Latest news with #aquaculture
SBS Australia
13 hours ago
- Science
- SBS Australia
Gone fishing: DNA tech helps Traditional Owners map species at Budj Bim
Budj Bim is home to the oldest dated aquaculture system on earth. Comprised of channels, dams and weirs that control water flow, the aquaculture system has been used to contain floodwaters and trap, store and harvest eels for millennia. The World Heritage-listed landscape in southwest Victoria has been cared for by Gunditjmara people for generations. Now, traditional knowledge is being combined with western science to continue safeguarding the important cultural and environmental landscape at Budj Bim. Traditional Owners are using environmental DNA sampling to map fish populations and track ecological changes in the waterways. The surveys have already detected 53 species. Gunitj Mirring Traditional Owner Corporation Aboriginal water officer Nicole Hudson has been monitoring waterways at Budj Bim in Victoria. "We are able to trace where the Kooyang (short-finned eel) are travelling through our system, identify key endangered species and invasive species that are threatening our native cultural species," Ms Hudson told AAP. The technology, developed by EnviroDNA, takes a sample of particles left by living organisms in an ecosystem. "We're able to pick up the presence of that DNA that's left behind and take it to our laboratory and assign that to different taxonomic groups to tell you what animals are absent or present," EnviroDNA chief executive Jim Stuart said. Mr Stuart said the technology was a more powerful tool than observational techniques, as it provided definitive evidence on whether a particular species was present. The technology enables users to hone in on just one species or map the biodiversity of the entire ecosystem. For Ms Hudson, being able to map the biodiversity at Budj Bim helps fulfil a cultural responsibility thousands of years old. "It's our obligation to protect what our ancestors left for us," she said. "They planted the seeds and paved the path for us to walk in harmony with Country. "We read Country. It tells us what it needs, and when to step in to help it heal from pollution and unnatural changes. "Our connection is ongoing. We'll always care for our Country." EnviroDNA's technology has been employed in 25 projects involving 19 Traditional Owner groups across Victoria, NSW, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland. The projects have already covered more than 21,000 square kilometres of land and sea, and Mr Stuart said it was hoped the program could be further expanded to become national. "If we want to make lasting impact, we need to back Indigenous-led programs that are already working," he said.
Zawya
14 hours ago
- General
- Zawya
Saudi Aramco launches Regional Fisheries Development Center in Jubail
DHAHRAN — Saudi Aramco announced on Thursday the launch of the Regional Center for Sustainable Development of Fisheries (RCSDF) on Abu Ali Island in Jubail on the Arabian Gulf coast. The center, the Arabian Gulf Branch, was established in cooperation with the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture. Through this collaboration, Saudi Aramco aims to highlight its investments in citizenship initiatives and its efforts to drive economic growth, support local fishermen and their livelihoods, build expertise, and adopt the best practices to enhance production and cultivate fish of marketable sizes that can compete globally. The center is part of the company's broader efforts to protect marine life in the Arabian Gulf. It involves the establishment of a fish hatchery on Abu Ali Island, designed to produce local fish species that have experienced population declines due to fishing practices and to release them into Gulf waters. The center's operations are designed to encompass the complete fish life cycle within designated tanks, from broodstock for egg production to larval rearing using plankton produced on-site and finally to the release of juvenile fish into the Arabian Gulf. The hatchery employs advanced aquaculture technologies to ensure fish health, and it utilizes top-tier water recycling techniques to enhance performance and meet the company's circular economy objectives. The project aligns with Saudi Aramco's mangrove plantation initiative, under which more than 43 million trees have been planted to date. Mangrove forests provide vital nursery habitats for the juvenile fish released into the Gulf, further supporting the sustainability of marine ecosystems. Commenting on the center, Salem Al-Huraish, senior vice president of Community Services at Aramco, said: 'The center supports local economies through responsible and sustainable practices and contributes to improving the marine ecosystem. It also stems from Aramco's commitment to sustainability, as it aspires to achieve a positive impact on biodiversity.' He said that the company believes this center will make a significant contribution to the Arabian Gulf ecosystem, while simultaneously aligning with the objectives of the desired national aquaculture vision. It embodies a model for integrating biodiversity protection with economic sustainability. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Yahoo
a day ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Fish Suffer Up to 22 Minutes of Intense Pain When Taken Out of Water
Each year, a trillion or so fish are pulled from the water, typically destined for our plates. While it's hardly a pleasurable outcome for the animal, a new study has just put a sobering number on their suffering. Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) hail originally from the Pacific Ocean's cold water tributaries, but are now a popular food fish worldwide, farmed in every continent except Antarctica. Most of the time they are killed by asphyxiation, either in open air or ice water. While this is a cost-effective way to kill fish en-mass, an international team of biologists, led by Cynthia Schuck-Paim from the Welfare Footprint Institute, has found that each fish can experience up to 22 minutes of intense pain with this method. Animal suffering is a difficult thing to quantify, but scientists have recently developed a standardized framework that factors in the intensity of negative states like stress or pain and the length of time they're experienced. It's called the Welfare Footprint Framework, or WFF. The hope is that it will allow people who work with animals – biologists, veterinarians, zookeepers, farmers, etc – to compare and improve animal welfare standards. "Societal concern about the impacts of production practices on animal welfare is rising, as evidenced by consumer-driven movements, labelling efforts, accreditation schemes, policies and legislation that prioritize animal welfare," the study's authors write. "Our findings provide the first quantitative estimates of pain during fish slaughter, demonstrating the potential scale of welfare improvements achievable through effective stunning methods." Sifting through stacks of published scientific papers, the team created a detailed picture of the experience of a fish out of water. Just five seconds of air exposure triggers a neurochemical response we might associate with negative emotions in ourselves. Behaviors such as vigorous twisting and turning further demonstrate an intense aversion reaction. Without water, the delicate gill structures that exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide stick together, causing CO2 from respiration to accumulate. These rising levels trigger nociception – the body's alarm system – which causes the fish to gasp. Eventually the elevated CO2 levels acidify the animal's blood and cerebrospinal fluid, ultimately resulting in unconsciousness. Depending on the size of the fish, and the conditions in which it is slaughtered, these distressing experiences can last anywhere between 2 and 25 minutes. "When standardized by production output, this corresponds to an average of 24 minutes per kilogram, with over one hour of moderate to extreme pain per kilogram in some cases," the authors note. They estimate that electrical stunning, which has been proposed as a humane alternative for killing fish, could save up to 20 hours of moderate to extreme pain per US dollar of capital expenditure. But brain scans have found the effectiveness of electrical stunning can vary widely: ideally, the animal should be rendered immediately and wholly unconscious until death. With current stunning methods, this isn't always the case. "The welfare impact and effectiveness of any stunning method also depends critically on the entire harvest process, being affected by cumulative pre-slaughter stressors," Schuck-Paim and colleagues write. "The WFF can also be used for assessing the welfare impacts of these processes and identifying priority areas for effective intervention." While it's difficult for many of us to confront the cost of our human activities from an animal's perspective, this comparable measure of animal experience offers a clear picture of where improvements can be made for the welfare of our food stocks. By quantifying the pain associated with this most common fish slaughter method, we may find better ways to care for the billions of animals that feed us each year. The research is published in Scientific Reports. Tiny Moth Seen Navigating by The Stars in Scientific First First Signs of a 'Ghost' Plume Reshaping Earth Detected Beneath Oman Great White Sharks Were Scared From Their Habitat by Just 2 Predators
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Science
- Malay Mail
Smarter ponds, greener future: The UM robot changing Malaysian fish farming — Nuradila Zahirah Mohd Azmi
JUNE 19 — In the quiet townships of Pahang, something remarkable is happening beneath the still surface of fish ponds. Where once farmers relied entirely on manual labour to clean water and monitor quality, a new innovation is gliding across the pond — powered not by fuel, but by the sun. This is AquaRover — a solar-powered robotic water cleaner developed by a research team at Universiti Malaya (UM), led by Dr Archina Buthiyappan, a senior lecturer and researcher with a passion for merging technology with sustainability. Designed to help fish farmers manage water quality more efficiently, the robot is not only making waves in aquaculture but also contributing to Malaysia's broader food security and green technology agenda. 'Our aim was to solve multiple pain points at once — water quality, labour shortages, operational costs — all while keeping sustainability at the core,' says Dr Archina. 'AquaRover was born from that ambition.' Dr Archina with students of SMK Methodist ACS Klang. The floating innovation Aquaculture plays a vital role in Malaysia's food supply chain. But fish farmers have long struggled with recurring challenges: polluted water, algae blooms, disease outbreaks, and the rising cost of manpower. After engaging directly with fish farmers on the ground, Dr Archina and her team began designing a solution tailored to their daily realities. The result was a floating robot capable of autonomously cleaning pond surfaces by removing organic waste, algae, and leftover feed. Unlike traditional fuel-powered machines, AquaRover runs on solar energy — offering a greener, cost-saving alternative. But it doesn't just clean. Equipped with high-precision sensors, AquaRover also monitors critical water parameters such as pH, temperature, and ammonia levels. This real-time data allows farmers to take early action to prevent disease, reduce fish stress, and optimise feeding schedules — all of which translate into healthier fish and higher yields. Backed by RM222,000 in funding from the Komuniti@UniMADANI grant under the Ministry of Finance, the AquaRover prototype was put to the test at several hatcheries in Pahang. The results were immediate and striking. Farmers reported clearer pond water, improved fish growth, and fewer disease incidents. Feed conversion rates improved, allowing farmers to use less feed for better output. The reduction in manual cleaning not only saved time and cost, but also lessened the physical burden on workers. 'When the farmers saw how much clearer the water became — and how consistent the sensor readings were — the trust grew quickly,' explains Dr Archina. 'We also made design adjustments based on their feedback. This wasn't built in a lab bubble — it was shaped by the community.' The AquaRover prototype was put to the test at several hatcheries in Pahang. From hatcheries to classrooms and beyond Beyond commercial application, the project has also found a place in education. As part of a wider outreach initiative, the team brought AquaRover to secondary schools in Selangor, using it as a real-world teaching tool to spark interest in science, robotics, and environmental stewardship. Students from SMK Bandar Baru Sungai Long and SMK Methodist ACS in Klang were introduced to the technology through hands-on demonstrations. They learned how robotics, sustainability, and agriculture can come together to solve real-world challenges — planting seeds of curiosity that may one day grow into careers in STEM and innovation. The success of AquaRover has caught the attention of government agencies and industry players alike. With growing concern over climate change, food security, and rural livelihoods, this solar-powered robot offers a rare combination of high-tech precision and practical value. Dr Archina believes that the true impact of AquaRover extends beyond the ponds of Pahang. 'What we're building is not just a robot — but a new mindset for how we approach agriculture in a warming world. Clean energy, smart systems, and local input must go hand in hand.' As Malaysia looks to future-proof its agricultural sector, innovations like AquaRover offer a compelling glimpse of what's possible when research is grounded in community needs and driven by sustainable thinking. * Nuradila Zahirah Mohd Azmi is a postgraduate researcher at the Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya. Further details about the innovation may be acquired from Dr Archina Buthiyappan via email at [email protected] ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Cargill Cuts Vietnam Aquafeed Business in Global Restructuring
Cargill Inc. is exiting its aquaculture feed business in Vietnam, following a broader restructuring at the world's largest agricultural commodities trader. The firm said in a statement it is closing down two feed plants and a technical center in the Southeast Asian country, which is a top producer and exporter of aquaculture products. The decision was made after 'a thorough assessment of our aqua business, the industry landscape and competitive market environment,' and is in line with the trader's long-term business strategy, it said.
