International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium

Farmers in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, have discovered how to transform seasonal salt farming into a year-round income source. By integrating artemia culture alongside traditional salt production, smallholder farmers are now cultivating fish, shrimp, and vegetables on the same land during the rainy season, with artemia ponds sitting alongside tilapia nurseries and vegetable gardens on pond dikes.

Supported by the EU's DeSIRA initiative, adopter farmers increased their earnings by at least 40%, with some demonstration farmers achieving gains of up to 83%. The artemia produced serves as high-quality live feed for shrimp hatcheries, tested at 51% crude protein and free of major pathogens. Women participants gained training in nutrition and hygiene, along with greater roles in household decision-making. This case study shows how integrated farming approaches can strengthen food security, improve livelihoods, and build climate resilience for coastal communities vulnerable to cyclones and flooding.

A free webinar "Farming resilience: Unlocking the Artemia opportunity" will be held on 30 October from 8:00-11:00 EST (13:00-16:00 UTC). This webinar will present the results of an in-depth analysis of Artemia production, conservation and investment opportunities by the World Bank Group, with expert input from members of the International Artemia Consortium.

Artemia (brine shrimp) is a critical live feed in aquaculture, particularly in hatcheries for shrimp, fish, and ornamental species. Its production and sustainable management are increasingly important as aquaculture expands globally. Global Artemia markets face increasing demand, while new innovations in farming, processing, and conservation offer opportunities for inclusive investment, resilience, and biodiversity protection.

This event will bring together global experts, policymakers, private sector representatives, and development partners to discuss the state of Artemia production and conservation, market opportunities, regulatory frameworks, and pathways for sustainable and viable investment.

The Global Artemia Summit was held on 27 June 2025 in Entebbe, Uganda, as a special session during the World Aquaculture Society’s Safari Conference. Co-hosted by the World Bank and FutureFish, the event brought together experts, government officials, private sector stakeholders, and researchers to discuss strategies for enhancing Artemia aquaculture and conservation.

The summit addressed growing concerns over Artemia resource constraints due to overharvesting, environmental degradation, and climate impacts, while highlighting new opportunities for sustainable production, particularly in Africa. Sessions explored integrated Artemia-salt farming systems, human food applications, value chain development, and public-private investment models. Panel discussions and networking sessions promoted knowledge exchange and south-south collaboration.

Presentation made at the Global Artemia Summit, held 27 June in conjunction with WAS Safari 2025, Entebbe, Uganda. Presentation by Kartik Baruah, Stephanie De Vos, Parisa Norouzitallab and Patrick Sorgeloos.

Presentation made at the Global Artemia Summit, held 27 June in conjunction with WAS Safari 2025, Entebbe, Uganda. Presentation by Nguyen Van Hoa.

Presentation made at the Global Artemia Summit, held 27 June in conjunction with WAS Safari 2025, Entebbe, Uganda. Presentation by Patipon Srianek for Bunjonk Farm.

Presentation made at the Global Artemia Summit, held 27 June in conjunction with WAS Safari 2025, Entebbe, Uganda. Presentation by Davletiyar Djiemuratov.

Presentation made at the Global Artemia Summit, held 27 June in conjunction with WAS Safari 2025, Entebbe, Uganda. Presentation by Yeong Yik Sung.

Although the drying up of the Aral Sea and the salinization of a lot of agricultural lands in different regions in Uzbekistan (UZB) and Kazakhstan (KAZ) have major negative consequences, there is a high potential to develop a new profitable industry and create new job opportunities in this region: the environmental-friendly and sustainable pond farming of brine shrimp Artemia, a wellknown source of food in the farming of fish and crustacean species around the world. This workshop aims to show the outcomes of the implemented Artemia pilot project, present guidelines and recommendations important for such a new business sector, lessons learned and discuss prospects of Artemia production to further develop aquaculture sector in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

The first International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium (IAAC) conference was a free half day event held in Ostend, Belgium on 9 September, as a prelude to Larvi 2024. The conference presentations provided an overview of many of the issues surrounding Artemia, including management of salt lakes habitats that still provide the bulk of global Artemia supplies, Artemia biodiversity, hatching optimisation, and aquaculture of Artemia biomass in tanks and ponds. Video recordings of the presentations are available within.

Presentation by Yeong Yik Sung at the First International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium Conference, 9 September 2024, Ostend, Belgium.

Presentation by Yattish Ramena at the First International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium Conference, 9 September 2024, Ostend, Belgium.

Presentation by Robins McIntosh, Wisurut Jungprung and Sudharma Choosuk at the First International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium Conference, 9 September 2024, Ostend, Belgium.

Presentation by Meezanur Rahman at the First International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium Conference, 9 September 2024, Ostend, Belgium.

Presentation by Khun Banchong Nissagavanich (presented by Simon Wilkinson) at the First International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium Conference, 9 September 2024, Ostend, Belgium.

Video recordings of presentations from the Training project on management of Artemia resources and salt lake habitats are available. The project addressed the hydrological, biological, ecological, wildlife and legislative aspects of Artemia resource management, conservation and farming. Artemia species and strains need to be safeguarded and characterised for use in aquaculture. The ecological heterogeneity and dynamics of their salt lake habitats, influenced by climate change and human intervention, require an integrated and coordinated approach to their management and utilisation. The project was co-organised by FAO, NACA, IAAC and funded by Alliance of National and International Science Organizations, and the Belgian Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences.

Opening remarks at the Training Programme on Safeguarding Salt Lake Brine Shrimp (Artemia) Resources for Aquaculture, held 2-6 September 2024 in Rome / Brussels. Speakers were: Xinhua Yuan, Philippe De Maeyer, Simon Wilkinson, Wang Zhongxiu.

Presentation by Nguyen Van Hoa and Patrick Sorgeloos at the Training Programme on Safeguarding Salt Lake Brine Shrimp (Artemia) Resources for Aquaculture, held 2-6 September 2024 in Rome / Brussels.

The first ever IAAC conference was a free half day even held in Ostend, Belgium on 9 September, as a prelude to Larvi 2024, which ran from 9-12 September. The conference featured twelve presentations introducing the IAAC and providing an overview of many of the issues surrounding Artemia, including management of salt lakes habitats that still provide the bulk of global Artemia supplies, Artemia biodiversity, hatching optimisation, and aquaculture of Artemia biomass in tanks and ponds. Video recordings of most will be posted shortly (the programme below will be updated with links).

The first IAAC Members’ Meeting was held in the afternoon following the IAAC Conference. The proceedings involved two panel discussions, by the Academic Sector and Private Sector respectively. The panels included remote members participating via Zoom.

The Training Programme on Safeguarding Salt Lake Brine Shrimp (Artemia) Resources for Aquaculture was held in Rome from 2-6 September. The course was attended by 37 participants from 15 countries. The programme was jointly organised by FAO, NACA / IAAC, and by RAOS and ANSO, which provided the financial support that made the activity possible. The programme featured a series of expert presentations on three themes: Salt lakes, management tools for Artemia cyst and biomass harvesting, and Artemia biodiversity. The full programme is appended below, and video recordings of most presentations will shortly be made available on NACA’s YouTube channel.