The Segue to Sustainability - Tilapia Tales, Issue 2

Greetings!

Tropical Aquaculture's monthly newsletter will give you timely and relevant information about our Vermont based company as well as our overseas facilities. Each month we will also be sharing a new sustainability point that we currently practice - so keep your eyes open!

Ecuadorian Farm Operates an Extensive Recirculation System

Early in 2010, one of our Ecuadorian farms, Produmar, started operating as a closed system that reuses 100% of the water needed for tilapia production. This system allows for a significant reduction in effluent discharges, facilitates the control of escapes, requires a considerably less water requirement and it provides a predictable and constant environment for growing fish.

The hatchery and the entire 800 Has of growout area each have their own independent recirculation system, with a capacity of storing approximately

12% of the operational volume.

Produmar continues to improve their recirculation units to maintain a sustainable system for the cultivation of tilapia.

New Standards for Tilapia Aquaculture Industry:

International Standards for Responsible Tilapia Aquaculture - ISRTA

On March 10^th and 11^th, two of our Ecuadorian farms received a visit from Aaron McNevin of World Wildlife Fund, who coordinated the recently completed Tilapia Aquaculture Dialogue (TAD).

The TAD developed global standards designed to minimize the key environ-mental and social impacts associated with tilapia aquaculture. Read more

Getting Ready for the International Boston Seafood Show

Come visit us at booth #333 at the International Boston Seafood Show,

March 14th - 16th.

Here's a sneak peak at some of the recipes we plan to have:
· Thai red curry with tilapia and shrimp
· Poached shrimp, salsa verde, fennel salad
· Shrimp beignets w/ smoked paprika aioli
· Sautéed tilapia, cauliflower puree, crispy capers, lemon zest
· Shrimp tostadas, guacamole, pico de gallo, cilantro

We look forward to seeing all of you in a month in Boston. If you would like to schedule a meeting with any of us, please click here with a suggestion of time and place. Otherwise, swing by our booth (#333) and try some of our delicious tilapia and shrimp!

Staff Notes

Love is in the air the first couple weeks of February. Roses are still on the kitchen table, chocolates on the counter and fish is filling up the fridge. For all of us in the seafood industry the start of lent, on Ash Wednesday, marks the start of the busiest time of year.

As we fill orders and plan for the International Boston Seafood Show, our staff is not only busy at work but in their personal lives as well. Dana, Rosie, Chris and Toby all celebrated birthdays this month. Meghan, one of our sales representatives got the exciting news that she will be in the NFI Future Leaders class for 2010 and Larissa will head to Chicago in a couple of weeks for SQF training.

Mike, Lorena and Lisa recently ran a 5K-charity race in which $16,000 was raised for a 4-month baby who has a rare type of cancer. Mike really cleaned up as he finished the race in 19 minutes 20 seconds. However, this is just a warm-up for these three, as they will run in the Burlington, VT marathon in May.