Organic Aquaculture Production Research Articles

Organic Aquaculture and Organic Feeds

Environmental awareness is increasing around the world, however, the production of eco-friendly food products has started to gain importance in order to protect nature and reduce dependence on it. In addition, due to the awareness of people, it increases the demand for healthy foods. As a result, organic farming is developing and the number of organic product farms is increasing. Organic aquaculture products have also started to take their place in this big market. Although many of the rules and standards applied in organic agriculture are similar, the rules of organic aquaculture products contain differences on the basis of species. Significant progress has been made with the organic aquaculture production standards determined by international organizations and each country. Organic aquaculture defines organic aquatic organisms that are fed with organic feeds approved by authorized organizations and grown in accordance with all organic farming standards. The main principles of organic culture; health, ecology, fairness and care. Therefore, these basic principles are adhered to when determining organic aquaculture standards. In this review, general and current information were given about the organic aquaculture and organic feeds.

STATE AND PROSPECTS OF ORGANIC AQUACULTURE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT IN UKRAINE

Topicality. The development of organic production of fish and other aquatic organisms in the world is considered as a component of the EU Biodiversity Strategy until 2030, the Farm to Fork Strategy together and the EU Action Plan on organic production, which are adopted in the EU. The main task of this sector is not only food, but also environmental protection, as it involves minimizing pollution of the aquatic environment, controls technological processes along the entire food chain, and ensures the sustainability of the agro-food system.Aim and tasks. Taking into account the specified strategic directions, the following tasks are set in the work: to investigate global strategic initiatives regarding the sustainable development of aquaculture; assess the state of national legislative support for organic production; determine regulations for organic aquaculture production; to analyze the priorities of aquaculture development and the state of organic aquaculture production in the world; provide recommendations for the development of organic aquaculture in Ukraine.Materials and Methods. The assessment of the state and trends in the sector of organic aquaculture, strategic documents and priorities of its development in the world was carried out using methods of logical analysis. The generalization and comparison of data on the prospects for the development of the organic aquaculture sector in Ukraine, as well as the formation of recommendations for the development of organic aquaculture in Ukraine in the context of global strategic guidelines and practices, was carried out using methods of statistical analysis.Research results. The work examines the state, trends in the organic aquaculture sector, strategic documents and priorities for its development in the world, and as a result, in the context of modern requirements for organic aquaculture, barriers and prospects for the development of the organic aquaculture sector in Ukraine are determined.Conclusion. The task of the state is not only to initiate, but also to create conditions for the development of any directions. A comparison of national legislative initiatives and world developments in the field of organic aquaculture shows the stagnation of this direction. The first steps have been taken, but this is not enough to use the natural resource potential of the Ukrainian Black Sea regions and, in particular, the Odesa region.

State regulation of fish market development and organic aquaculture products in Ukraine and worldwide

State regulation of fish market development and organic aquaculture products in Ukraine and worldwide

EVOLUTIONARY PROCESSES OF THE FORMATION OF BASIC APPROACHES REGULATING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ORGANIC AQUACULTURE MARKET IN THE GLOBAL FOOD SYSTEM

In this article considered basic approaches to the formation of methodical approaches to the development of organic aquaculture in the global food system. The market situation is considered and medium-term forecasts of the world markets of fish products and products of aquaculture and organic aquaculture for the period from 2017 to 2029 are based on the results of calculations. The paper presents options for expected changes in prices, production, consumption and trade of fish, fishery products, organic aquaculture. The main risks are substantiated that may affect the world markets of fish farming and organic aquaculture during the next ten years are. It was analyzed and found that the formation of supply for aquaculture products in the world is forecast at the level of more than 91 million tons. Using the most recent data, fisheries and organic aquaculture declined during 2021, while organic aquaculture production increased by 2%. At the same time, production from industry decreased by almost 4%.It has been established that the total loss of income for subjects of economic activity can affect the reduction of fish consumption in developing countries. This is due to the fact that demand is relatively elastic in relation to income, and the variability of weather conditions, due to climate change and the change in the frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events will have a significant impact on the availability and trade of organic aquaculture products in conditions of extraordinary challenges for both Ukraine and the world. In this article considered approaches to the possibility of applying these forecasts based on stable macroeconomic and climatic conditions during the studied period and makes assumptions about the impact of Chinese policy on the production of organic aquaculture products. From 2017 to 2029, nominal prices for organic aquaculture products are shown to increase by 1.5 to 2.1% per year over the next ten years. Proposals for short-term organic aquaculture production are provided to avoid the problem of labor shortages, to take into account new regulations designed to contain the pandemic and the blockade of transport routes, and to pay attention to the aspects of reducing the demand for fish and fish products at the level of global food supply

Consumer Preferences for Farmed Seafood: An Italian Case Study

ABSTRACTEuropean consumers prefer wild over farmed aquatic food and consider it healthier and tastier. Consumers are increasingly paying attention to sustainability and welfare of farmed fish. Such expectations might be met by organic certification, but this represents a cost for the producer. It is crucial to know consumer habits about farmed aquatic food consumption and willingness to pay for certification. Data about Italian consumers’ preferences regarding farmed organic aquatic food were collected by an online questionnaire. A total of 8,657 answers were analyzed, patterns associated with demographics were investigated, and the degree of correlation among answers was calculated. The majority (75%) of family units buy less than 2 kg of farmed aquatic food per month, spending on average 20–50 €. About 40% never consume organic aquaculture products because of lack of knowledge, unavailability, and high price. Slightly over half (55%) of consumers, regardless of age, sex, and area, were willing to pay a premium price for organic-certified aquatic food, seen as antibiotic free, traceable, and sustainable. Organic food in general is well known, and distrust is the main reason that consumers avoid it, while organic aquatic food is still in its infancy, and lack of knowledge is associated with low consumption.

Формування пропозиції на органічну продукцію аквакультури в Україні та Європейському Союзі в контексті модернізації системи збирання статистичних даних

Формування пропозиції на органічну продукцію аквакультури в Україні та Європейському Союзі в контексті модернізації системи збирання статистичних даних

Functioning of the organic aquaculture products market inUkraine and the world in the context of innovative economy

Subject of research - The current stage of social development requires thedevelopment and implementation of a new model of the Ukrainian economy, whichinvolves combining the interests of consumers and producers of products, preservingthe environment, improving the health of the population and improving theenvironmental situation. The production and distribution of organic produce shouldfind its place in this new model. The international community has accumulatedconsiderable experience in addressing these issues, so its study and constructive usecan help shape a new national economy. The purpose of the article. Development ofscientific, methodological and practical proposals in order to ensure the functioningof the market of organic aquaculture products in Ukraine and worldwide and toregulate the aquaculture sector in a competitive environment and innovativedevelopment of aquaculture. The methodology of the work. The theoretical andmethodological basis of the research is the system of both general scientific andspecial methods of scientific cognition, fundamental provisions of modern economictheory and practice. Methods such as monograph-in formulating approaches, whichestablishes an agreed set of rules for regulating the collection of information on thestate of the environment, technical and socio-economic parameters of the organicaquaculture sectors, and economic and statistical-in determining and calculatingthe main indicators of organic aquaculture production in an innovative economy. Theresults of the work-methodological approaches to the development and functioningof the organic market of agriculture and aquaculture have been proposed andconceptual bases have been substantiated in the context of improving the instrumentsof state regulation of the organic market in Ukraine. Conclusions. Conceptualapproaches to the formation of organic agriculture and aquaculture supply in themarket are to recreate “production activity” in natural agro-ecological systems, basedon ecological processes, biodiversity and, adapted to the conditions of innovativeeconomy, to combine traditions, innovations and achievements science to achieve theplanned level of economic indicators, improve social indicators and maximumconsideration of the interests of all groups: producers, consumers, the state.

The Impact of Animal Welfare and Environmental Information on the Choice of Organic Fish: An Empirical Investigation of German Trout Consumers

This article examines the effect of information on consumer preferences for farmed fish in the context of EU organic aquaculture production principles. A choice experiment was used to examine German consumers’ preferences for farmed rainbow trout. Respondents were split into separate groups, each receiving different levels of information about organic aquaculture production. The results show that most consumers have positive preferences for organic labeled fish, translating into an average additional willingness to pay €1.2/kg relative to nonorganic farmed trout. Informing consumers specifically about animal welfare consequences associated with the organic label significantly increases the likelihood of choosing the labeled product and increases the marginal willingness to pay €2.4/kg for organic trout. No effect was found when providing additional information about environmental consequences. Hence, focusing on animal welfare when promoting organic aquaculture production is likely to resonate with consumers, thereby potentially increasing market shares and producer revenues.

Analysis of Organic Pangasius value chain in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Organic products remain a niche market in most countries and there is relatively little international trade in organic aquaculture products (Smith et al., 2005). The newly emergent organic products tend to exclude small-holders due to reasons of high certification costs, smaller volumes they produce, and tighter control of product quality. The paper looks at some of the opportunities that exist for small-holders to enter organic schemes and compete in the niche markets. Importantly, the constraints and risks that are involved will be debated. The ability of small farmers to organize and obtain the certification is questioned and the mechanisms to facilitate this will be discussed. The value chain concept, quality management, the theory of institutions and transaction cost economics, will be applied to analyze how the coordinated efforts of various stakeholders can be developed to achieve a better product quality and quality assurance.

Assessing stakeholder's experience and sensitivity on key issues for the economic growth of organic aquaculture production

Participatory management is widely recognised as a working method of paramount importance, based on the principles of knowledge sharing, accountability and legitimacy. Hence, it is broadly considered suitable for addressing issues related to the sustainable development of the seafood industry, and specifically, of the aquaculture system. A survey focused on the current EU regulatory framework was carried out to elicit stakeholders’ preferences, knowledge and experience on key issues for the development of organic aquaculture, supported by science-based regulations. The survey was completed by 65 stakeholders belonging to several categories, and it was supported by the implementation of the Analytic Hierarchy Process method. Stakeholders’ preferences were elicited on organic production methods and control systems, the quality of the environment and organic products, fish health and welfare. The views expressed by the participants revealed both competence and awareness, despite the complexity of the subject. Several ideas and useful suggestions emerged regarding unresolved technical issues. In addition, the need for a targeted communication strategy on the quality of organic aquaculture products and the necessity of fostering European/national programs to support the production and marketing of organic aquaculture products were highlighted.

Of earth ponds, flow-through and closed recirculation systems — German consumers' understanding of sustainable aquaculture and its communication

Although aquaculture can have various positive effects, it is also criticized for its potentially negative impacts on the environment and for its consequences on fish welfare. One solution to these problems and a promising development track for the German aquaculture sector is the promotion of sustainable production methods. The establishment of a new market segment for domestic, sustainable fish from aquaculture would suit the trend towards ethical consumerism. Thus far, only little is known about the consumers' knowledge and perception of different production methods used in aquaculture especially in comparison to each other. Against this background, the present contribution aims to explore perceptions and knowledge of German consumers with regard to sustainable aquaculture, its production systems, related labels, and communication messages. Focus groups were used to obtain insight into the multitude of consumers' perceptions. One result is that consumers, even though they had little knowledge of aquaculture, often had a limited need for information about aquaculture. For the most part, they were unaware of potential problems resulting from aquaculture. However, they had some clear expectations on sustainable aquaculture. The use of drugs (e.g. antibiotics) should be minimized; production systems should be near-natural and should respect fish welfare. Earth ponds were the most desirable of the presented production systems. Participants were mostly unfamiliar with existing labeling schemes and found the presented communication messages too vague and/or too complex. They wanted to rely on the aquaculture industry to comply with sustainable standards. Our results leave the aquaculture sector with the task of communicating sustainable aquaculture in a reliable and comprehensible manner to consumers. Thus far, consumers who are generally interested in sustainability issues seem to prefer organic aquaculture products to products from other forms of sustainable aquaculture.

Skeletal anomaly monitoring in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum 1792) reared under different conditions.

The incidence of skeletal anomalies could be used as an indicator of the “quality” of rearing conditions as these anomalies are thought to result from the inability of homeostatic mechanisms to compensate for environmentally-induced stress and/or altered genetic factors. Identification of rearing conditions that lower the rate of anomalies can be an important step toward profitable aquaculture as malformed market-size fish have to be discarded, thus reducing fish farmers’ profits. In this study, the occurrence of skeletal anomalies in adult rainbow trout grown under intensive and organic conditions was monitored. As organic aquaculture animal production is in its early stages, organic broodstock is not available in sufficient quantities. Non-organic juveniles could, therefore, be used for on-growing purposes in organic aquaculture production cycle. Thus, the adult fish analysed in this study experienced intensive conditions during juvenile rearing. Significant differences in the pattern of anomalies were detected between organically and intensively-ongrown specimens, although the occurrence of severe, commercially important anomalies, affecting 2–12.5% of individuals, was comparable in the two systems. Thus, organic aquaculture needs to be improved in order to significantly reduce the incidence of severe anomalies in rainbow trout.

THE DETERMINANTS OF CONSUMPTION FOR ORGANIC AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS—EVIDENCE FROM GREECE

This study investigates Greek consumers' behavior towards organic aquaculture products, identifying possible distinct consumer groups and examining possible linkages between consumer characteristics and marketing aspects of organic aquaculture. Using data from an in-person field survey, a two-step cluster analysis demonstrated different attitudes among consumers with different profiles and also identified two distinct consumer groups differentiated primarily by income: the low-potential consumers and the high-potential consumers, representing 34% and 66% of the total sample, respectively. This study provides evidence that consumers' socioeconomic and demographic characteristics are key factors determining the consumers' purchasing behavior for organic aquaculture products. Thus, a market segmentation strategy is needed to allow organic aquaculture production to take advantage of the significant potential for growth in the near future.

Organic aquaculture in China: A review from a global perspective

Negative environmental impacts, safety issues for aquaculture products, increased fish consumption and increasing market share of organic foods have combined to focus attention on organic aquaculture from both researchers and industries worldwide. There is much extant research that investigates the organic aquaculture development in the world. However, little emphasis is given to China, the biggest aquaculture production country and highest growing organic market. This research aims to narrow this gap in the literature by reviewing organic aquaculture in China from a global perspective. Organic aquaculture has experienced a remarkable growth over the last decade in China. The total production from organic aquaculture increased by 1700%, from 5000tonnes in 2003 to 85,000tonnes in 2012, mainly of fish (62,000tonnes), shrimps (7600tonnes), scallop (6400tonnes), sea cucumber (5000tonnes), crabs (2200tonnes), clams (500tonnes), eel (480tonnes), Chinese softshell turtle (370tonnes), trumpet shell (180tonnes), sea hedgehog etc. (270tonnes). 174 operations have received organic aquaculture certification, with the total area of about 400,000ha. Organic aquaculture production is concentrated mainly in 10 provinces, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Hunan, Inter Mongolia, Xinjiang, Anhui, Liaoning, Hainan, Fujian and Shandong. The majority of organic aquaculture farms give priority to polyculture. The development of nutritionally efficient diets using organic sources of ingredients is a challenge. Practical guidelines for energy efficiency, disease control and polyculture in organic aquaculture standard should be elaborated. Major constraints regarding organic aquaculture arise from the fragmentation of certification due to the absence of an internationally recognized standard, and limited possibilities for knowledge. The future market penetration of organic aquaculture products will depend on the improvement of the coordination between production and market. This review provides some necessary background to national conventional and organic aquaculture production. Environmental impacts and food safety issues of aquaculture are discussed. It focuses briefly on the development and operating characteristics of organic aquaculture. Finally, the authors examine the important issues of the organic standards and certification and offer recommendations for stimulating future development.

Replacement of fish meal with a matrix of organic plant proteins in organic trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss) feed, and the effects on nutrient utilization and fish performance

This study examined the effects on nutrient utilization and fish performance when replacing 16, 31, and 47% of fish meal protein (corresponding to replacing 15, 29 and 44%, respectively, of total dietary protein) with a fixed matrix of organic pea, horsebean and rapeseed plant protein concentrates (PPC) in a ratio of 1.07:1.00:0.66. Four iso-energetic and iso-nitrogenous diets were produced to include 0, 136, 274 or 410 g kg − 1 of the organic PPC matrix, respectively. The organic protein ingredients were chosen based on their high protein content, and the matrix was established to mirror the amino acid composition of fish meal. The plant ingredients were dried, dehulled, grinded and air classified in accordance with the European Union Commission Regulation on organic aquaculture production, increasing the protein concentrations up to 577 g kg − 1 dry matter. Two experiments were carried out using juvenile rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss): 1) a digestibility study to examine the apparent digestibility of protein, lipid, nitrogen-free extract (NFE), total phosphorus and phytate-phosphorus, followed by a water sampling period to determine the output of nitrogen and phosphorus and enabling the setup of nitrogen and phosphorus mass-balances; and 2) a 57 day growth study including 3 growth periods each of 19 days and using pit-tagged fish. Substituting fish meal with organic PPC significantly increased the apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of protein and lipid (P < 0.008) at the highest PPC inclusion level, while there was a significant (P < 0.044) decrease in the ADC of NFE with increasing PPC inclusion level. The apparent digestibility coefficient of phytate-phosphorus was significantly lower (P < 0.005) at the highest PPC inclusion level compared to the fish meal control diet. The mass-balances revealed a significant increase in the excretion of ammonium-nitrogen (NH 4N, P < 0.017) at the two highest PPC inclusion levels and a decrease in phosphorus (P < 0.009) excretion at the highest organic PPC inclusion level. There was no overall effect on the specific growth rates (SGRs) or feed conversion ratios (FCRs). The study thus demonstrated that it is possible to replace fish meal by 47% organic PPC without compromising rainbow trout performance. However, the results also indicated that it will be difficult to replace much more than this as long as supplementation with synthetic amino acids and exogenous phytase is not allowed in organic feed.