USA.- The tru® Shrimp Company announced today it has signed an agreement with Oceanic Institute of Hawai`i Pacific University to develop a nucleus shrimp breeding program in the US. The agreement confirms Oceanic Institute as the supplier of Pacific white shrimp breeding stock selected and developed exclusively for tru Shrimp.
The agreement is the beginning of a relationship with the scientists of Oceanic Institute to identify which of their breeding stock best perform in tru Shrimp’s patented production environment. Dr. Bruce Paterson, Chief Technical Officer of tru Shrimp, said it is critical high-performing breeding stock are chosen and certified specific pathogen free since tru Shrimp does not use antibiotics in its production systems.
“Biosecurity of the supplier’s facilities and the health and growth capability of the breeding stock were high priorities during the selection of a shrimp brood stock supplier,” Paterson said. “Oceanic Institute was the first company in the world to receive the designation ‘specific pathogen free’. This means Oceanic Institute shrimp breeding stock are certified to be free of the nine major shrimp diseases recognized by the World Organization of Animal Health. This assures tru Shrimp that our breeding stock will be disease free and have been raised under the highest of biosecurity standards.”
In addition to supplying brood stock for the hatchery at the tru Shrimp Innovation Research Center, Oceanic Institute will supply post larvae shrimp for the initial stocking of the Balaton Bay Reef, which will be the largest shrimp production facility in the Midwest when it comes online later this summer. tru Shrimp President and CEO Michael Ziebell said the agreement with Oceanic Institute is an important step forward.
“Oceanic Institute is a pioneer in the selective breeding of Pacific white shrimp. With this agreement, tru Shrimp has aligned itself with the best in the industry. It is our honor they agreed to work with us. A nucleus breeding program is a major piece of the fully integrated model we are pursuing to produce safe, antibiotic free shrimp for the U.S. market,” Ziebell said.
“This is an exciting opportunity for us,” Shaun Moss, Executive Director of Oceanic Institute shared. “We developed our shrimp breeding technology with funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with the intention to support a domestic shrimp farming industry. However, many beneficiaries of this technology grow shrimp overseas, so it is very rewarding for us to have this partnership with tru Shrimp here in the U.S. We believe the combination of tru Shrimp’s innovative production environment, coupled with Oceanic Institute’s breeding technology, will result in production efficiencies which will make tru Shrimp a leader in sustainable shrimp farming in the U.S. and beyond.”
tru Shrimp’s Balaton Bay Reef will be stocked with shrimp in September. It will also break ground on Luverne Bay Harbor in Luverne, MN this fall. The Luverne Bay Harbor, a nine-acre structure, will be capable of producing millions of pounds of shrimp annually.
About Oceanic Institute
Oceanic Institute of Hawai`i Pacific University is a not-for-profit research and development organization dedicated to marine aquaculture, biotechnology, and coastal resource management. Its mission is to develop and transfer environmentally responsible technologies to increase aquatic food production while promoting the sustainable use of ocean resources. Oceanic Institute uses no genetic modification technologies in the development of its shrimp breeding stock.
About The tru® Shrimp Company
tru Shrimp, an affiliate of Ralco, is redefining shrimp aquaculture. It’s disruptive technologies and revolutionary processes produce shrimp sustainably and predictably without use of antibiotics and with unequalled transparency and traceability. www.trushrimpcompany.com
