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International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium

Conservation, management and sustainable utilisation of Artemia biodiversity

Biodiversity

Content relating to Artemia biodiversity, strains, characterisation and genetics.

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In this collection

Proceedings of the first and second brine shrimp symposiums available for download

The technical proceedings of two historical brine shrimp symposiums (Corpus Christi USA, 1979 and Antwerp Belgium, 1987) have been digitised by the Flanders Marine Institute, and are available for free download. The proceedings are:

1. The brine shrimp Artemia: Proceedings of the International Symposium on the brine shrimp Artemia salina, Corpus Christi, Texas, USA, August 20-23, 1979, and 2. Artemia research and its applications: Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on the brine shrimp Artemia, Antwerp, Belgium, 1987.

Who will feed the world if the Great Salt Lake collapses?

An article by Leia Larsen and Levi Bridges for the Great Salt Lake Collaborative describes the role that brine shrimp play in supporting global food networks. The Great Salt Lake remains the world's larges single source of brine shrimp cysts, but water levels are at an historic low.

larvi 2024: First announcement and call for papers

The 8th fish and shellfish larviculture symposium (larvi '24) will be held in Ghent University, Belgium, from 9-12 September 2024. Submissions are open until 12 February.

Closing the life cycle of aquaculture species of economic importance is critical for the ultimate success of aquaculture. Predictable & cost-effective availability of high-quality fry, fingerlings, postlarvae, seed, spores, etc. remain the key for a successful aquaculture venture. Knowledge generated at many different levels can further increase the success of the sector. Much progress is being made in knowledge-based insights on e.g. the genetic make-up of the broodstock, steering the ontogeny, the importance of first feeding, steering host microbial interactions and its immunological consequences, automation, etc. Research in these fields are increasingly supported and stimulated by a variety of novel and sophisticated techniques such as omics’ and artificial intelligence tools. They generate an unprecedented and often fascinating insight into biological processes. Although they generally also raise new research questions, they stand for a major leap forwards as compared to the empirical approach of a relatively recent past.

Capitalising on the previous “larvi” symposia (in ’91, ’95, ’01, ’05, ’09, ’13, ‘17), the Aquaculture R&D Consortium of Ghent University, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and SINTEF Ocean have joined again in the organizing committee for “larvi’24” and are inviting the academic as well as the private sector to attend the 8th Fish and Shellfish Larviculture Symposium. Bringing together European and non-European stakeholders, once again the latest progress in academic research and in the production sector will be reviewed, problems identified and avenues for future collaboration explored.

The world needs to feed 10 billion people

An article by Emma Penrod for the Great Salt Lake Collaborative, describes the world-class conservation and management of the Great Salt Lake and its Artemia populations, and its role as a case study for successful management of aquatic ecosystems.

Video report: Great Salt Lake preservation key for global food security

Artemia is a critical food resource for the hatchery production of larval fish and crustaceans, underpinning around 10 million tonnes of aquaculture produce per year. The Great Salt Lake, Utah, provides around 40-45% of world Artemia cyst supplies. A video report by KSL TV5 discusses the conservation and management of the Great Salt Lake and its role in global food security.

The first Training Course on Sustainable Development and Utilisation of Artemia Resources successfully held by ARARC, China

From 11-13 July 2023, the first "Sustainable Development and Utilisation of Artemia Resources" training course was successfully held in Tianjin, China. The training course was organised by the Asian Regional Artemia Reference Center (ARARC), with the support of the Artemia Association of the China Aquatic Products Processing and Marketing Alliance.

The course contains theoretical, practical, and operational training on Artemia cyst processing and quality control, effective utilisation of Artemia as live food in hatcheries, and Artemia pond culture techniques, aiming to promote the sustainable exploration of Artemia resources and their application in larviculture. Nearly one hundred trainees from over thirty enterprises, institutes, and universities across the country participated in the training. The comprehensive coverage of the training course was well recognised by the trainees.

Larvi 2024 and first International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium conference

The first conference of the International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium will be organized on September 9, 2024 in Ostend, Belgium. The 8th International Fish & Shellfish Larviculture Symposium - Larvi ’24 - will be organised at the same venue in Ostend from 9-12 September 2024.

A more detailed first announcement with call for presentations will be mailed in the first week of October 2023. A preliminary website has been opened where you can register your interest to participate in this event.

NACA's role with the International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium

Presentation by Simon Wilkinson, Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific, at the Seminar on Artemia Research and Production, 28 July 2023, Putrajaya, Malaysia.

Production and use of Artemia in Iran

Presentation by Prof. Naser Agh, Artemia and Aquaculture Research Institute, Urmia University, at the Seminar on Artemia Research and Production, 28 July 2023, Putrajaya, Malaysia.

UGent Laboratory of Aquaculture and Artemia Reference Center

Presentation by Prof. Annelies Declercq, Laboratory of Aquaculture & Artemia Reference Centre, Ghent University, at the Seminar on Artemia Research and Production, 28 July 2023, Putrajaya, Malaysia.

AR-ARC actions towards sustainable utilization of Artemia resources

Presentation by Prof. Sui Liying, Asian Regional Artemia Reference Centre, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, China, at the Seminar on Artemia Research and Production, 28 July 2023, Putrajaya, Malaysia.

Great Salt Lake Brine Shrimp Fishery Meets MSC's Fishery Standard

SALT LAKE CITY, May 15, 2023 – Utah’s Great Salt Lake brine shrimp fishery has officially achieved the Marine Stewardship Council's (MSC) sustainable wild fishery certification, making it the first inland fishery in the United States to earn this prestigious certification.

Brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana) are a small, shrimp-like crustacean that live in hypersaline lake environments and are a vital part of the lake's ecosystem, serving as a food source for numerous bird species and providing an important source of income for local fishermen.

The MSC certification process is rigorous and requires fisheries to meet strict standards for sustainable fishing practices, environmental impact, and management. The Great Salt Lake brine shrimp fishery underwent a thorough 8-month assessment by an independent, third-party certifier and was found to meet MSC's criteria for environmentally sustainability fishing practices.

From Kyoto 1976 to Shanghai 2021: A brief history of Artemia use in aquaculture

Presentation by Prof. Patrick Sorgeloos, Ghent University, at the SDG-aligned Artemia Aquaculture Workshop, 22 September 2021.

Sustainable harvesting of natural Artemia resource: The Great Salt Lake (Utah, USA) as model case

Presentation by Thomas Bosteels, Great Salt Lake Brine Shrimp Cooperative, at the SDG-aligned Artemia Aquaculture Workshop held 22 September 2021.

Artemia species and strains diversity: Threats and potential

Presentation by Gonzalo Gajardo, Los Lagos University, Chile, at the SDG-aligned Artemia Aquaculture Workshop, 22 September 2021.