USSEC Southeast Asia Regional Technical Director – Aquaculture Lukas Manomaitis traveled with USSEC Asia Marine Specialist Hsiang Pin Lan to Langkawi, Malaysia to meet with representatives of the AquaGrow Corporation to discuss a possible 2016 marine fish demonstration project. AquaGrow has concessions from two government investments in marine aquaculture, a land-based hatchery and offshore cage site that they are using to pilot the idea of offshore marine aquaculture. The Malaysian government has also invested in other facilities, such as a large cage net washing station and supporting boats and equipment.
USSEC anticipates running a demonstration with a sinking, extruded, U.S.-sourced soy protein concentrate (SPC) diet in FY16 with AquaGrow at this location. In preparation for this project, USSEC plans to bring a grower leader group in August to this site and start collaboration with AquaGrow after November 1. The SPC source is expected to be Nutrivance from Midwest Ag Enterprises.

The focus on this move to industrial aquaculture is important, as it will allow a greater production of fish on feed-based systems, increasing feed demand and U.S. Soy use.