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Sustainable Fishing and Aquaculture

Budget announcements for the <keyword id="22541837" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="marine-sector" source="keywords">marine sector</keyword> such as rationalisation of customs duties and financing facilities will help boost the country's India's <keyword id="20765822" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="aquaculture" source="keywords">aquaculture</keyword> and <keyword id="20765821" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="seafood-exports" source="keywords">seafood exports</keyword>, <keyword id="22541838" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="MPEDA" source="keywords">MPEDA</keyword> said on Thursday. The <keyword id="181386" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Marine-Products-Export-Development-Authority" source="Orion">Marine Products Export Development Authority</keyword> (MPEDA) also said the Budget includes a range of strategic measures aimed at bolstering the competitiveness of marine products, with a particular focus on <keyword id="22541839" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shrimp-production" source="keywords">shrimp production</keyword> and export. Various inputs used in the manufacture of shrimp and <keyword id="22526510" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fish-feed" source="keywords">fish feed</keyword> will now enjoy customs duty exemptions, it said adding a number of feed inputs such as mineral and vitamin pre-mixes, krill meal, fish lipid oil, crude fish oil, algal prime, algal oil are fully exempted from any import duty. Artemia and Artemia cysts which are key nutritional inputs in aqua hatchery were also fully exempted from any import duty. The Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on essential aquafarm/ hatchery inputs such as Vannamei and black tiger broodstock, polychaete worms, and fish/shrimp feed has been reduced to 5 per cent. Import duty for insect meal and single-cell protein has been cut down to 5 per cent. "These announcements made in the Union Budget 2024-25 are set to significantly enhance aquaculture and seafood export sectors," the authority said. It also said that the government has committed to providing substantial financial support to establish a network of <keyword id="22541840" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nucleus-Breeding-Centres" source="keywords">Nucleus Breeding Centres</keyword> (NBCs) for shrimp broodstocks. "This initiative is anticipated to drastically reduce India's reliance on imported broodstock, potentially saving the industry up to Rs 150 crore annually," it said adding hatchery operators are expected to benefit significantly, with projected savings of 50 per cent on broodstock costs. About one lakh farmers will benefit from a 30 per cent reduction in shrimp seed costs. Further, it said the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) will play a crucial role in facilitating financing for <keyword id="20342132" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shrimp-farming" source="keywords">shrimp farming</keyword>, processing, and export. "This intervention is designed to cover 80 per cent of project costs for farmers, accompanied by an interest subvention of up to 3 per cent," MPEDA said. It added that a total of 639 export processing units are expected to benefit from enhanced access to infrastructure development funds, enabling them to improve and expand their facilities through assistance from NABARD. DV Swamy, Chairman of MPEDA, said that the proposed measures will substantially lower production costs, elevate quality, and enhance the international competitiveness of Indian marine products. The marine products sector has been a vital contributor to India's export earnings, with seafood exports reaching an all-time high of over Rs 60,000 crore in the last financial year. The authority was established in 1972 under the Ministry of Commerce and it is responsible for the development of the marine products industry with a special focus on exports.

Budget proposals for marine sector to boost India's seafood exports, aquaculture: MPEDA

Research Institute (<keyword id="20370739" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cmfri" source="keywords">CMFRI</keyword>) have successfully deciphered the genome of the <keyword id="23138296" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="asian-green-mussel" source="Orion">Asian green mussel</keyword> (Perna viridis), a discovery poised to revolutionise the understanding of this vital <keyword id="662896" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="marine-species" source="Orion">marine species</keyword>. This is the first-ever <keyword id="184804" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="chromosome" source="Orion">chromosome</keyword> level genome sequencing of a marine invertebrate species from India. Earlier, CMFRI had come out with a similar genome finding for Indian oil sardine. The Asian green mussel, Kallummakkaya in local parlance, is an important aquaculture species in the family Mytilidae contributing substantially to molluscan aquaculture. CMFRI's research found that the mussel's genome contains 723.49 Mb in size and is anchored into 15 chromosomes, according to a CMFRI release here on Thursday. The research was published in the journal Scientific Data by Nature Group. "The development will be a game-changer in boosting sustainable mussel aquaculture in the country, as this research will help gain insights into its growth, reproduction and disease resistance", said Dr Grinson George, Director of CMFRI. The findings will benefit the aquaculture sector by improving genomic selection and breeding practices, leading to enhanced productivity and resilience in fisheries, he added. A team of researchers from CMFRI led by Principal Scientist Dr Sandhya Sukumaran carried out this study with funding support from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), New Delhi. The team includes Dr A Gopalakrishnan, V G Vysakh, Dr Wilson Sebastian, Dr Lalitha Hari Dharani, Dr Akhilesh Pandey, Dr Abishek Kumar and Dr J K Jena. According to scientists, this will help develop new strategies to combat diseases in the mussel. "Genomic investigations on this species are vital to understand genes, gene combinations and signaling pathways leading to the parasitic diseases, which constitute a major threat to Asian green mussel aquaculture in India causing substantial mortalities in farms," said Dr Sandhya Sukumaran. According to the scientists, the genome assembly of green mussels will emerge as a valuable tool for exploring <keyword id="6355291" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cancer" source="Orion">cancer</keyword> mechanisms and developing new therapeutic strategies. "A total of 49654 protein-coding genes were identified, including 634 genes associated with the cancer pathway and 408 genes associated with viral carcinogenesis. This indicates that this species is a novel model organism for cancer research," Sukumaran said. This advancement promises to significantly enhance our understanding of cancer pathways and facilitate the discovery of novel treatments, she added. Apart from its aquaculture prospects, Asian green mussels play a vital role as a bio-monitor as it is capable of accumulating heavy metals and other environmental pollutants in large quantities. Understanding the genome assembly will provide valuable information about the genomic pathways involved in response to pollutants. "The genetic markers to be developed from this research could be used to monitor pollutants in aquatic bodies, a significant milestone in safeguarding the aquatic environment," Sandhya said. Scientists believe that the genome decoding of this species would enhance knowledge regarding the effect of environmental pollutants on biological systems, as this bivalve is adaptable to local environmental stressors like variations in pH, temperature, salinity and air exposure.

CMFRI scientists crack genetic code of Asian green mussel

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Hurricane Milton's estimated damage to Florida's agriculture could go up to $2.5 billion.</li><li>That's according to estimates from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.</li></ul>Hurricane Milton singlehandedly wrecked as much havoc on Florida's agriculture as three other major hurricanes combined, according to new estimates from the state's agriculture department.Milton, a Category 3 hurricane that made landfall on Florida's western coast on October 9, has severely damaged the state's crops and farming infrastructure, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) said.The department on Thursday said that based on its initial damage assessment, the estimated total losses to the Sunshine State's agriculture industry now range "between $1.5 and $2.5 billion."The commodities affected by hurricane damage include animal products, citrus and non-citrus fruit farming, field crops, greenhouses, and vegetable farming, per the damage assessment.The FDACS said in its damage assessment that Milton created "major structural impacts" on cattle ranches. Separately, a majority of the citrus acreage in Florida was situated in counties hit by Milton, which means "significant production losses" from farmers are expected, per the FDACS.The FDACS added in its Thursday statement that three major hurricanes that hit the state in the last 13 months — <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/before-after-satellite-photos-hurricane-helene-destruction-florida-2024-10">Helene</a>, Debby, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hurricane-idalia-first-severe-hurricane-hit-florida-big-bend-2023-8">Idalia</a> — caused more than $1.5 billion in damages combined.Florida's commissioner of agriculture, Wilton Simpson, urged the US Department of Agriculture to issue a disaster declaration for counties affected by Milton, which would hasten aid and assistance for impacted farmers.In a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://ccmedia.fdacs.gov/content/download/117392/file/secretary-tom-vilsack-letter.pdf">letter</a> to Tom Vilsack, the secretary of the US Department of Agriculture, on Thursday, Simpson said, "We are a major agricultural producer and exporter, with $8.88 billion in agricultural products sold annually as of the latest USDA agricultural census.""Agriculture makes up one of the largest portions of Florida's $1.2 trillion gross domestic product, and it is critical that this engine of our economy has the resources they need to continue to operate."He said that the hurricane had devastated livestock, nurseries, crops, and agricultural equipment and infrastructure."If immediate action is not taken, we are at risk of losing significant agriculture, aquaculture, and silviculture operations in this region due to circumstances beyond our farmers' control," Simpson added in the letter.Florida's agricultural industry is a major driver of the state's economy. It has around 44,400 farms and ranches, spanning over 9.7 million acres, per <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Florida/Publications/Annual_Statistical_Bulletin/2024/FloridaAgriculturalOverview.pdf">numbers</a> from the Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service.In 2023, Florida accounted for 20% of the country's orange production, 34% of its watermelon production, and 28% of its grapefruit production, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.According to an October 10 note from analysts from Fitch Ratings, Hurricane Milton has resulted in an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hurricane-milton-insurance-fitch-50-billion-losses-2024-10">estimated $30 billion to $50 billion of insured losses</a> in Florida<a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://www.fitchratings.com/research/insurance/hurricane-milton-effect-on-global-re-insurance-ratings-likely-limited-10-10-2024">.</a>Before the hurricane made landfall, Moody's Analytics estimated that <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hurricane-milton-crashing-into-trillion-worth-of-property-moodys-2024-10">$1.1 trillion worth of commercial property</a> would be exposed to dangerous hurricane winds.According to an estimate by Moody's Analytics on October 8, more than 235,000 commercial real estate properties in Florida had a greater than 50% chance of being exposed to wind speeds of at least 50 miles per hour.Milton came just days after Hurricane Helene hit Florida and other southeastern states, leaving more than <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" class="" href="https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-helene-death-toll-asheville-north-carolina-34d1226bb31f79dfb2ff6827e40587fc">200 people dead</a>.In a report on September 30, Moody's Analytics projected the damage from Helene to be between <a target="_blank" rel="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/analysts-estimate-up-to-34-billion-damage-from-hurricane-helene-2024-10">$20 billion and $34 billion.</a>Representatives of Florida's Department of Agriculture didn't respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, sent outside business hours.

3 major hurricanes in the last 13 months did billions of dollars of damage to Florida's farmlands — and that was before Milton

New Delhi, 1 Feb In a bid to boost the fisheries sector, <keyword id="19955404" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="finance" source="keywords">Finance</keyword> Minister <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nirmala-sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> has said that five integrated <keyword id="20416655" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="aqua-parks" source="keywords">Aqua Parks</keyword> will be set up in India. While presenting the Interim Budget in Parliament on Thursday, the Minister said, "It was our Government which set up a separate Department for Fisheries realising the importance of assisting fishermen. This has resulted in doubling of both inland and aquaculture production." The Minister highlighted that seafood export since 2013-14 has also doubled. <keyword id="19916494" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sitharaman" source="keywords">Sitharaman</keyword> announced that the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) will be stepped up to enhance aquaculture productivity from existing three to five tonnes per hectare; double exports to Rs 1 lakh crore and generate 55 lakh employment opportunities in the near future. The minister emphasised on Blue Economy 2.0 and announced that for promoting climate-resilient activities a scheme for restoration and adaptation measures, and coastal aquaculture and mariculture with integrated and multi-sectoral approach will be launched. Sitharaman also announced that a comprehensive programme for supporting dairy farmers will be formulated. She stated that efforts were already on to control foot and mouth disease. Sitharaman said, "India is the world's largest milk producer but with low productivity of milch-animals." The programme will be built on the success of existing schemes such as <keyword id="20416656" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rashtriya-gokul-mission" source="keywords">Rashtriya Gokul Mission</keyword>, National Livestock Mission, and Infrastructure Development Funds for dairy processing and animal husbandry, she added.

Blue Economy 2.0: Five integrated Aqua Parks to be set up

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Saudi Arabia's planned megacity, Neom, is billed as a chance to live in the "new future."</li><li>Officials want to fill 262 vacancies. The unusual roles show what it will take to run the city.</li></ul>Saudi Arabia is pushing ahead with its ambitious plans for Neom, a futuristic metropolis spread across 26,500 km² in the northwestern region of Tabuk.First announced in 2017, Neom is the flagship project of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/saudi-arabia-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-salman-mbs-2023-10">Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's</a> Vision 2030 — an initiative to diversify Saudi Arabia's economy and reduce its reliance on oil revenues.There have been <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/saudi-arabia-neom-the-line-cost-vision-2030-projects-2024-4">reports of setbacks</a>, but <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/saudi-arabia-neom-megaproject-not-struggling-vision-2030-minister-2024-4">officials previously said</a> the project was on track. If construction does goes to plan, Neom will include Oxagon, an octagonal port city; Sindalah, a luxury island resort; Trojena, a ski and adventure resort; and a tourism hub in the Gulf of Aqaba.But the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/neom-saudi-arabia-desert-megacity-plans-look-pictures-2024-4">centerpiece of Neom</a> is The Line — a planned zero-carbon city featuring two huge mirrored skyscrapers that extend 170 km across Tabuk.Officials say Neom will be a "cognitive city." The idea is similar to a smart city, but expands on the concept. In this case, the idea is to use tech such as AI and robotics to provide an optimum experience for residents.<div type="image" title="Neom construction." height="1125" width="2436" msid="110059167" hostid="261"></div>But once — or if — Neom is finally up and running, it will require a whole slate of unusual jobs to fulfill its vision as a revolutionary city.Recruitment is already underway."Join us on a journey of visionary minds where you seek to understand, embrace culture, make a difference, and create a legacy," the project's jobs board invites prospective candidates.There were <a target="_blank" href="https://careers.neom.com/careers">262 vacancies</a> on Neom's website at the time of writing. Some would be common in any city planning project: construction manager, engineer, digital marketing web ops, and, maybe at a stretch, golf course design manager.Other roles required to run Neom suggest just how futuristic, and perhaps a little dystopian, the city could be.<h3 id="ad1895dc-a162-45ad-a577-a88f8b104887">Tech services and system manager</h3>Though it sounds like a standard tech job, this role is a managerial position for the Neom Community School. Candidates for Arabic and Islamic teachers, music teachers, and an "individuals and societies teacher" are also wanted for the city's wide-ranging education system.The school is part of the wider <a target="_blank" href="https://www.neom.com/en-us/our-business/sectors/education-research-and-innovation">Neom U</a> project, a vast education arm that appears to be crucial to the city's vision as a hub of research and innovation.Neom is also searching for someone to fill a <a target="_blank" href="https://careers.neom.com/careers/job?domain=neom.com&amp;pid=563087399700686&amp;query=head%20of%20student%20attraction&amp;domain=neom.com&amp;sort_by=relevance&amp;triggerGoButton=false&amp;job_index=0">head of student attraction</a> role.Job responsibilities include "ensuring that Neom is considered to be the most attractive place to live and work" and preparing the "brightest young minds" for careers within Neom.<h3 id="65973ad6-bcf4-42c7-b923-d85440b0a957">Director of personalized health</h3><a target="_blank" href="https://www.neom.com/en-us/our-business/sectors/health-wellbeing-and-biotech">Officials said </a>The Line aims to prioritize its citizens' health and well-being over transportation and infrastructure, and it will "harness innovative technology" to do so.The personalized health director is expected to play a crucial role in delivering those promises by "steering and defining Neom's strategy for integrating genetics into personalized healthcare."The <a target="_blank" href="https://careers.neom.com/careers/job?domain=neom.com&amp;pid=563087399895824&amp;query=Director%20of%20Personalized%20Health%20&amp;domain=neom.com&amp;sort_by=relevance&amp;triggerGoButton=false&amp;job_index=0">job description</a> says genetic data will be used to pinpoint health risks and develop health interventions.It's unclear whether providing your genetic data will be a requirement for living in Neom. However, some experts have raised <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/saudi-crown-princes-china-deals-hint-city-darker-neom-mbs-2023-3">ethical issues about the plans</a>, warning that Neom could become part of a sweeping surveillance program.<h3 id="fbc5f989-0295-4835-bfb1-13f3a7b7ec06">Water mobility station professional</h3>Advanced, zero-emission transport systems are core to Neom's strategy; and the project's waterside estates, Oxagon and Sindalah, are planned to be equally futuristic.The water mobility station professional is a role on offer for those willing to oversee the smooth running of Neom's "water mobility station," or in other words, boat services.While this job doesn't seem to differ that much from traditional marina management, you'll need to speak fluent Arabic and English and be prepared to handle autonomous, futuristic vessels.<div type="image" title="Sindalah, Neom" height="1080" width="1920" msid="110059169" hostid="261"></div><h3 id="79167c5b-25fd-473c-88ad-feb703cb7f2a">Aquaculture fish laboratory and biosecurity professional</h3>Not a job that most cities deem to be a requirement, the aquaculture fish laboratory and biosecurity professional was one of the more unexpected roles on offer at Neom.The <a target="_blank" href="https://careers.neom.com/careers/job?domain=neom.com&amp;pid=563087399774804&amp;query=Aquaculture%20Fish%20Laboratory%20and%20Biosecurity%20Professional&amp;domain=neom.com&amp;sort_by=relevance&amp;triggerGoButton=false&amp;job_index=0">chosen candidate</a> will control and operate the fish laboratory, ensuring high standards of fish welfare and supporting surveillance and investigation activities into fish health and disease control.The role falls in line with Neom's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.vision2030.gov.sa/en/projects/neom/">sustainability ambitions,</a> where humanity progresses without damaging the health of the planet.Plus, a thriving fish population would also support diving tourism. Developers have said they want the island resort Sindalah to act as an "exclusive gateway to the stunning Red Sea."<h3 id="0235e798-d06a-4e21-90e2-dc5d4b8a37d1">Lead rewilding</h3>Another job that highlights Neom's supposed ecological considerations is <a target="_blank" href="https://careers.neom.com/careers/job?domain=neom.com&amp;pid=563087399923098&amp;query=Lead%20rewilding&amp;domain=neom.com&amp;sort_by=relevance&amp;triggerGoButton=false&amp;job_index=0">lead rewilding</a>.This job requires someone willing to get involved in Neom's "trophic rewilding strategy." They will help build wildlife corridors, monitor species, and conduct vegetation assessments in order to "address historical degradation that left the land in a desolated state."<div type="image" title="Neom" height="9504" width="6336" msid="110059170" hostid="261"></div>Perhaps the best job offered at Neom, the lead rewilding hire will develop and implement a cheetah introduction and management plan.Those with a degree in conservation, ecology, natural sciences, or a related field can step forward.Despite Neom's proclaimed efforts towards environmental protection, some have criticized the treatment of people who have reportedly been driven from the construction site.In May 2023, it was reported that three men from the Howeitat tribe were charged with terrorism and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/05/saudi-arabia-un-experts-alarmed-imminent-executions-linked-neom-project#:~:text=Mr%20Shadly%20Ahmad%20Mahmoud%20Abou,Appeal%20on%2023%20January%202023.">sentenced to death</a> for resisting evictions in the area where Neom is being developed.Neom officials did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Saudi Arabia's Neom is looking to fill 262 job vacancies. The roles show just how futuristic the megacity could be.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Fishing provides food and jobs, but fish stocks are being depleted and ecosystems harmed.</li><li>Venture capitalists poured $238 million into the sector last year, but founders need much more.</li></ul>Daniel Watson's company, SafetyNet Technologies, has nearly run out of money six times.When he founded the London-based business — which works on ways to make fishing more sustainable — in 2011, <a target="_blank" href="https://dan-watson.medium.com/whos-funding-ocean-conservation-tech-df1a6690fe1d">funding for ocean conservation seemed nonexistent</a>.SafetyNet survived off a patchwork of grants, prizes, crowdfunding, and bootstrapping before raising a £1.1 million, or about $1.3 million, venture-capital round in 2020 that took two years to close, due in part to a lack of investor appetite.Some <a target="_blank" href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/industries/sustainable-seafood#:~:text=3%20billion,significant%20source%20of%20animal%20protein.">3 billion people</a> rely on the ocean for food, while <a target="_blank" href="https://www.fao.org/state-of-fisheries-aquaculture">58.5 million people</a> across the world are employed in the fishing industry or related jobs. But overfishing has left some <a target="_blank" href="https://ourworldindata.org/fish-and-overfishing#how-much-of-the-world-s-fish-is-managed-sustainably">fish stocks depleted,</a> while destructive fishing practices like <a target="_blank" href="https://ourworldindata.org/fish-and-overfishing#how-much-fish-do-we-catch-from-each-method">dredging have harmed ecosystems</a>.This adds to the threats already faced by the ocean, including <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ocean-acidification-bone-research-predict-reef-health-2023-4?r=US&amp;IR=T">the effects of the climate crisis</a>, loss of biodiversity, and pollution.To address these challenges, the <a target="_blank" href="https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/policy/common-fisheries-policy-cfp_en">European Union</a> and other global leaders are pushing for science-based fishing practices to ensure that fish populations can be maintained.<div type="image" title="Daniel Watson Dan holding a CatchCam camera." height="1667" width="2500" msid="103517055" hostid="261" sizebytes="157842"></div>They also <a target="_blank" href="https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-02/COM-2023-103_en.pdf">want to see</a> reduced bycatch, known in the fishing industry as unwanted fish or other marine animals that are unintentionally caught and killed, and improved data collection to make the industry more sustainable. For fisheries, more data ultimately means they can be more precise, efficient, and cost-effective.Startups like Watson's, which works at the intersection of ocean conservation and fishing in what is known as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/agriculture/our-insights/precision-fisheries-navigating-a-sea-of-troubles-with-advanced-analytics">precision fishing</a>, position themselves as part of the solution.SafetyNet's products include Pisces, a device that repels unwanted fish species to avoid bycatch, which won the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.dyson.co.uk/newsroom/overview/news/june-2021/world-oceans-day">James Dyson Award in 2012</a>; the CatchCam, an underwater camera system; and Enki, an underwater sensor.<div type="image" title="Two fishers looking at underwater footage provided by SafetyNet Technologies' CatchCam camera." height="4480" width="6720" msid="103517057" hostid="261" sizebytes="939440"></div>Fishing tech is often overlooked by venture capitalists who have preferred startups operating in aquaculture, which refers to the farming of fish, shellfish, and algae rather than the capture of wild stocks.Venture capitalists pumped a record $550 million into the aquaculture sector last year, more than double the $238 million that went to traditional fishing sectors, according to PitchBook."Fishing has to be competitive in the ocean funding space alongside all these things like aquaculture, algae, seaweed, plastic removal, carbon removal," Watson said.Still, "traditional fishing is a really important part of human nutrition and it's not going away," said Ed Phillips, an investor at Future Planet Capital who heads the firm's ocean fund.Phillips, who invests in traditional and aquaculture markets, is keen on companies that bring technology and data to the ocean, such as those mapping more efficient fishing routes."In the traditional fishing market, your customers are traditionally relatively small and they don't necessarily have huge amounts of capital to deploy new technologies, but we've seen entrepreneurs create very good businesses often bootstrapped to serve those customers," he said.<div type="image" title="fishery aquaculture croatia" height="2306" width="3500" msid="103517069" hostid="261" sizebytes="522684"></div><h2>Building hardware for the harsh ocean</h2>Investors often prefer software over hardware, given the latter is typically cost-intensive, has long lead times, and is hard to scale because of the physical parts that need to be tested and iterated.Ocean tech has the additional challenge of "dealing with this chemically rich liquid that basically eats everything that goes into it," Watson said of the ocean. Depending on how deep the technology goes, it must also be able to withstand the ocean's atmospheric pressure.Case in point: It took six years for Kortney Opshaug, a former associate director at NASA, to bring her data-collecting buoy to market. The device tracks the location and movement of lost and discarded fishing gear, which makes up <a target="_blank" href="https://reports.eia-international.org/a-new-global-treaty/fishing-gear/#:~:text=Of%20all%20the%20sources%20of,it%20is%20closer%20to%20half.">10% of global marine-plastic pollution</a>.<div type="image" title="Blue Ocean Gear CEO Kortney Opshaug on a boat" height="2268" width="3024" msid="103517071" hostid="261" sizebytes="1036792"></div>While the vessels Opshaug has sailed aboard aren't short of technology — they "look like the cockpit of a 747," she said — the marine environment is harsh."People think of buoys that float very gently on the surface," Opshaug said."No, it's out in the Bering Sea, it's getting dragged under to 1,000 feet. It's in hurricanes, it's getting slammed against the deck. Making something that's really robust but that also operates the way that a fisherman wants it to, it's not that straightforward."Blue Ocean Gear's buoys have additional sensors to contribute to climate research, which benefits the fisherman because they get more accurate predictions from where they actually fish, Opshaug said.Investors are still interested into ocean-tech startups despite the high cost of developing, testing, and selling equipment. In August, <a target="_blank" href="https://tech.eu/2023/08/01/ocean-14-capital-eur10-million-ava-ocean/">Ava Ocean nabbed 10 million euros</a>, or about $10.8 million, for precision seabed harvesting from the seafood-focused fund Ocean 14 Capital.The startup's tech can move fisheries away from destructive dredging practices and subsequently open up waters where fishing has been restricted as a result harmful practices, Maren Hjorth Bauer, a "blue economy" investor who sits on Ava Ocean's board, said.<div type="image" title="A 3D-printed nut cracker, which was made from recycled fishing nets." height="3456" width="5184" msid="103517073" hostid="261" sizebytes="454698"></div>There are plenty of opportunities on land, too. Hjorth Bauer wants to see more circularity in fishing, and she's excited about companies taking advantage of its waste streams, such as the Icelandic company Kerecis, which uses cod skin to treat wounds and was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kerecis.com/coloplast-announces-agreement-to-acquire-kerecis-and-raises-long-term-growth-expectations/">recently acquired for $1.3 billion</a>.The Cornwall-based company Fishy Filaments has developed a way to recycle plastic from fishing nets into new products, but it's still in the early stages. The technology can be applied to other plastics like food packaging, but the company's founder and CEO, Ian Falconer, sees a bigger opportunity in fishing despite its challenges."It's sufficiently high value and sufficiently global for us to get into, but it's not already locked out by long-term contracts," he said. "So I'm not going in and competing with multibillion-dollar industries straightaway. I'm competing with a number of other SMEs that are regional rather than global."<div type="image" title="Blue Ocean Gear's data-collecting buoy " height="768" width="1536" msid="103517075" hostid="261" sizebytes="91802"></div><h2>Fishing for funding</h2>But Falconer is competing with buzzy tech sectors in the pursuit of venture capital. Currently, fund analysts are focused on software, AI, and "relatively quick turnaround" technologies, said Falconer, who started his business in 2016."Sometimes we need to remind people that change only happens in the physical world. Carbon dioxide is a physical manifestation of physical actions," he added.The major funding gap comes from a dearth of strategic investors, Watson said. Strategic or <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/early-stage-startups-turn-to-cvcs-as-vc-funding-slows-2023-6?r=US&amp;IR=T">corporate investors play large roles</a> in other capital-intensive industries, providing patient capital, industry knowledge, and contacts."The fishing sector has the potential to do a lot of good, continue to do a lot of good and better, actually," he said. "Management's changing, regulation's changing, but the strategics just haven't pulled the fingers out to actually help people help them."Family offices could offer some relief, said Hjorth Bauer, while private equity is also an option for later-stage companies with hardware and other physical assets.Without cash flowing in, fishing tech could face a brain drain. Watson said his peers are devoted to solving their piece of the puzzle but a lack of funding means talent is forced to go elsewhere. "That's a tragedy in my perspective," he said.There is hope that the tide is changing. People are now understanding the link between climate, biodiversity, and the ocean, Hjorth Bauer said.

Fishing startups are making the industry more sustainable by repelling bycatch, recycling nets, and tackling dredging — but they need more cash to stay afloat

<div type="image" title="A marine research expedition in Antarctica." height="3732" width="5598" msid="102209399" hostid="261"></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>The vast majority of the ocean remains unexplored but researchers are racing to change that.</li><li>They believe water-based organisms can advance healthcare and address the climate crisis.</li><li>But balancing science, marine protection, and economic gains is an evolving challenge.</li></ul>The ocean is teeming with <a href="https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2023-04-27-oxford-university-joins-largest-ever-ocean-survey-global-effort-save-marine-life" target="_blank" rel="noopener">uncharted life</a> and most of it remains <a href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/exploration.html">unexplored</a> — something researchers from academia and private companies are racing to change.That's because unique microorganisms that can survive the deep, dark abyss of the ocean to those that live in shallow waters and hot springs could hold answers to some of the world's most pressing challenges in health and climate. Biodiscovery taps into plants, animals, and microorganisms to look for traits that can be used for innovation in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, cosmetic, and other industries. A bevy of organizations are focused on scaling up biodiscovery at sea.A marine discovery in the 1950s led to the creation of Ara-A, the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/org/science/article/pii/S0265056822000356" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first antiviral drug</a>. Around half of clinically approved drugs, including antibiotics and cancer drugs, are based on discoveries made in nature, but only <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/org/science/article/pii/S0265056822000356" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a small percentage</a> of those come from marine ecosystems.Scientists are turning to the ocean in the hope of finding microbes that can help deal with mounting aquaculture waste, eat methane, degrade plastic, and help create biofuels.But the industry faces <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/org/science/article/pii/S0265056822000356" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"chronic underfunding, bottlenecks, and untapped potential"</a> while the ocean itself is under assault from pollution, overfishing, a loss of biodiversity, and climate change. Balancing the pursuit of science, marine protection, and economic gain is an inherent challenge but some organizations are tackling all three. <div type="image" title="Two of the Basecamp Research team taking samples in Azores, Portugal" height="724" width="1086" msid="102209400" hostid="261"></div><h2>Combining biodiscovery with biodiversity mapping</h2>The London-based company Basecamp Research conducts marine expeditions led by scientists working to build a knowledge graph of nature's biodiversity. The startup, which has raised $26 million to date, works with companies looking for enzymes for commercial use and with NGOs or countries that want to map biodiversity.Basecamp also partners with academic institutions and governments, including on a project known as Heritage Malta, which involves divers heading 100 meters underwater to collect sediment samples from around archaeological wreckage sites. The project's end goal is to understand how the microbes are evolving in response to the wreck sites on the seabed while also looking for enzymes for commercial use.Sampling efforts are typically nonintrusive and don't harm the surrounding environment, said Emma Bolton, a marine biologist who has spent time working in Antarctica and is now with Basecamp Research. Sampling involves taking a "minuscule amount of sediment" and only needs to be done once, she said. Samples can also be taken by filtering a few liters of water. Discoveries might yield commercial gains but could also be used to build an argument for the protection, conservation, or restoration of the marine area.<div type="image" title="Heritage Malta diver taking samples." height="1022" width="1600" msid="102209401" hostid="261"></div><h2>Technology is fueling biodiscovery </h2>Once collected, microbial DNA has to be sequenced and analyzed. Scientists sift through databases of digital biological information hoping to make the next big discovery. There is simply too much data to handle, Rob Finn, the coordinator of a European project that catalogs existing marine-microbiome data said. "I sit on 3 billion unique proteins that have come from all sorts of different sources," said Finn of the BlueRemediomics initiative. He is also a team lead at the European Bioinformatics Institute. One of the aims of the 9.3 million euro, or about $10.4 million, project is to make it easier to screen data for useful characteristics for commercialization, with a focus on new ways to reduce waste, increase the reuse of natural products, and improve aquaculture processes. It will connect the dots between single enzymes or genes to look at whole organisms or small communities of organisms for potential uses, Finn said. The explosion of powerful algorithms that can process vast amounts of data has made this kind of work possible.Basecamp Research's data science team is also taking advantage of developments in technology. It uses AI modeling to work out the best proteins and enzymes for specific applications, which can lead to bespoke protein designs for its customers. Winning designs can also be used to train AI systems to model other enzymes and sequences in the hope of making further discoveries. <div type="image" title="Visualisation of proteins in silico, made by Saif Ur-Rehman, Basecamp Research's data engineering team lead." height="1420" width="2440" msid="102209403" hostid="261"></div><h2>The introduction of the High Seas Treaty</h2>A number of companies use public biological data to develop products, but critics argue that traceability is often lacking, leaving the impact of datasets unknown. This raises the issue of biopiracy, where samples have been harvested illegally without fair compensation to the communities and countries that own the land or waters.The UN's Nagoya Protocol, adopted in 2010, addressed biopiracy on land by ensuring that commercial profits of genetic resources like DNA are shared with its origin country. The protocol omitted the high seas, which refers to parts of the seas that are not under territorial control of any specific country. As interest in the ocean gains momentum, so does the push to protect it and ensure discoveries benefit everyone. <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_1382" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The High Seas Treaty</a>, which was finalized earlier this year, will regulate the use of physical and digital genetic data found in the deep sea and states that profit is to be shared equally between nations. Basecamp Research's Bolton said any royalties made from its data are shared with location partners, in line with the Nagoya Protocol. For example, it would share profits with a national park that might have enlisted the company's help to conduct a biodiversity survey. Meanwhile, a huge part of BlueRemediomics's funding is devoted to finding ways to balance commercialization with <a href="https://blueremediomics.eu/about-work-packages/work-package-5-improving-access-protection-and-sharing-abs-and-ip-of-marine-genetic-resources/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">benefit sharing</a> and to make sure that neither becomes constricted, Finn said. This is particularly important as policy evolves with the ratification of the High Seas Treaty.<div type="image" title="A diver during an expedition in Antarctica." height="3800" width="5067" msid="102209404" hostid="261"></div>The treaty also puts into action an <a href="https://www.cbd.int/article/cop15-final-text-kunming-montreal-gbf-221222" target="_blank" rel="noopener">agreement</a> to protect 30% of the high seas by 2030. Currently, <a href="https://marine-conservation.org/30x30/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">less than 3%</a> is considered highly protected.This coincides with a race to mine the seafloor for critical materials, often touted as necessary to meet electrification goals. Scientists have <a href="https://easac.eu/news/details/deep-sea-mining-press-release" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pushed back</a> on the "misleading" narrative that this kind of exploration is needed for a green transition and have warned that mining the deep sea will have damning consequences for marine ecosystems, The conversation has led to increased public awareness of the marine ecosystem's value and a push to understand the ocean, Bolton said. "There is so much more to discover from it."

Scientists are racing to explore more of the ocean hoping to discover medical breakthroughs and address the climate crisis

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A proposed commercial octopus farm is sparking outrage among experts and animal rights campaigners.</li><li>The farm would slaughter roughly one million octopuses each year by submerging them in icy water.</li></ul>A proposed commercial octopus farm in Spain has sparked outrage after a leaked plan suggested that the operator intends to kill up to one million of the animals a year by submerging them, alive, in freezing water.Companies have for years strived to produce octopuses at a commercial scale in captivity, citing growing demand and pressure to find more sustainable alternatives to fishing. But critics argue the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/octopus-weirdest-animals-rna-editing-super-powers-2018-5">creatures are far too smart</a> — and capable of feeling pain — to be raised for food in confined quarters.The proposed farm at issue would be based in Spain's Canary Islands and run by Nueva Pescanova, a seafood company that boasted in 2019 of having succeeded at not only raising octopuses in captivity but, for the first time, getting them to reproduce."We will continue to research how to continue improving the well-being of the octopuses, studying and replicating their natural habitat, with the expectation to be able to sell aquaculture octopus starting in the year 2023," CEO Ignacio González said at the time.But campaigners with Eurogroup for Animals, an activist group, say that documents they obtained — and shared <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-64814781">with the BBC</a> — show that the proposed factory would subject octopuses to torturous conditions and a long, painful death.In <a href="https://www.eurogroupforanimals.org/files/eurogroupforanimals/2023-03/2023_03_efa_octopus_case_study_en_0.pdf">a report</a> released Thursday, the activist group said that Nueva Pescanova intends to slaughter around one million octopuses each year by submerging them in a freezing "ice slurry." In addition, it criticizes the conditions they will be kept in prior to their slaughter, saying the company intends to cage a solitary creature in dense housing — up to 15 octopuses per cubic meter of water — and subject them to 24-hour periods of light in an effort to speed reproduction."It will inflict unnecessary suffering on these intelligent, sentient and fascinating creatures, which need to explore and engage with the environment as part of their natural behaviour," Elena Lara, research manager at the group Compassion in World Farming, said in a statement.Nueva Pescanova did not respond to Insider's request for comment. But in a statement to the BBC, the company said it had high standards that ensure "the correct handling of the animals." In particular, it said, the slaughter of the octopuses "involves proper handling that avoids any pain or suffering to the animal."Experts disagree, however, that submerging live animals in freezing water is a pleasant way to go."To kill them with ice would be a slow death," Dr. Peter Tse, who studies octopus cognition at Dartmouth, told the BBC. "It would be very cruel and should not be allowed."In an <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1w4KNUY4BWM2GT6_EVmwIxX6VvvSwfpQB/view">open letter</a> last year, before specific details of the proposed factory were released, a group of environmental scientists at New York University who specialize in animal sentience argued that is not possible to humanely raise octopuses in captivity at a commercial scale — and could indeed cause not just pollution, from the release of contaminated waters, but cannibalism in animals that have effectively been driven mad."Beyond environmental and health concerns, octopuses are capable of observational learning, have individual personalities, play, and are capable of problem-solving, deception, and interspecies hunting," the scientists wrote.Have a news tip? Email this reporter: <a href="mailto:cdavis@insider.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cdavis@insider.com</a>

A Spanish firm wants to kill one million octopuses a year using 'ice slurry' baths at first-ever factory farm

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I've been vacationing at Disney World since the 1990s, and I love a lot of rides.</li><li>My <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.insider.com/best-attractions-at-disney-world-according-to-former-cast-member-2022-1">absolute favorite attraction</a> is Living With the Land in the Land Pavilion at Epcot. </li></ul>Disney World is filled with high-thrill attractions like Expedition Everest, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, and the new <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.insider.com/guardians-of-the-galaxy-cosmic-rewind-disney-world-worth-it-2022-5">Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind</a>.But I like to take my Disney vacations at a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.insider.com/why-i-dont-do-rides-at-disney-world-with-annual-pass-2022">more leisurely pace</a>.I've been going to Disney World since I was a little kid, and to this day, my favorite ride can be found tucked in a back corner of Epcot's Land Pavilion.But it's not the popular Soarin' Around the World, it's Living With the Land.<h2>The ride takes you on an informative agricultural journey</h2><div type="image" title="shot of the greenhouses at epcot inside living with the land " height="3024" width="4032" msid="94227516" hostid="261" sizebytes="1216474"></div>Living With the Land, a slow-paced boat ride, starts in an almost zen-like state as guests travel through a simulated thunderstorm.The ride then takes you on an agricultural journey through the evolution of farming, which also includes a tour through Disney's own working greenhouses.Guests get to see how Disney uses innovative farming techniques like hydroponics, aquaculture, and vertical-growing mechanisms, all while passing by a variety of fruits and vegetables that are actually harvested and served in different <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.insider.com/trying-garden-grill-disney-world-family-kids-review-2022-8">Epcot restaurants</a>.<h2>Some people may think it's boring, but I always need a relaxing moment at Disney World</h2><div type="image" title="shot of sunflowers growing in disney greenhouse from the ride vehicle of living with the land" height="720" width="960" msid="94227521" hostid="261" sizebytes="66870"></div>The attraction may sound boring, especially in comparison to the thrill rides. But when you're clocking tens of thousands of steps in the sweltering Florida sun, there's something to be said for a 15-minute boat ride where all you really need to do is look at some plants.Plus, since Living With the Land is far from the most popular ride at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.insider.com/interesting-things-to-know-about-epcot-at-walt-disney-world">Epcot</a>, the wait is generally short.<h2>Next time you're at Epcot, think twice before skipping Living With the Land</h2><div type="image" title="people taking the behind the seeds tour at living with the land in epcot " height="720" width="960" msid="94227522" hostid="261" sizebytes="146362"></div>If you need a break from the sun, want to get off your feet, or have any interest in plants, Living With the Land is the ride for you.And if you can't get enough of it, there's even a special backstage walking tour of the greenhouses called <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/epcot/behind-the-seeds/">Behind the Seeds</a>, which costs $35.

I've been visiting Disney World for over 25 years. My favorite ride is tucked into an easily forgotten corner of Epcot.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Located on Virginia's Mobjack Bay, this aquaculture farm is one of the largest on the East Coast.</li><li>We went inside <a href="https://wardoyster.com/">Ward Oyster Company</a> to see how it harvests 3.5 million <keyword id="146444" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="oysters">oysters</keyword> every year.</li><li>Since 1996, they've gone from farming 100,000 oysters per year to 3.5 million in 2019.</li></ul>Following is a transcription of the <keyword id="21654" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="video">video</keyword>.Narrator: These cages contain more than 30 million oysters. They are grown here at one of the largest oyster farms on the East Coast, but these little guys are hard to cultivate. They need constant care, or else an entire crop can get wiped out.Jared Lawson: It's kind of a good mixture of science and heavy labor. So it's hard work, long hours. It's seven days a week.Narrator: And the work doesn't stop there. After the oysters are harvested, it's a race against time to get them safely to consumers. We went inside Ward Oyster Company to see how it harvests 3.5 million oysters every year, bringing them from algae tanks to your plate.This is John Vigliotta. He began his career on the water when he was 13 years old.John Vigliotta: I started putting oysters in cages in 1995.Narrator: This aquaculture farm sprawls over 884 acres - the size of over 147 Roman Colosseums - and includes a hatchery, nursery, and part of the Mobjack Bay.Farming an oyster begins in the hatchery. Here, biologist Chris Smith puts 3,000 adult oysters into a shallow tank called a spawning table. Then, he artificially creates the conditions that cause oysters to spawn.Chris Smith: We're controlling the temperature in the tank specifically. It's the all-you-can-eat buffet getting them ready to spawn.Narrator: When the oyster spawn, they release their eggs and sperm directly into the water. The eggs and sperm are put into tanks, where they turn into oyster larvae. One billion oyster babies are produced in these tanks every year. They remain there for about three weeks, feeding on algae and growing shells.Lawson: We grow about seven different species of algae to create a menu for our oysters and clams. It's amazing to see the algae kind of bloom, and then to watch the oysters and clams grow in our facility, it's very gratifying.Narrator: When the oysters get to be about a quarter-inch long, they're placed outside in upweller tanks.Vigliotta: And it's a system in which allows a large quantity of water to be flown past the oysters, giving them a super abundant amount of food.Narrator: After about two months of feeding, staff check on the size of the oysters.Vigliotta: We'll take these oysters here that are larger, and they'll go in a cage to go overboard. And then these oysters here will go back into the system for further grow-out, to where they can get to be this size and eventually go in a cage.Narrator: The cages full of oysters are then tossed into the Mobjack Bay.Vigliotta: We have about 2,500 to 3,000 cages. Contained in all the cages that we have out in the Mobjack Bay, you probably have somewhere around 30 million oysters.Narrator: That is a lot of oysters. If all of them were harvested at once and put into your freezer, you could eat over 800 oysters every day for 100 years, and you would still have leftovers.Farmer: Nicely done.Narrator: Farmers monitor the weather closely. Excessive rainfall can dilute the salt in the water, which could kill the oysters. And water temperature is also a factor.Vigliotta: Oysters grow best between 60 degrees Fahrenheit and 80 degrees. If you go above that, it just gets so hot that they will stop growing or slow down significantly. If it goes below that, they go dormant.Narrator: If all goes well, after six months, the cages are removed from the water and the oysters are brought to a separator. This machine sorts them by size. If they are not big enough to sell, they go back in the water. Oysters can take around one to two years to go from hatchery to market.After separation, market-sized oysters are washed, tagged with order information, and boxed. Once the oysters come out of the bay, the clock starts ticking. The team has to harvest the oysters, transport them to the shop, add ice, package them, and place them in the cooler within two hours to meet FDA guidelines.The boxes are put into a refrigerated truck and shipped to distributors across the US, who pay around 40 cents per oyster. In Virginia, wildcat oysters actually sell for less, around 30 cents.Vigliotta: We probably sell our market oysters to 10 or 15 different states in the country, but our oysters end up everywhere.Narrator: And occasionally for local orders, John delivers himself.Vigliotta: And then you have the tag here.Chef: All right, thank you very much. OK.Restaurant Owner: Customers say that they're fresh, they're delicious.Narrator: Since 1996, they've gone from farming 100,000 oysters per year to 3.5 million in 2019. Besides selling oysters to eat, the company also sells around 70 million baby oysters each year to farmers up and down the East Coast.Aquaculture is one of the fastest-growing food production sectors in the world. While the amount of seafood caught in the wild has not increased by much since the 1980s, demand is up nearly 150%. Aquaculture is filling the gap. It is predicted that by 2030, 60% of the fish available for human consumption will come from aquaculture.Virginia has made a big bet and doubled down on farming oysters. Today, the state is the largest oyster producer on the East Coast. But the pandemic has hurt business.Vigliotta: Like no natural disaster that we've ever had.Narrator: Oysters' market value, and restaurant orders, plummeted.Vigliotta: So we're getting hit both with reduced orders and a reduced price for the product that we do sell.Narrator: And on top of that, after a stellar 2019, John stocked the bay, hoping for an abundant future.Vigliotta: We have a record amount of product in the water, and our sales are off almost 50%.Narrator: While 2020 was a roller coaster ride for Ward Oyster Company, sales have finally started to pick up. John is optimistic about the future. No matter what happens, he plans to be on the water.Vigliotta: I love being out on the water. My office is on the water. You can't get it much better than that, and saltwater is in my veins.

How 3.5 million oysters are harvested at this Virginia farm every year

<ul><li>Shares of consumer products company ITC surged as much as 5% on Thursday hitting its 52-week high at ₹261.80.</li><li>The company’s stock is known for its massive underperformance over the years as in the last five years ITC has gained just 7% while benchmark index <keyword id="6484188" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sensex" source="Orion">Sensex</keyword> went up 120%.</li><li>Analysts believe the stock deserves better valuation following its poor stock performance over the years.</li></ul>Cigarettes-to-biscuits conglomerate ITC has been surprising investors with a rally in its shares in the last one month. Media <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/itc-shares-surge-over-11-in-4-days-amid-speculation-over-tie-up-with-amazon/articleshow/87014416.cms">reports </a>indicate that e-commerce giant Amazon is planning to invest in ITC’s e-Choupal and this seems to have triggered the stock on Thursday. Shares of the company have gained as much as 5% hitting its 52-week high at ₹261.80 on October 14. <div type="image" title="ITC chart" height="900" width="1200" msid="87016478" hostid="261"></div> Farmers use e-Choupal to order seeds, fertilisers and aquaculture products like soybeans, wheat, coffee, and prawns from ITC or its partners at prices lower than those available from village traders. Shares of ITC have gained 19% in the last one month, thanks to the rally in stock from <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/itc-surprises-investors-by-rallying-7-5-suddenly-today/articleshow/86255237.cms">September 16</a>. A believe that the company’s cigarette business will fully recover with the aggressive vaccination drive and reduction in COVID-19 cases. “Overall, we expect ITC to see strong acceleration in earning growth led by the cigarette business. Earnings per share growth is likely to be in double-digits in both FY22 and FY23, <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/market/itc-rating-buy-status-quo-on-tax-is-a-positive-for-firm/2334217/">reportedly </a>said analysts at Jefferies while recommending a “BUY” rating on the stock with a target price of ₹300. ICICIdirect has set a target price of ₹260 on the stock as it stated that the stock witnessed noteworthy delivery volume activity in September. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/infosys-wipro-shares-up-as-q2-earnings-excite-investors/articleshow/87013663.cms">India’s techies are leaving IT firms in hordes —Here’s why</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/ecommerce/news/three-unicorns-hundreds-of-crore-in-loss-and-very-little-market-share-whats-the-hype-around-online-car-retailers/articleshow/87012417.cms">Three unicorns, hundreds of crore in loss and very little market share — What's the hype around online car retailers?</a>

ITC surges 5% on reports of potential investment from an e-commerce titan

New Delhi, Feb 12 () The government is likely to provide certain support measures in the proposed national fisheries policy to promote exports of marine products, an official said. The government is drafting a national fisheries policy to enhance growth of marine fishery, aquaculture and mariculture in the country. "One of the prime objectives of the policy is to double fishery exports and improve lives of fishermen," the official said. The sector has been one of the major contributors of foreign exchange earnings with India being one of the leading seafood exporting nations in the world. The marine exports stand at about 5 per cent of total exports of India, which was USD 330 billion in 2018-19. It constitutes about 20 per cent of total agri-exports. During 2018-19, export of marine products stood at 13,92,559 tonnes and valued at Rs 46,589 crore (USD 6.73 billion). The rapid increase in the growth of seafood exports has been mainly due to boom in brackish water aquaculture. The official also said the greater emphasis would be given for product and market diversification in exports with improved infrastructure, trained human resources and support facilities to move up the value chain and meet international standards. Appropriate interventions are also under consideration in the policy to address the critical gaps for growths of exports, the official added. India is emerging as the fourth-largest exporters of sea food in the world and it is the second-largest aquaculture producer, and third-largest fish producer in the world. RR HRS

You Searched For "aquaculture" and got 13 results

Sustainable Fishing and Aquaculture

Budget proposals for marine sector to boost India's seafood exports, aquaculture: MPEDA

PTI

CMFRI scientists crack genetic code of Asian green mussel

PTI

3 major hurricanes in the last 13 months did billions of dollars of damage to Florida's farmlands — and that was before Milton

Aditi Bharade

Blue Economy 2.0: Five integrated Aqua Parks to be set up

IANS

Saudi Arabia's Neom is looking to fill 262 job vacancies. The roles show just how futuristic the megacity could be.

Polly Thompson

Fishing startups are making the industry more sustainable by repelling bycatch, recycling nets, and tackling dredging — but they need more cash to stay afloat

Tasmin Lockwood

Scientists are racing to explore more of the ocean hoping to discover medical breakthroughs and address the climate crisis

Tasmin Lockwood

A Spanish firm wants to kill one million octopuses a year using 'ice slurry' baths at first-ever factory farm

Charles R. Davis

I've been visiting Disney World for over 25 years. My favorite ride is tucked into an easily forgotten corner of Epcot.

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