Tuesday, August 6, 2013

06/08/13: Youth aquaculture in Fiji gets funding; giant shrimp in Louisiana; health benefits of cartenoids

The New Zealand High Commission is supporting budding aquaculturists by contributing $13,600 towards the development of the Lodoni Youth Club's aquaculture project in Lovoni, Tailevu, Fiji.

The money will go towards the construction of two fish ponds for tilapia.

The high commission's acting head of mission, Phillip Taula, said the club's initiative provided a good model for other communities.

Last week we reported on feeds for jumbo prawns in Australia. This week we hear about giant shrimps in Louisiana, USA.

The Asian tiger shrimp has been spotted in the Gulf of Mexico since 2007 but in recent years, the number of these whopping creatures has increased. The shrimp can reach up to a foot in length and could threaten native shrimp populations.

According to a report in the Times-Picayune, the Asian tiger shrimp can become well-established in the region over the next decade.

There are two theories as to how this creature has made its way to US waters. First, ballast water 
from ships and tankers may be carried the shrimp from their native habitat.

A second explanation involves aquaculture. The shrimps could have escaped from a farm in the Caribbean Sea during a hurricane in 2005 and then rode currents into the Gulf of Mexico.

Cartenoids are used in salmon diets to create pink flesh. However, these pigments can also be used in human diets.

The powerful antioxident properties can help prevent cancer, heart disease and enhance immunity to infections.

This blog post by the Ocean Harvest team looks at the health benefits of cartenoids in humans.

 
A steamed tail-on shrimp.
A steamed tail-on shrimp. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
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