An Artemia Session was held on 5 June at the World Aquaculture 2026 conference in Singapore. The session was facilitated by the International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium and covered the outcome of the World Bank PROBLUE Artemia Study Accelerating Brine Shrimp Artemia Aquaculture Production and Conservation for a Resilient Blue Economy.

The session featured case studies from China, Bangladesh, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Iran and Kenya. Presentations (PPTs and videos) from the session are available for download, and video presentations are available for viewing online. The session was chaired by Yeong Yik Sung and Patrick Sorgeloos.

This synthesis report consolidates over half a year’s worth of technical research, market analysis, and country level value chain assessments to present a comprehensive investment overview of the brine shrimp - Artemia - aquabusiness. Developed as part of the World Bank’s PROBLUE initiative on sustainable aquaculture and blue economy development, the report draws together the findings of six assessments, covering Artemia production systems, governance frameworks, markets and trade, emerging use cases, inventories of innovators, and in-depth country value chain studies.

The purpose of this synthesis report is to:

• Provide an integrated overview of the current state and future potential of farmed Artemia systems.
• Present investor-ready intelligence on country contexts, production models, and enabling conditions.
• Guide strategic decision-making across public, private, and donor stakeholders through a concise but data-driven road map for investment and scale.

Artemia, commonly known as brine shrimp, is a critical live feed ingredient in aquaculture, particularly for shrimp and marine finfish hatcheries. The global Artemia industry is experiencing increasing demand driven by expanding aquaculture production. This report provides an in-depth analysis of Artemia in five key countries where Artemia aquaculture is established or in early stages of development — Viet Nam, China, Thailand, Bangladesh, and Kenya. The studies highlight Artemia value chains and associated production systems, market potential, and investment needs.

The findings confirm that Artemia can be successfully, profitably, and sustainably produced through aquaculture as cyst or biomass products in hypersaline environments, across diverse systems, providing important and critical products for aquaculture, with potential for wider application and product development as aquafeed and human food.

In Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan, farmer Ayapbergen Ajimuratov is turning one of the region's most enduring problems into a livelihood. As the Aral Sea has shrunk over decades, it has left behind land saturated with saline water too salty to drink or irrigate crops with. Rather than treating it as waste, Ayapbergen has channelled it into six aquaculture ponds on a single hectare of land, becoming one of the first farmers in the district to cultivate Artemia and raise snakehead fish on a circular system where each stage feeds the next.

With support from a UNDP project backed by the Government of the Russian Federation, he received the ponds along with solar panels, a power transformer, a freezer for the harvest, and an on-site cabin. A community water purification system supplies around 1,500 cubic metres of saline water year-round. The farm is now producing fish and employing local workers - a small but meaningful step in rebuilding livelihoods in one of the world's most environmentally damaged regions.

Read the full story at the UNDP Uzbekistan website.

This webinar presented 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 brought 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.