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The AQUA NOR FORUM is going to be the place for science, industry, consumers and policy makers to discuss the key issues that affect aquaculture development according to organisers, the European Aquaculture Society in cooperation with the Nor-Fishing Foundation, SINTEF and CREATE.
AQUA NOR FORUM 2011 will address one of the critical constraints to the development of aquaculture in Europe –notably access to sites with high water quality to ensure high quality aquaculture products.
By up-scaling production systems an increase in productivity can be obtained for any specific site; but this must be compliant with legislation, with regard to fish welfare, with regard to husbandry and especially with regard to the environmental impacts of increased production systems.
The FORUM will be arranged during Aqua Nor 2011 and will take the format of three sessions each of some 2 hours duration, where presentation of the issues and discussion of the solutions will be the priority.
The FORUM programme is as follows:
Session 1: Up-scaling land-based systems Moderator: Jean-Paul Blancheton, IFREMER, France
This session will address land-based systems – with a focus on increasing production in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) for production of juveniles and of market-sized fish. For some years, RAS has been seen as the solution to conflicts for space in the coastal zone. In hatchery production, it is a well established practice. However, for production of market sized fish at economically viable commercial scale, the story is more complicated.
Topics:
· ENERGY SAVING: Investment / functioning cost, low energy treatment systems, optimal size of the treatment devices for minimal consumption....
· ORGANIC MATTER: Feaces and other particle removal in relation to water quality and system closure, humic acids, growth inhibition, ozone treatment...
· BACTERIAL POPULATION management, optimisation of biofilter, relation to possible pathology...
· CONTAINMENT SYSTEMS for biosecurity, escapes, alien species and other environmental factors...
Session 2: Up-scaling (marine) cage systems Moderator: Arne Fredheim, SINTEF and CREATE, Norway
Whether coastal or offshore, the up-scaling of cage production systems relies on cage and equipment design and monitoring of the biomass. A standard net cage for farming of salmonids is at present 160m in circumference with a volume of more than 30 000m3 and contains typically 300 000 fish. These advances have reduced the average biological feed conversion factor for salmonids from 3 to approximately 1.2 and the biomass production per employee has increased from 50 tons in 1992 to 340 tons in 2004. The increase in farm size and production capability is largely due to developments in technology, management practice and feed.
Topics:
· Farming fish in large, exposed and/or submergible cages – biological challenges and technological constraints.
· Technologies to deliver feed and medication - effective delivery of pellets over large distances and a large surface area to improve consumption levels and reduce losses.
· Farming intelligence: The control of the total process of farming by understanding the integrated use of equipment and the process of operations and combining this with knowledge of biological issues and the physical environment.
· What is the ideal cage size?
Session 3: Up-scaling the ecological approach to aquaculture production Moderator: Max Troell. Beijer International Institute of Ecological Economics, Stockholm, Sweden
Aquaculture is at a crossroads and there are many critical aspects of its sustainability that needs to be addressed. Some challenges involve how to increase aquaculture's production capacity without exceeding ecosystems assimilative capacity and how resources should be utilized in more sustainable ways. This session will address ecological approaches used in aquaculture for increased production, mitigation of wastes and pest management. The challenges for up-scaling of open-water Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) will be discussed as well as prospects for improving the value of extractive species in integrated cultures.
Topics:
· Progression of the Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) concept and up-scaling of IMTA systems towards commercialization.
· Increasing the value of seaweeds.
· “Ecological feed” issues - Impact of conventional versus alternative diets in integrated aquaculture systems
· Biological and other control methods for fish disease and parasite management.
More information on the AQUA NOR FORUM can be found at the EAS website, by clicking on the Aqua Nor Forum logo at www.easonline.org
The full programme, online registration and hotel booking is all available at the site. Be sure to register early and book your accommodation, as hotels fill up very quickly in the run up to Aqua Nor.
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