“The turtles responsible for the infections predominantly have shell lengths of less than 4 inches and were likely purchased from street vendors….. Nineteen people have been hospitalized….”
Thinking about installing a rainwater tank?
Now is the perfect time to invest in rainwater tanks. But what size should you get? I found this nifty section about choosing the right size to fit your needs in today’s West Australian lift out.
Genetic selection of fish for farming fitness.
I wonder if we’re near the end of genetic selection for improved production in the traditional crops and livestock. How much more milk can a cow give? How much more meat can a chicken produce in a short time frame?
This author says that only 10% of the world’s aquaculture farmers invest in genetic selection. Imagine what potential there is for this industry to boom if we were to select for stock fitter for farming.
| Aquaculture | |||||||||||||||||
| Volume 349, Number 9 (May 2012) | |||||||||||||||||
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Genetic improvement for the development of efficient global aquaculture: A personal opinion review | ||||||||||||||||
| Authors: | Trygve Gjedrem | ||||||||||||||||
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| Source: | Aquaculture, Volume 349, Number 9 (May 2012) | ||||||||||||||||
| Page Numbers: | 12 – 22 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Abstract: | It has been exciting to follow the rapid development of aquaculture production in Norway, and internationally, since 1971. As an animal breeder I am particularly impressed with the genetic gain obtained for growth rate, and also for disease resistance in several aquatic species, which is five to six times higher than what has been achieved in terrestrial farm animals. This is illustrated in five selected projects I have been involved in. The sad story is, however, that only less than 10% of the world’s aquaculture production is based on genetically improved stocks. The big challenge for the future is to develop more selective breeding programs for existing and new emerging aquaculture species in order to increase the production of this nutritious food source and to improve the efficiency of the use of feed, water, land and labor resources. | ||||||||||||||||
| Citation: | Trygve Gjedrem . Genetic improvement for the development of efficient global aquaculture: A personal opinion review. Aquaculture, Volume 349, Number 9 (May 2012), pp. 12-22, <http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=432F8DCB9C444BE02064> | ||||||||||||||||
| URL: | http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=432F8DCB9C444BE02064 | ||||||||||||||||
Probiotics to protect larval bivalves from pathogenic bacteria.
In some cases, antibiotics are used to fend off bacterial infections causing massive deaths of larval shellfish in the hatchery. There has been a lot of work put into investigating alternative means of avoiding over-use of antibiotics. So, just like having yoghurt for gut health, considerable work has been put into probiotics for aquaculture applications.
| Aquaculture | |||||||||||||||||
| Volume 349, Number 9 (May 2012) | |||||||||||||||||
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Protective effect of four potential probiotics against pathogen-challenge of the larvae of three bivalves: Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas), flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) and scallop (Pecten maximus) | ||||||||||||||||
| Authors: | Aditya Kesarcodi-Watson, Philippe Miner, Jean-Louis Nicolas, Rene Robert | ||||||||||||||||
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| Source: | Aquaculture, Volume 349, Number 9 (May 2012) | ||||||||||||||||
| Page Numbers: | 29 – 34 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Abstract: | Mollusc aquaculture is an important commodity for France with Pacific oysters, flat oysters and the great scallop being the three main species. Pacific oyster larvae production is currently successful, however larval production of flat oyster and scallops regularly face problems remedied by antibiotics. Using a bioassay technique, four potential probiotic strains (Alteromonas macleodii0444, Neptunomonassp. 0536, Phaeobacter gallaeciensis, Pseudoaltermonassp. D41) were tested upon the larvae of the three mollusc species when challenged with pathogens. Pacific oysters and flat oysters were challenged individually with the pathogens Vibrio coralliilyticusand V. pectenicida, while scallops were challenged with V. coralliilyticusand V. splendidus. Survival of the larvae was measured in challenged larvae given the probiotics and those without probiotic. In scallop larvae, protection against V. coralliilyticusand V. splendiduswas provided by prior administration of P. gallaeciensis(29% and 53% better than the respective pathogen controls), A. macleodii0444 (30%, 36%) and Neptunomonassp. 0536 (36%, 55%). Significant protection with Pseudoalteromonassp. D41 was only provided against V. splendidus(35%). In flat oyster larvae, protection against V. coralliilyticusand V. pectenicidawas provided by P. gallaeciensis. (73%, 69%) and A. macleodii0444 (45%, 53%). Neptunomonassp. 0536 provided significant protection only against V. pectenicida(48% higher). Use of Pseudoalteromonassp. D41 did not offer significant protection for flat oyster larvae against either pathogen. Experiments with Pacific oysters suggested that Pseudoalteromonassp. D41 and P. gallaeciensiscould be effective against challenge by V. coralliilyticus(50% and 40% improved survival respectively) but not against V. pectenicida. The results indicate that P. gallaeciensis, A. macleodii0444, Neptunomonassp. 0536 and Pseudoalteromonassp. D41 could be useful in mollusc larviculture. | ||||||||||||||||
| Citation: | Aditya Kesarcodi-Watson, Philippe Miner, Jean-Louis Nicolas, Rene Robert . Protective effect of four potential probiotics against pathogen-challenge of the larvae of three bivalves: Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas), flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) and scallop (Pecten maximus). Aquaculture, Volume 349, Number 9 (May 2012), pp. 29-34, <http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=461D8BE0FEC9BE894B9D> | ||||||||||||||||
| URL: | http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=461D8BE0FEC9BE894B9D | ||||||||||||||||
Water-saving toilet flush.
Do you have a water-saving dunny and can’t seem to get sufficient water to come into contact with the toilet freshener? We recently installed a new toilet and then I was faced with this issue. Then I discovered those gel discs that you can position anywhere on the bowl.
That’s a pretty clever invention!
X-ray guided water jet cutting machine for fish fillets
The life of a salmon farmer in Vancouver.
Heater settings
Those who had their heaters turned off during summer and forgot to turn their heaters back on, may find their tropical fish may have reduced appetite. This is a timely reminder to check that your heaters are on and that they are working properly.
Have one heater and two thermometers. Check the thermometer rather than the heater setting.
The great pacific garbage patch.
FRDC’s findings on the current and future needs for aquatic animal health training.
The Fisheries Research and Development Corporation report titled, “Final Report – 2005/641 – Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: current and future needs for aquatic animal health training and for systems for merit-based accreditation and competency assessments.” The executive summary of this report concludes:
‘There is a shortfall in both total capacity and more prominently, in the availability of high skill level individuals within both laboratory and field service provision areas. It was widely recognised that many of the traditional pathways for training groups of such skilled individuals was through mentorship and self-education within State and Commonwealth Governments. These are now severely restricted due to a changing role of Government and ongoing tightening of resources. A significant proportion of all stakeholders felt that current Australian training opportunities were either completely absent or of insufficient depth. Seventy-three percent (73%) of survey respondents felt that the demands for aquatic animal health services were likely to increase over the next 5-10 years, which will only exacerbate the currently recognised shortages.
Through discussions with an array of industry stakeholders across Australia there appeared to be sufficient training available for farmer level individuals but not for specialised aquatic animal health diagnostic professionals.’