The only specialised marine publication in Oceania that focuses on the maritime industry, from super yachts to small craft to large commercial ships, including coastal shipping, tugs, tow boats, barges, ferries, tourist, sport-fishing craft
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NEWS SALMON DIET IS LOW ON ANIMAL PROTEIN The New Zealand King Salmon Company says it has achieved exceptional results by feeding its fi sh a diet containing only eight percent fi shmeal. It said the salmon produced 1.4 kilos of protein for every kilo of fi sh protein in the diet, and the fi sh equalled the best summer commercial performance, doubling in size from 800g to 1600g. "We wanted the trial to show whether we could use Skretting diets formulated with the MicroBalance concept to have lower fi shmeal levels in order to manage diet costs in the face of rising marine protein prices," said Mark Preece, general manager of aquaculture at the company. The group ran the trial in experimental sea cages at its Ruakaka Seafarm in the Marlborough Sounds. The farm contains nine sea pens of 125 m3 , each capable of growing about 350 chinook salmon to harvest size. Three diets were tested: a standard Skretting commercial diet comprising 30 percent fi shmeal and two experimental diets of eight percent fi shmeal each. They all included animal protein such as blood meal, but one of the two eight percent diets had lower protein than the commercial diet. To understand the performance of reduced-fi shmeal diets under challenging summer conditions, the trial ran for 80 days from early December 2010 to late February 2011. Growth and mortality were statistically equal in all three groups. "While it is possible to make low-fi shmeal diets that don't work well, the results from this trial demonstrate there is no performance hit when using low fi shmeal in summer if the fi shmeal is substituted appropriately," said Skretting's New Zealand technical account manager, Ben Wybourne. Skretting's researchers identifi ed certain micro-nutrients present in fi shmeal that proved to be essential to the fi sh, which let them fi nd alternative sources of them. "We can guarantee the digestible nutrient content of a diet, while varying the levels of raw materials over a much wider range, according to their availability and cost," Wybourne said. The results will allow the company to lower fi shmeal in all its production diets, Preece said, as the new method is substantially less costly. TOP LEADER JOINS SALMON COMPANY BOARD Sir Eion Edgar KNZM joined the board of Mt Cook Alpine Salmon Ltd on September 12. The chairman, the Rt Hon James Bolger, said Sir Eion would bring his extensive experience and commercial expertise to the company, as well as taking a private shareholding. The company was experiencing over 100 percent growth per annum, and was in the middle of a $20 million capital expansion designed to see a signifi cant increase in export production within the next fi ve years, Sir James said. Sir Eion is chairman of the sharebroking and investment banking company Forsyth Barr Group Ltd. He was previously chairman of the New Zealand Stock Exchange and a director of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. "I believe now is a good time to be moving into this sector," he said. In 2004 he was named NBR New Zealander of the Year and was also inducted into the Business Hall of Fame. Last year he was awarded the title of Senior New Zealander of the Year at the inaugural New Zealander of the Year Awards. Sir Eion was knighted in 2009. FUND NOW INCLUDES AQUACULTURE A New Zealand government fund supporting community-based growth and innovation in the rural sector now includes fi sh farming. NEW DIRECTOR HAS INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE Aquaculture New Zealand has appointed Colin Johnston to fi ll the role of technical director. Johnston has 18 years of scientifi c, planning and management experience across private enterprise and government in three countries. He will draw on his unique set of skills to lead the aquaculture industry's research and development strategy and manage Aquaculture NZ's innovation, environmental, regional technical and bio- security portfolios. He was previously principal advisor on aquatic animal health at MAF, where he became well known in the industry for his work in diagnosing the oyster herpes virus that struck earlier this year. Prior to his fi ve-and-a-half year stint with MAF, Johnston worked for the South Australian government as general manager of aquatic resources, where he looked after the aquatic animal health, research and development, environment and aquaculture zone policy development portfolios. Before moving to Australia, he looked after 50 farms, 40 million fi sh and a 35,000 tonne annual production as the veterinary services manager for Marine Harvest, in Scotland. 4 ■ NZ AQUACULTURE ■ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011 Farmers doing work related to the economic and environmental performance in the marine and land-based aquaculture industry can now apply for funding through the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's Sustainable Farming Fund. The fund is open for applications and is accepting proposals for grants of more than $25,000 until September 26, and of less than $25,000 until February 2012. "The SFF already invests up to $9 million a year in projects led by farmers, growers and foresters, often with technical support from industry groups and research organisations," Agriculture Minister David Carter said on August 19. "The fund has assisted around 800 projects over the years, from avocados to wine, so it makes sense to include a growing aquaculture industry." The aquaculture sector is currently worth over $350 million per annum but had not previously enjoyed access to funding for community-led projects, said Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley. "Legislative changes just passed aim to see aquaculture grow to more than $1 billion by 2025. I'm sure the industry will welcome access to the SFF during what will be a critical growth period." Aquaculture New Zealand said it welcomed the government's announcement. The chief executive, Mike Burrell, said the funds would offer aquaculture operators opportunities to invest in projects that will deliver economic and environmental profi ts to the wider industry. The funds would allow New Zealand marine farmers to invest further in sustainable development, including innovative technology. "Environmental sustainability, market development, science and innovation are key pillars to the New Zealand Aquaculture Strategy," Burrell said. AQUA DES ACHIEVES UK ACCREDITATION The disinfectant Aqua Des has been accredited in the United Kingdom by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for use by health professionals and fi sh farmers. According to Neil Crawford of Aquatic Hygiene, Aqua Des can be diluted in seawater without loss of effi cacy. "The oxidiser naturally breaks down into oxygen, water and carbon dioxide. "Such independent verifi cation of effi cacy provides fi sh health professionals, regulators and auditors alike with their required level of assurance. The effi cient application of Aqua Des promotes the maintenance of good health and welfare," says Crawford. "Environmental legislation and standards for disinfection is very demanding and our product has passed all the stringent test criteria." The disinfectant had achieved excellent