Jun

11

Using Soybeans in AquacultureLots of different effects from the oil spill will probably work out in the seafood markets. Wild caught is my preference but shrimp prices are headed up according to the TV pundits. Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, China, several Latin American and South American countries may have to supply more seafood to the US to make up for the temporary loss of the Gulf of Mexico.

It may benefit the soybean farmers in the SE.

Currently, the greatest demand for soy use in aquaculture rests in the China freshwater sector, which produces 63 percent of global aquaculture. Estimates show the Chinese aquaculture industry uses up to 6.5 million metric tons, or the equivalent of 280 million bushels of soybeans. Soybean meal takes to the lakes, rivers and seas, as well as the barns and feedlots, as the prominent poultry and livestock feed grows in popularity in fish and shrimp diets as well. The growing demand for commercially raised aquatic products presents significant opportunity for soy-based aquaculture feeds for fish and shrimp species.

and

The amount of soybean meal used for aquaculture in China exceeds the soybean production of Indiana," says Joe Meyer, United Soybean Board (USB) director and a soybean farmer from Williamsburg, Ind. "The soybean checkoff continues to work to expand the aquaculture industries in other areas, such as Southeast Asia, Central America and the Middle East."

A growth industry by some accounts:

"The potential for increased production seems larger for aquaculture than other food producing technologies," concluded Professor Frank Asche at the University of Stavanger, final speaker at the AquaVision conference on Wednesday. Professor Asche reached his conclusion by drawing together results from world-wide market research. Aquaculture is inherently sustainable The Norwegian Professor was co-author of an article on sustainability and global seafood in Science earlier this year. He expects aquaculture to have a long term growth that will make it the dominant seafood supplier within a decade or two — without damaging the eco systems in which it operates. "There is nothing inherently unsustainable with aquaculture as long as the producers choose to operate on a sustainable basis," said Professor Asche.


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