August 2016
FISHBOOST Results
Results on Producer perceptions of aquaculture breeding from WP5
Results on producer perceptions and aquaculture breeding
WP5 Producer perceptions of aquaculture breeding had the objectives to identify the general perceptions of producers via interviews with representative organisations and perceptions of aquaculture breeding in Atlantic salmon, common carp, European seabass, gilthead seabream, rainbow trout and turbot of specific producers and additional members of the value chain industries via electronic surveys.
For the aquaculture and breeding industry within FISHBOOST, it is important to know the playing field in which the aquaculture sector is moving. Information about stakeholder perceptions and opinions is important when optimising the breeding programmes for the different species and to assure that used methods and technologies are considered acceptable and important by the society. To find out what is known about aquaculture breeding and production and what the sectorial and sub-sectorial opinions and perceptions are, interviews with different organisations have been conducted. The results of these interviews identify the context in which European aquaculture breeders and producers are developing their business.
Based on the SWOT analysis, the main strength of the European aquaculture sector is that it is one of the most technically advanced and innovative livestock production sectors in Europe, and it has well-established industries such as the salmon, seabass and seabream industries. Aquaculture products are perceived by consumers as good and healthy sources of protein and this reputation is one of the great strengths of the sector. Main weaknesses are that the sector is unaware of its potential to grow and to be a major food production system and that it has been very hard to get working capital for all corporate enterprises since 2008. The competition from producer countries outside Europe, which can produce for much lower costs and with less stringent regulations on welfare and environment, is perceived as a threat. Another threat is that the availability of omega 3 fatty acids for feed is decreasing rapidly, which can compromise the healthy reputation of fish products.
With respect to perceptions on food safety, public health and product quality, all interviewed organisations rate the nutritional value of aquaculture products high because it contains protein and omega 3. However, it is a problem that some aquaculture product does not contain enough EPA and DHA, because the amount of fish oil and fish meal in the feed is reduced. Production capacity and price are the most important competiveness factors for the aquaculture industry. The major factors affecting the profitability of operations are price fluctuation and investment costs in working capital. The profession has sufficient knowledge and skills to be (more) competitive but there is a lack of connection between research and the users.
In general, the aquaculture sector organisations are positive to the use of selective breeding in European aquaculture, and see a lot of advantages if selective breeding is applied. The use of genomics, disease challenge tests, and avoidance of inbreeding is expected to the most important techniques in selective breeding for the aquaculture sector.
Following the interviews, aquaculture producers were surveyed using an online questionnaire designed around 5 main pillars including the technologies used in aquaculture breeding, the importance of the product characteristics for the industry and different traits in the breeding goals, and the factors impeding the industry players from engaging in selective breeding. A statistical analysis was performed using different clustering methods, allowing to reveal associations with some predictive variables like the geographical location of the company, the activities the company is involved in, or the dominant farmed species.
The producers’ perceptions were categorized and examined under the following points:
- Perception differences according to the contexts (today vs near future; as the situation stands today and as it should be)
- General knowledge of the respondents, referring to selective breeding and genetics
- Hindering factors associated with the engagement of the industry in selective breeding
- Views on selective breeding practices and techniques
- Priority traits in the breeding goal
In a general way it appears that the basic concepts of selective breeding are well understood by producers. In the breeding goals, the productivity related traits come first. In the cluster analysis, most relationships were associated to the Species (dominant farmed fish species in the respondents’ company) and Activity (activities the respondent company is involved in).
The results of the interviews and the surveys were combined into recommendations:
- in relation to the optimisation of breeding programmes
- in relation to the economic assessment of breeding programmes
- in relation to training, communication and dissemination
Results on Producer perceptions of aquaculture breeding from WP5
Results on producer perceptions and aquaculture breeding
WP5 Producer perceptions of aquaculture breeding had the objectives to identify the general perceptions of producers via interviews with representative organisations and perceptions of aquaculture breeding in Atlantic salmon, common carp, European seabass, gilthead seabream, rainbow trout and turbot of specific producers and additional members of the value chain industries via electronic surveys.
For the aquaculture and breeding industry within FISHBOOST, it is important to know the playing field in which the aquaculture sector is moving. Information about stakeholder perceptions and opinions is important when optimising the breeding programmes for the different species and to assure that used methods and technologies are considered acceptable and important by the society. To find out what is known about aquaculture breeding and production and what the sectorial and sub-sectorial opinions and perceptions are, interviews with different organisations have been conducted. The results of these interviews identify the context in which European aquaculture breeders and producers are developing their business.
Based on the SWOT analysis, the main strength of the European aquaculture sector is that it is one of the most technically advanced and innovative livestock production sectors in Europe, and it has well-established industries such as the salmon, seabass and seabream industries. Aquaculture products are perceived by consumers as good and healthy sources of protein and this reputation is one of the great strengths of the sector. Main weaknesses are that the sector is unaware of its potential to grow and to be a major food production system and that it has been very hard to get working capital for all corporate enterprises since 2008. The competition from producer countries outside Europe, which can produce for much lower costs and with less stringent regulations on welfare and environment, is perceived as a threat. Another threat is that the availability of omega 3 fatty acids for feed is decreasing rapidly, which can compromise the healthy reputation of fish products.
With respect to perceptions on food safety, public health and product quality, all interviewed organisations rate the nutritional value of aquaculture products high because it contains protein and omega 3. However, it is a problem that some aquaculture product does not contain enough EPA and DHA, because the amount of fish oil and fish meal in the feed is reduced. Production capacity and price are the most important competiveness factors for the aquaculture industry. The major factors affecting the profitability of operations are price fluctuation and investment costs in working capital. The profession has sufficient knowledge and skills to be (more) competitive but there is a lack of connection between research and the users.
In general, the aquaculture sector organisations are positive to the use of selective breeding in European aquaculture, and see a lot of advantages if selective breeding is applied. The use of genomics, disease challenge tests, and avoidance of inbreeding is expected to the most important techniques in selective breeding for the aquaculture sector.
Following the interviews, aquaculture producers were surveyed using an online questionnaire designed around 5 main pillars including the technologies used in aquaculture breeding, the importance of the product characteristics for the industry and different traits in the breeding goals, and the factors impeding the industry players from engaging in selective breeding. A statistical analysis was performed using different clustering methods, allowing to reveal associations with some predictive variables like the geographical location of the company, the activities the company is involved in, or the dominant farmed species.
The producers’ perceptions were categorized and examined under the following points:
- Perception differences according to the contexts (today vs near future; as the situation stands today and as it should be)
- General knowledge of the respondents, referring to selective breeding and genetics
- Hindering factors associated with the engagement of the industry in selective breeding
- Views on selective breeding practices and techniques
- Priority traits in the breeding goal
In a general way it appears that the basic concepts of selective breeding are well understood by producers. In the breeding goals, the productivity related traits come first. In the cluster analysis, most relationships were associated to the Species (dominant farmed fish species in the respondents’ company) and Activity (activities the respondent company is involved in).
The results of the interviews and the surveys were combined into recommendations:
- in relation to the optimisation of breeding programmes
- in relation to the economic assessment of breeding programmes
- in relation to training, communication and dissemination
