Tidal Shift
The journey of shrimp farming resembles navigating tumultuous waters, as experienced by David Barnes, the president of Planet Shrimp. He is eagerly anticipating the inaugural harvest after a virus outbreak three years ago at his indoor shrimp facility in Aylmer, Ontario, situated just southeast of London.
This virus was introduced through shrimp post-larvae—tiny crustaceans roughly the length of an eyelash—imported from the United States in late 2019 to initiate a new cycle in Aylmer. In a parallel to the global disruption caused by a more renowned virus a few months later, Planet Shrimp, which was gaining recognition in sustainable seafood production, came to an abrupt standstill.
“It was an incredibly trying period,” reflects Barnes. “We found ourselves in a state of inertia throughout that time.”
Clearer skies on the horizon
However, the outlook is optimistic at a facility capable of sustainably producing 300,000 lbs (136,000 kg) of Pacific white shrimp annually, with ambitions to globally promote the technology revolutionizing how this crucial seafood reaches our plates.
At Planet Shrimp, sustainability translates to nurturing shrimp to a target weight of slightly over 1 oz (30 to 35 g) within a four-month growth cycle, all while avoiding antibiotics, growth hormones, pesticides, and chemicals commonly found in shrimp farms across Southeast Asia and Central America, which account for more than half of the world’s shrimp supply.
The facility’s pools, which hold 10 million gallons of water for shrimp at varying life stages, feature an in-house purification and recycling system, thereby alleviating pressure on local resources and infrastructure. The waste is processed, dried, and repurposed as fertilizer for nearby farmers.
“I am genuinely impressed with the potential to implement this technology on an international scale, fundamentally altering our eating habits, enhancing environmental practices, and rethinking food safety, traceability, and health,” Barnes expresses.
There’s no denying that our oceans necessitate initiatives like Planet Shrimp and similar ventures.
Innovating Shrimp Farming in Canada
To address their own challenges, Barnes and the team at Planet Shrimp, along with shareholders, invested in developing a shrimp post-larvae hatchery—the first one in Canada—located just 20 minutes away. The inaugural batch of homegrown shrimp post-larvae is expected to reach the consumer market soon, with more generations to follow.
“Imagine if, five years from now, we can establish facilities in several regions around the world, positively impacting the health of consumers and contributing to the preservation of marine environments, particularly in Southeast Asia where a significant amount of shrimp is sourced?” Barnes envisions.
“If we can influence the economic rationale to create more farms without further damaging mangroves and coastlines, we can genuinely feel we are making a meaningful difference in the world.”
