of demand and supply of aquaculture feed ingredients to meet the future aquaculture production"

Total catfish feed delivered in the United States during October was 40,186 tons, down 33 percent from October 2008 and down 53 percent from the previous month. Foodsize catfish feed delivered totaled 38,828 tons, down 34 percent from the corresponding month a year ago

College of Animal Life Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea