Skretting expands its AquaCare line with new water care solution for pond-farmed fish and shrimp

Skretting’s AquaCare portfolio is expanding to include a new water care solution, AquaCare Mineral Balance, for fish and shrimp farmed in ponds.

The product is comprised of a “mineral combination offering high bioavailability of macro and trace minerals,” Skretting said. It allows pond systems to have stable water is that both nutrient-rich and ionically balanced, optimizing species’ growth and health, the company added. 

AquaCare Mineral Balance, which is the second offering within Skretting’s range of water care products, will be made available to customers in India this month. Afterwards, the firm said it will launch the product in additional markets across Southeast Asia, including Vietnam and Indonesia.

“These locations experience intensive production combined with seasonal fluctuations in water quality and salinity. AquaCare Mineral Balance will provide essential macro and trace minerals to support fish and shrimp in adapting to changing environmental conditions,” Skretting said in a press release.

Skretting Global Product Manager for AquaCare Marita Sirevaag said the product “aims to make sure that the balance between major minerals is at an optimum level and can be easily absorbed in order to support important stages in aquatic species lifecycle.”

“We have worked with the local teams and global experts to ensure the product is well suited to local conditions to provide maximum value for farmers,” Sirevaag said.

For aquaculture operations across Asia, water supplementation is a critical component, according to Skretting Product Development Manager for Asia Joao Sendao.

“In developing this product, we talked with Skretting customers throughout the region and beyond,” Sendao said. “The resulting solution offers the ideal mix of essential macro and trace minerals for the optimal survival and growth of shrimp, even at low salinities.”

AquaCare Mineral Balance’s debut follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, AquaCare Control, “a probiotic bioremediation solution that improves water quality and provides a platform for significant efficiency and productivity gains,” the company said. Designed to work preventatively, AquaCare Control’s primary directive is to load the water at pond farming sites with beneficial bacteria, preventing the same space from “being occupied by potentially harmful bacteria,” Skretting explained.

Launched in Egypt, Vietnam, and Australia in 2020, AquaCare Control is still being rolled out in new markets. It is being launched in India alongside AquaCare Mineral Balance this month.

“Our objective in India is to become an integrated solution provider for our customers, and with the launch of AquaCare we will be able to extend our expertise and product portfolio in this area. We are confident that with our innovative, research-driven products to support the growth and subject-matter specialists on field for practical guidance, we can support our farmers to ensure successful culture,” Nutreco South Asia General Manager Saurabh Shekhar said.

Sirevaag said the AquaCare line is “founded on the understanding that before any aquatic species needs feed, it needs water.”

“Water is aquaculture’s greatest ally. It is also a very complicated and volatile element, requiring great care and attention. By addressing imbalances, the long-term future of the industry can be assured. Alongside Skretting’s world-class aquaculture feeds, AquaCare is a key part of our ongoing commitment to improve the sustainability of the industry,” Sirevaag said. “Aligned with SDG 6, Skretting is committed to continue to develop its comprehensive range of AquaCare solutions dedicated to improving water quality, both as a response to the most pressing needs of farmers, but also to ensure that the planet’s most precious resource is safeguarded for future generations.” 

Photo courtesy of Skretting