Aquaculture research organization Onda is expanding its services to include work with whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei).
Photo: Onda / Fabricio Sousa.
Onda, a contract research organization specializing in aquaculture based in Prince Edward Island, Canada, has announced the opening of a new satellite location in Brazil to advance its research and service offerings into whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei).
The organization said the move, which will see it partnering with a Brazilian aquaculture facility, responds to "a market push to provide innovative trials and testing for whiteleg shrimp", with shrimp highlighted as the "fastest-growing segment in aquaculture".
"These trials aim to evaluate key performance indicators such as hatch success, growth rate, feed efficiency, survival rate and disease resistance helping the aquaculture industry build more resilient stock and sustainable practices to enhance food security and meet the growing demand for reliable seafood sources worldwide," Onda stated in a press release.
Onda, which rebranded from Center for Aquaculture Technologies Canada (CATC) in June 2024, said the collaboration will enable it to offer trials on species that are difficult to import into Canada.
The organization said this new service offering is focused on nutrition, with a first phase looking at growth, digestibility and palatability.
"These trials will focus on evaluating different feed formulations and, ingredients to determine the impact on shrimp performance and growth rates to allow clients to enhance shrimp survival, reduce environmental impact, and improve profitability in aquaculture operations," Onda said, noting that it intends to expand into health trials at the new facility "in the very near future".
"After many years of development and securing reliable supply, we are very excited to expand our services in health and nutrition to include shrimp, the largest category by production in aquaculture," said Myrna Gillis, CEO of Onda.
About Onda Research
Based in Prince Edward Island, Onda Research is known for high-quality aquaculture trials, including customized bench-top and in-tank experiments. Holding various certifications, Onda’s services adhere to Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), and ACQ3 and ACQ2 standards, ensuring consistent, top-tier results.
