I am writing this editorial from Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands having last been here 20 years ago. My reason is the same as before to attend the International Symposium on Fish Nutrition and Feeding.
Again, there is a great opportunity to engage with leading scientists from all over the world to discuss the latest developments in the science and technology fields of specialisation pertaining to fish and shrimp mainly.
So much has happened in the last 20 years since the eighth symposium where so many of my PhD students attended with me under the blue sky of these beautiful Spanish administered islands. Much has changed since then, and we will assemble for the 18th venue to celebrate over 40 years of research and development in aquaculture nutrition with a new generation of scientists, student and industry representation that has grown widely due to much closer commercial interactions these days.
I am fortunate to be accompanied by several of my former students and we will have no doubt much to discuss over the session. There are are many new and timely additions such as a workshop on the role of yeast as a potent feed additive and with health benefits in fish species. There will be talks covering essential fatty acid (Omega-3) requirements of fish as well as presentations on dietary carotenoids in salmon and novel feed ingredients such as terrestrial plant proteins, insect derived meals, and single cell proteins.
This conference is very important and I will be noting it further in a future edition to elaborate on the many views and developments being advocated. It will be a time of "catch-up" and the meeting will be held in the Auditorio Alfredo Kraus de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. We will have the usual conference dinner and hopefully samples of the very fine sea food that is in abundance surrounding these islands washed down with rich Spanish wine.
On other matters, it is interesting to hear that having achieved ISEAL associate membership in Brussels last month, IFFO RS Ltd will further support the marine ingredients industry drive towards sustainability in promoting these very important ingredients for aquaculture feeds.
Also, we all now know about the importance of cleaner fish in the mitigation of the sea lice issues affecting farmed salmon. So, we welcome a new book by Jim Treasurer, editor of the first ever review of the use of wrasse, lumpsuckers and other cleanerfish species on salmon farms setting a good platform to build our science and expand the use of these invaluable fish friends to maintain good quality Atlantic salmon for the future.
There are new developments in the use of single cell organisms" high value proteins for fish to include in a new generation of aquafeeds with trials being launched with salmon in Norway as well as more scale- up potential for insect meal with insect larvae fed on various organic substrates. We are truly entering exciting territory for fish nutrition and feeds that will continue well into the 2020s.
Aquaculture now plays an increasing part in our lives and being recognised at last by governments in many countries.
In this respect, I will be attending a meeting in the Houses of Parliament in June to discuss aquaculture in the context of transparency of the food chain, human health and well- being with a select committee panel including MP"s, members of the House of Lords and some celebrity chefs, food scientists and nutritionists.
Please keep sending in your news and reposts as well as the quality features and articles that give us the cutting- edge in this field.
Professor Simon Davies
Editor, International Aquafeed
