Innovation in seafood value chains: the case of Norway

Abstract

This article provides econometric estimates of the determinants of collaboration in innovation processes and innovation outcomes in Norwegian aquaculture and other seafood sector firms, using linked innovation survey and register data on individual firms for the years 1990–2010. The seafood sector in Norway has an extensive innovation system and a high research and development (R&D) intensity, where public R&D institutions receive much of the funding. Our econometric estimates imply that firms with internal R&D resources collaborate more with external organizations in general, and research institutions in particular. Internal skills in the form of R&D employees and external collaboration with firms in the value chain have highly significant positive effects on innovation rates. Collaboration with R&D institutions has a smaller direct effect on innovation. Innovation is clustered at the beginning and end of the supply chain. Aquaculture input suppliers are highly innovative, while aquaculture farms mainly incorporate innovations from suppliers.     

An improved prioritization framework for selecting new finfish mariculture candidates for research and development in Indonesia

Aquaculture, particularly marine‐based production, is one of the fastest growing industries in Indonesia. Indonesia's competitiveness in the trade of aquaculture products is constrained by a lack of research and development (R&D) of new aquaculture species candidates. Mariculture has the greatest potential due to Indonesia's vast marine resources and archipelagic geography. Although there are over 3,000 species of marine fish in Indonesia, only 14 species have been widely cultured, largely finfish. Production is dominated by shrimp, groupers and milkfish. Traditionally, candidate species for mariculture in Indonesia and elsewhere have often been selected on their market value before their biological suitability for culture has been established leading to partially successful R&D efforts or even failure. The present study developed a framework for selecting marine fish species to support mariculture R&D in Indonesia based on an improved analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The approach combined various quantitative and qualitative data and involved different R&D stakeholder groups in the selection process. Ten species that had not been previously researched for their aquaculture potential were identified. The modified approach addressed the interaction complexity of criteria and different preferences across the stakeholders. The involvement of different stakeholders in the selection process not only ensured acceptance of the selected species for further research, but also tested the validity and consistency of the method used in this study. The methodology has relevance for mariculture globally given that efficient candidate selection can help focus efforts and investment in mariculture R&D.     

Fisheries or aquaculture? Unravelling key determinants of livelihoods in the Brazilian semi‐arid region

In impoverished semi‐arid regions in the world, reservoirs serve multiple purposes, including food provision through fisheries and aquaculture. Yet, the socio‐economic benefits of promoting both activities remain unclear. We independently assessed the socio‐economic benefits generated from fisheries and aquaculture, in two reservoirs in the Brazilian semi‐arid region (June 2013 to June 2014). These reservoirs produced 27.75 ton of farmed tilapia over a year (USD Purchasing Power Parities [PPP] 88,778.73) and provided at least 16.5 ton of fish through fisheries (USD PPP 37,557.81), based on data from four farmer associations. Our input–output model revealed that the local economy depends on both activities, which, therefore, contribute similarly to providing goods and services to different branches. Aquaculture generated much higher revenues (seven times) than fisheries, but also much higher losses (the most successful farm yielded an average income of USD PPP 592.41 monthly). Still, there were no statistical differences in income among the compared associations. Fisheries provided very but guaranteed income (USD PPP 311.02 ± 82.94) and employed over three times as many people and contributed much more (>3 times) to food security than aquaculture. Encouraging aquaculture through specific policies while overlooking fisheries is not advisable because poor fishers would not be able to deal with unpredictable outcomes and it would put their food security at risk. However, if initial external support is provided to fishers in order to buffer large losses, aquaculture could represent a way out of poverty by generating an opportunity for larger gains, as long as potential negative ecological impacts of aquaculture are accounted for.     

Cultivation of whitebait (Galaxias maculatus) in Chile

The growth of commercial aquaculture in Chile generated an income of $2.300 million USD in exports in 2005. Currently, 15 different species are cultivated commercially, of which seven are native; these had returns of 185 million USD. Among these native species is Galaxias maculatus (whitebait), which is endemic to Chile and figures significantly in Chilean fishing statistics. Since the 1990s, the School of Aquaculture of the Universidad Catolica de Temuco has been developing cultivation of this native species. This work presents the state of the art of the cultivation of this fish.     

Cost of regulations on US catfish farms

Understanding the economic effects of regulations on US aquaculture farms provides insights into which compliance costs create the greatest compliance burden on farms. This can further guide strategies to improve the efficiency of regulatory frameworks and potentially reduce on-farm compliance costs while maintaining adequate oversight. This study estimated the regulatory compliance burden on US catfish farms as part of a national effort to quantify the cost of regulations on US aquaculture farms. Completed survey interviews of catfish farms in the major catfish-producing states covered 63% of the total US catfish production area. Total regulatory costs of the US catfish industry were estimated at $45 million annually. Lost farm revenues (measured as the value of lost production, the value of markets lost from regulations, and the value of business opportunities lost because of regulations) were estimated to be $35 million per annum. Catfish-producing states outside the Alabama/Arkansas/Mississippi region had the highest ($2856/ha) and Alabama the lowest ($1127/ha) regulatory costs per hectare among the surveyed states. The greatest regulatory cost burden on catfish farms ($18 million) was caused by environmental regulations related mostly to the management of federally protected piscivorous migratory birds, followed by labor regulations ($12 million), and taxes/insurance ($7 million). Regulatory costs ($/kg) were 2.6 times higher on smaller (<80 ha) farms relative to larger (>300 ha) farms. Attention is needed to identify alternative regulatory frameworks that provide the same degree of regulatory oversight but are more cost-efficient.     

The Costs of Regulations on US Baitfish and Sportfish Producers

The US regulatory environment has been characterized as complex due to the greater than 1300 laws promulgated at local, state, and federal levels. Recent declines in the growth rate of US aquaculture have been attributed, in part, to a complex, overlapping, and inefficient regulatory framework. This study is the first to examine this question by quantifying the farm‐level regulatory burden and its economic effects in an aquaculture industry sector. A survey was conducted of baitfish and sportfish producers in the 13 major production states in the USA to identify the direct and indirect costs of regulation on producers. Survey responses captured 74% of the national volume of baitfish and sportfish production. The data revealed that only 1% of total regulatory costs are direct costs of regulation, such as license and permit fees, while 99% of the costs are due to manpower used for compliance, farm changes to remain in compliance, and sales lost without replacement. Costs due to regulations varied across states and farm sizes. Across all respondents, average total regulatory costs were found to be $148,554/farm, or $7383/ha. The farm‐level cost to the US baitfish and sportfish industry was estimated to be in excess of $12 million. On 38% of the farms, the cost of regulations exceeded the value of profits on baitfish and sportfish farms. Our findings confirm previous reports of the complexity of the regulatory environment. Results show that the total regulatory burden has increased farm‐level costs and restricted access to markets, thereby reducing profitability and contributing to reduced growth of the US baitfish and sportfish industry.     

海洋药物研究开发趋势

本文论述了海洋药物研究开发四个方面的发展趋势:海洋药源生物向人工增养殖的方向发展;海洋药物研究向开发海洋微生物资源方向发展;向开发海洋极端生物资源的方向发展;向生物技术方向发展。     

An assessment of the economic contribution of EU aquaculture production and the influence of policies for its sustainable development

This review paper examines the structure of the EU aquaculture sector, the contribution it makes to the EU economy and the policy environment for past and future development. The primary analysis uses statistical data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations which has been re-categorized according to species groups established by the European Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform (EATiP) and by culture system type using expert knowledge. Additional data sources for the analysis include the European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products (EUMOFA) and the European Commission Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries. EU aquaculture production was 1.34 million tonnes in 2012 with a first sale value of €4.76 billion. Shellfish comprised 45 % by volume and 28 % by value; marine fish 30 % by volume and 53 % by value; and freshwater fish 25 % by volume and 19 % by value. The total production volume has actually fallen slightly from 1.4 million tonnes in 2000, whilst the value has increased significantly from 2.79 billion in 2000, mainly due to a growth in Atlantic salmon production. Five countries accounted for around 78 % of the direct output value of EU aquaculture in 2012, the UK, France, Greece, Italy and Spain. Around 50 % of the direct output value was generated using marine cage systems (28 % by volume), whilst less than 3 % of value was generated in recirculated aquaculture systems (<1.5 % by volume). Around 5 % of value was contributed by extensive to semi-intensive inland and coastal pond systems. STECF (2014) estimates there are between 14,000 and 15,000 aquaculture enterprises in the EU employing around 80,000 people, approximately 40,000 full-time equivalent (FTE). The greatest number of jobs (FTE) is provided by the freshwater pond and suspended shellfish sectors due to much lower productivity figures. This could be seen as a social benefit in rural and coastal regions, but corresponding low wages could also discourage young entrants to the industry and lead to dependency on migrant workers. Where efficiencies can be improved through capital investment there is likely to be significant scope for consolidation of ownership as can be observed in the marine fish sector. The output from aquaculture has to find a place within the wider fish and seafood market where volumes are generally inversely related to price. The potential growth of the sector is therefore constrained both in relation to the overall market and with respect to competition from substitute products. These include product from EU capture fisheries as well as imports from third countries (sourced from aquaculture and capture fisheries). Whilst interactions between individual products can be hard to demonstrate, any increase in production costs is likely to lead to lower output volumes, whilst improvements in production efficiency can lead to increased output volumes. With around 60 % of EU fish and seafood supply obtained through imports, and little prospect of increasing outputs from capture fisheries, EU policy is generally supportive of sustainable aquaculture development for reasons of food security and economic development. The underlying basis for this is maximizing the quality and health benefits of farmed products, whilst improving resource efficiency and minimizing impacts. This is expressed through funding support for research and technological development and structural funds to the fisheries and aquaculture industries. However, constraints to growth also exist in the form of regulatory barriers and costs that reduce industry competitiveness. Changing market requirements are also a factor. Prospects for growth have been assessed using the results of EATiP stakeholder workshops combined with the analysis of the sector by system type. These suggest an overall increase in production by 55 % is possible by 2030 based mainly on expansion of marine cage-based farming using larger systems in more exposed sites and similarly shellfish farming using larger-scale suspended systems. Expansion of recirculated aquaculture systems appears likely based on entrepreneurial and European policy for research and technological development activity, although constrained by currently low competitiveness.     

Bioeconomic Analysis of Improved Diets for Lobster,Panulirus ornatus,Culture in Vietnam

Culture‐based growout of tropical spiny lobster, Panulirus ornatus, is a nascent and unique industry that faces a number of challenges and opportunities. Of particular interest to this study is the imminent development of pelleted diets for lobster (probably within 3 yr) that will potentially reduce the industry's dependence on bycatch for feed (with benefits to wild stocks of fish and reduced downstream environmental impacts). The aim of this paper is to conduct a bioeconomic analysis of lobster growout farming in Vietnam and analyze the cost‐effectiveness of potential manufactured feed diets for these farms. Growout lobster farming is found to be a high‐cost and high‐return industry, with a benefit cost ratio of approximately 1.44. Approximately 60% of the total costs are feed related, with the quantity of feed being the production parameter with the highest variability. Hence, reducing the cost and increasing the efficiency of feeding will have a significant impact on the level and variability of profit. It is expected that manufactured diets will improve the profitability by approximately 267 million VND/yr for an individual farmer (15,000 USD) and approximately 435 billion VND/yr for the industry (24 million USD). This is expected to double again if the diets have the added benefit of reducing mortality through the inclusion of vitamins and other additives.     

Legislation and the capacity for rapid‐response management of nonindigenous species of fish in contiguous waters of Canada and the USA

• 1. The provision of Canadian and US hard, enforceable, law to authorize rapid response management of nonindigenous aquatic species originating from aquaculture, live fish sales, bait fish, and the pet trade was analysed at the provincial/state levels of government for the Atlantic, Laurentian Great Lakes, and Pacific regions of North America.
• 2. No federal legal capacity for rapid response management exists in either country. US state legislation is generally better developed than Canadian provincial laws to manage the exotic fish trade. However, much discrepancy exists among provincial and state law regarding provisions to restrict or prohibit potentially harmful species. Aquaculture and baitfish use is generally better regulated than live fish markets and the pet fish trade in both countries. Only the state of Maine has laws authorizing rapid‐response management to control escaped exotic fish.
• 3. Most species of nonindigenous fish arise from the aquarium, pet, and baitfish trades, and development of improved legislation containing provisions for rapid response management of escapees is warranted in all states and provinces.
• 4. It is recommended that Canada amends the Fisheries Act to create the appropriate enabling legislation to monitor, assess risk, and deploy rapid response management of nonindigenous aquatic species, including fish that enter federal fresh and sea waters. Two recently‐introduced US Bills, S. 725 and H.R. 1350, with their explicit measures for early detection and fast action response, could, if passed into law, create provisions to control introduced nuisance species throughout North American waters. They would also create precedents for states and provinces that have most jurisdiction over aquaculture and trade in exotic fish to amend and align their laws in a complementary manner.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Breeding and larval development of Holothuria mammata,a new target species for aquaculture

Sea cucumber commercial fisheries in the North‐eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea started in Turkey in the 1990s. Due to ineffective management practices, the sea cucumber resource was overexploited. Holothuria mammata is one of the sea cucumber species exploited from this geographical area, showing high potential for its aquaculture. This research was undertaken to develop the breeding, larval and juveniles rearing techniques for development of H. mammata aquaculture. Broodstocks collected from Ria Formosa (Faro, S Portugal) were successfully induced to spawn by thermal stimulation from July to October, yielding up to 6.95 million eggs/female. The eggs and larvae were reared and their development described. H. mammata showed the five typical larval stages of most aspidochirote holoturians. Juveniles stage was reached after 21 days post‐fertilization. This is the first work focused on the aquaculture biotechnology of H. mammata, however, further research is need to improve the survival of juveniles to ensure the future production of this species.     

中国水产苗种进口特征及其对养殖产业发展的影响分析——基于2013—2018年的数据

水产种业是水产养殖业的战略性、基础性核心产业,水产苗种引进是促进水产养殖业绿色发展的一个重要途径。中国水产苗种引进品种繁多,水产观赏动物成为新宠,通过分析2013—2018年水产苗种进口贸易数据,其主要特征为:进口额呈下降趋势,进口种类涉及24种,部分种类的进口频率达到100%,用于水产养殖的苗种和受精鱼卵进口额分别为14061.19×104美元和632.02×104美元。从进口额数据来看,小虾及对虾、鳗鱼、受精鱼卵及其他鱼种等主要进口苗种种类对水产养殖业发展的影响较大,其中鳗鱼增养殖业对进口鳗苗的依赖程度较高,平均依赖度为50.86%。提出构建养殖鱼类苗种进口预警机制,谋划养殖鱼类品种的替代策略,提高对虾苗种控制能力,做好水产苗种进口质量安全防范等建议,以保障水产养殖产业健康稳定发展。     

SALMON AQUACULTURE: LARGER COMPANIES AND INCREASED PRODUCTION

Salmon farming is among the most successful aquaculture industries with a production growth that is substantially higher than aggregate aquaculture production in recent decades. It is well known that innovations and productivity growth are the main sources for this development. In this article we look closer at two potentially important factors in production growth, development of farm size and company size directly through economies of scale and indirectly through capacity in R&D, innovation, sales and marketing. In Norway, production per license has increased from 26 tons in 1980 to 1,130 tons in 2010, suggesting a substantial intensification in the industry. In all five leading salmon producing countries, the degree of concentration has increased and the large firms have become bigger over time.     

挪威海洋捕捞及渔船管理概述

本文概要介绍了挪威海洋捕捞业和渔船管理状况:2011年,捕捞量230万t,产值159亿挪威克朗(约26.8亿美元);渔民数量12 791人,渔船数量6 252艘;近10年的捕捞量基本稳定,年均捕捞量为250万t,与此同时,渔船和渔民数量则呈持续下降态势,说明挪威渔船的捕捞能力显著增强,捕捞效率明显提升。挪威的渔业管理制度和法规建设比较完善,这为控制捕捞强度、保护海洋渔业资源奠定了法律基础。挪威的经验具有借鉴意义。我国现阶段以实行渔船控制等投入控制制度为主、其他管理方式为辅的渔业资源管理制度,比较符合我国实际。实践证明,减船转产政策是控制捕捞渔船规模和降低海洋捕捞强度行之有效的措施之一。     

Constraints and possibilities for developing aquaculture

World aquaculture production in 1990 reached some 15 million tonnes, and predictions indicate that future production will reach 19.6 million tonnes by 2000, 37.5 million tonnes by 2010, and 62.4 million tonnes by 2025. Meanwhile, world fisheries production from capture will remain stable at about 100 million tonnes. Thus, all future increase in seafood supplies will have to come from aquaculture.Possibilities for development of aquaculture exist in a number of areas around the world. Technology and natural conditions determine the choice of sites and species to be produced, but current research indicates that a number of new species will be added to the present aquaculture production in the coming years. However, well-known species such as carp, tilapia, trout, salmon, turbot, halibut, cod, and sturgeon will be the most important in the immediate future. Among the crustaceans, shrimp will continue to be an important item, as will various kinds of gastropods and bivalves.Regions with a particular suitability for development of aquaculture include Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Freshwater aquaculture may also be developed on a larger scale in the former Eastern European countries, including the former Soviet Union, but here (and in Africa), political and economic constraints will slow down development for the next decade. A major constraint for development of aquaculture in Africa is the lack of infrastructure, as well as political problems, slow or deficient bureaucracies, and to some extent pollution. In Eastern Europe, development will be hindered by the lack of capital, and uncertainty about the political and economic development. Eastern Europe also has a major environmental problem, which may limit growth within this field. In Asia, space and availability of suitable sites are becoming a problem, as are pollution, diseases, and in some cases overproduction.A general constraint to global development of aquaculture may be price fluctuations, which affect the investment willingness of interested investors. This question must be seen in connection with the economics of operation. As new species are being launched, there is usually a short period of high profits, followed by a period of price reductions, and the collapse of several operators. After such turbulence, serious operators with proper management survive, and go on to operate a reasonably profitable business. The mechanism seems to be true for all new business areas, and does create a problem for sustained investor interest in aquaculture development.     

Effluent and production impacts of flow-through aquaculture operations in West Virginia

In light of recent changes to federal regulatory requirements placed on the aquaculture industry, aquaculture operators must act proactively to maximize their production to meet demands, compete with new operations, and maintain compliance with effluent standards. As a result, water quality characterization was conducted at six anonymous facilities using flow-through design, rearing mostly rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) that were selected based on various water sources, operation, size, and effluent treatment.

Average concentrations and mass loadings of regulated parameters were within regulatory limits and increased in direct proportion to the mass of fish reared. However, when comparing effluent pollutant concentrations and loads with West Virginia National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit limitations, the potential for increased production existed at each facility. Based on the current West Virginia NPDES limit of 30 mg/L for total suspended solids (TSS), each facility could increase production from 147 to 819%. However, with a more stringent TSS limitation of 5 mg/L net used in states in the western US, two facilities would have to reduce production from 37 to 44%, while the other sites could increase production from 19 to 170%. Consequently, the opportunity to increase production under any set of regulatory constraints was a function of annual fish production, legal requirements, and the implementation of effective effluent treatment processes.     

Fishmeal availability in the scenarios of climate change: Inevitability of fishmeal replacement in aquafeeds and approaches for the utilization of plant protein sources

Fishmeal is being trusted as the most reliable protein source due to its nutritional quality in terms of attractability, palatability, digestibility, excellent nutrient profiles to fulfil the dietary requirement of aquatic species. The aquaculture sector consumes >70% of global fishmeal, though aqua feeds constitute only 4% in total industrial feed production (900–1,000 Mt in 2018). The global fishmeal production has shown a downward trend of 26.50% during 2000 to 2018 due to the occurrences of El Niño–Southern Oscillationsand other climatic events, which in turn increased the fishmeal price from 452 USD/t (2000) to 1596.54 USD/t (2018). The increasing trend of aquaculture production along with reduced fish‐in/fish‐out ratios (0.63 in 2000 to 0.33, 0.22 in 2010 and 2015 respectively) indicates the resilience of the aquafeed sector for fishmeal replacement. The wide availability, reasonable price and reliable nutrient content made an interest in plant protein sources, but their utilization was limited due to poor digestibility, imbalanced profiles of essential nutrients and the presence of anti‐nutrients. Numerous methodologies are invented in recent times to enrich the nutritional qualities for maximizing the utilization of plant proteins in aquafeed formulations. The present review concludes that the aquafeed sector should use climate economics and technological innovations for substituting fishmeal to formulate the cost‐effective feeds.     

Characterization of supply of marine finfish species with potential for commercial growth in the United States

Global production of marine finfish has grown in total volume of production and the number of species farmed commercially, but there has been little production in the United States of marine finfish other than salmon and red drum. For most species considered to be ready for commercialization, there are few or no farms from which to evaluate the size of the market or to estimate revenues and costs necessary to assess economic feasibility. This present study takes a first step to fill this gap with an analysis of the existing supply of 20 marine finfish species identified as candidates for commercialization in the United States, as a proxy for effective demand (the volume of a product sold at the market equilibrium price). Secondary data from 1950 (where available) through 2019 were compiled on each species, including (1) global aquaculture production, (2) US aquaculture production, (3) US commercial landings, (4) US recreational landings, and (5) imports. Current effective market demand (measured as the sum of commercial landings, farmed production, and imports) was low, totaling 36.6 million kg across the 20 species, which is equivalent to less than 23% of the annual volume sold of US farmed catfish. Commercial landings for 17 of the 20 species exhibited declines, potentially offering opportunities for farmed product to capture market share by filling the increasing gaps in supply. The variability in commercial landings provides opportunities for farms to capitalize on their advantage in supplying product with a high degree of consistency of volume, size, delivery frequency, and quality. Several unknown factors suggest the need for follow-up studies on consumer preferences, degree of substitutability among finfish species, and effects of recreational landings on demand. An important limitation to prospective producers is the lack of species-specific import data for the generic categories of “flounder,” “bass,” and “snapper.” This supply analysis provides a foundational analysis for prospective producers, investors, and researchers interested in commercialization of these marine species.     

Regards sur l'aquaculture mondiale: Exposé introductif à la réunion de la Fondation Internationale pour la Science sur l'Aquaculture - Abidjan,Côte d'IvoireSome comments on aquaculture world-wide

After some definitions of aquaculture terminology, some quantitative data are given concerning world-wide aquaculture — annual production 6 million tonne (1975). In addition specific production details are presented for the most important aspects: fish breeding, shellfish breeding, crustacean breeding, and culture of aquatic plants.The future of aquaculture is considered in production terms: 20 million tonne expected in 1985 and 50 million in the year 2000, in order to supplement the resources resulting from marine fishing.However, aquaculture is subject to risks, especially in Africa, due to a lack of hydrobiological, ichthyological and zootechnical knowledge, to which are added problems of a sociological and juridical nature.