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>> Download PDF of this Press Release June 4, 2007 Representatives of 8th SEA The Organic Seafood Company and Bio-Lipids Technology Group Visit Guyana and Meet Minister Persaud to Explore Potential for Organic Aquaculture Farms GEORGETOWN - On May 29, members of the National Aquaculture Association of Guyana (NAAG) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Guyana Trade and Investment Support (GTIS) project welcomed to Guyana Mr. Jorge Gaskins, Managing Director of 8th SEA, and Mr. Jonathan Chaiton, Technical Director of Bio-Lipids Technology Group. Mr. Gaskins and Mr. Chaiton were in Guyana to see firsthand the country’s burgeoning aquaculture industry and to meet with potential partners to expand their production of organic tilapia and bio-lipids. 8th SEA The Organic Seafood Company, which currently has aquaculture farms producing organic tilapia in Brazil, is looking to expand their operations through partnerships with small and large aquaculture farms. Organic tilapia would be grown locally (under strict standards) and 8th SEA would handle the marketing, sales and transportation logistics. The progressive seafood company operates under the belief that within their aquaculture productions they must also focus on the well being of the people, the environment and the natural resources in the country where the tilapia is produced, as well as the consumers eating the fish. Mr. Gaskins says that, “raising organic tilapia is a holistic approach to aquaculture; you must realize that all resources are tied together.” To this end, Mr. Gaskins said that 8th SEA is not currently as concerned with large quantities as they are with setting up smaller, high quality operations with room to grow. Part of the 8th SEA approach to raising organic tilapia is by supplying some of the nutrition for the fish directly from the pond in which they live. In the eyes of Mr. Gaskins, the pond is seen as a living organism where the sum of different parts is greater than the whole. To follow through on this belief, 8th SEA has begun looking at the emerging technology of bio-lipid production. Bio-lipids are essentially any oil or fat derived from living organisms, be it soybeans, corn or the micro-algae found in ponds. Mr. Chaiton and the Bio-Lipids Technology Group grow aquatic micro-algae to produce high-quality bio-lipids, which are used by roughly 50 different industries, including bio-diesel, pharmaceutical and cosmetics. Micro-algae can produce 200 times more biolipids than soybeans; from micro-algae it’s possible to get 12,000 - 15,000 gallons of bio-lipid oil per acre, per year. 8th SEA is looking to concentrate on polyculture (growing more than one species in a pond), and for good reasons has chosen to focus on micro-algae. Having a natural food source will cut down greatly on the cost of feed (typically 50% of the costs of aquaculture operations), produce healthier fish (the Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids that are praised by health-conscious eaters actually originate in the micro-algae that the fish eat), and provide an additional product with a very high demand. Both men noted the importance of growing products whose production is market driven; last year, the tilapia market in the US expanded 30% and with the increasingly high-costs of oil, bio-lipids are now being explored as a viable alternative. After an aerial survey of potential aquaculture sites and initial discussions with NAAG members, Mr. Gaskins and Mr. Chaiton, together with NAAG and GTIS representatives, met with Minister Robert Persaud, who offered the Government and Ministry’s full support to the project. Minister Persaud, pleased with the market-driven initiative, stated that he is looking forward to the realization of this venture. “Guyana has a unique set of resources,” Mr. Gaskins said, “and I’m impressed with the public-private sector partnerships within NAAG.” Both Mr. Gaskins and Mr. Chaiton also said that Guyana’s developing aquaculture industry could be seen as an advantage, as it allows for those involved to rapidly progress using developments from other countries. NAAG members represent all elements of the industry, including farmers, entrepreneurs, feed producers, members of the government (research and development), and non-governmental organizations. NAAG receives support from various donor agencies, including USAID/GTIS. The group’s website is www.aquaculture.org.gy.
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