Artemia

In this issue:

• Introducing the Global Aquaculture Statistics Dashboard.
• The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2026.
• New video on the International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium.
• Stakeholders validate new good-practice materials for Artemia use in hatcheries.
• World Bank Artemia study reports available!

An Artemia Session was held on 5 June at the World Aquaculture 2026 conference in Singapore. The session was facilitated by the International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium and covered the outcome of the World Bank PROBLUE Artemia Study Accelerating Brine Shrimp Artemia Aquaculture Production and Conservation for a Resilient Blue Economy.

The session featured case studies from China, Bangladesh, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Iran and Kenya. Presentations (PPTs and videos) from the session are available for download, and video presentations are available for viewing online.

• View WAS 2026 Artemia Session presentations

This synthesis report consolidates over half a year’s worth of technical research, market analysis, and country level value chain assessments to present a comprehensive investment overview of the brine shrimp - Artemia - aquabusiness. Developed as part of the World Bank’s PROBLUE initiative on sustainable aquaculture and blue economy development, the report draws together the findings of six assessments, covering Artemia production systems, governance frameworks, markets and trade, emerging use cases, inventories of innovators, and in-depth country value chain studies.

The purpose of this synthesis report is to:

• Provide an integrated overview of the current state and future potential of farmed Artemia systems.
• Present investor-ready intelligence on country contexts, production models, and enabling conditions.
• Guide strategic decision-making across public, private, and donor stakeholders through a concise but data-driven road map for investment and scale.

Artemia, commonly known as brine shrimp, is a critical live feed ingredient in aquaculture, particularly for shrimp and marine finfish hatcheries. The global Artemia industry is experiencing increasing demand driven by expanding aquaculture production. This report provides an in-depth analysis of Artemia in five key countries where Artemia aquaculture is established or in early stages of development — Viet Nam, China, Thailand, Bangladesh, and Kenya. The studies highlight Artemia value chains and associated production systems, market potential, and investment needs.

The findings confirm that Artemia can be successfully, profitably, and sustainably produced through aquaculture as cyst or biomass products in hypersaline environments, across diverse systems, providing important and critical products for aquaculture, with potential for wider application and product development as aquafeed and human food.

This Global Artemia Emerging Markets and Trade report offers a comprehensive overview of Artemia products and markets, from global trends to country-level case studies. It provides an in-depth assessment of traditional and emerging uses, supply systems, investment opportunities, and strategic risks. The study is global in nature, with illustrative cases of ‘farmed’ Artemia in Bangladesh, China, Thailand, and Viet Nam in Asia and Kenya in Africa and how new farmed products can compete with wild Artemia products.

The report provides the quantitative foundation for the synthesis, linking the production and governance analyses with global trade, price, and investment trends. Together, six studies form a coherent analytical suite.

An overview of the International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium, its mission, structure, and collaborative approach to advancing Artemia aquaculture. 

The Consortium brings together researchers, industry partners, and other stakeholders to promote knowledge exchange, support innovation, and address shared challenges.

The video offers a concise introduction to the Consortium's purpose, research priorities, and commitment to strengthening sustainable Artemia aquaculture through international cooperation.

A free webinar "Farming resilience: Unlocking the Artemia opportunity" will be held on 30 October from 8:00-11:00 EST (13:00-16:00 UTC). This webinar will present the results of an in-depth analysis of Artemia production, conservation and investment opportunities by the World Bank Group, with expert input from members of the International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium.

Artemia (brine shrimp) is a critical live feed in aquaculture, particularly in hatcheries for shrimp, fish, and ornamental species. Its production and sustainable management are increasingly important as aquaculture expands globally. Global Artemia markets face increasing demand, while new innovations in farming, processing, and conservation offer opportunities for inclusive investment, resilience, and biodiversity protection.

This event will bring together global experts, policymakers, private sector representatives, and development partners to discuss the state of Artemia production and conservation, market opportunities, regulatory frameworks, and pathways for sustainable and viable investment.

In this issue:

• Report of the 23rd Asia regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health.
• Sign up for our new Email Newsletter!
• AQUAINNOVATE: An AquaHub Event.
• Workshop on sustainable brine shrimp Artemia cultivation, 17 February, Tashkent.
• Tuskfish CMS V2.1 released.
• TCRS Shrimp Summit to spotlight issues.
• Global Artemia Summit: 27 June, Entebbe, Uganda.

This webinar will focus on artemia, a small brine shrimp found naturally in hypersaline ecosystems – salt lakes, salt pans and salt works across the world. Presenters will explain artemia’s unique role in the aquatic ecosystem and explore ways for future investment opportunities. The webinar will be held from 12:30-14:00 GMT on 11 March.

The shrimp has rare biological characteristics that enable it to thrive in saline environments under climate change stress, and special nutritional properties that have made it an essential product for fish and shrimp hatchery production across the world, contributing directly to the sustainable production of over 10 million tons of high-value aquaculture products. Artemia is also emerging as a unique product with applications beyond aquaculture hatcheries, and its potential in animal and human food production in climate-stressed ecosystems. 

In this issue:

• FAO programme supports national innovation and investment plans for aquaculture transformation.
• 14th Asian Fisheries Forum, 12-15 February 2025 register now!
• Saudi International Marine Exhibition (SIMEC) 3-5 February 2025, Riyadh.
• Workshop on Sustainable Brine Shrimp Artemia Cultivation, 17 February, Tashkent.
• Status, technological innovations, and industry development needs of mud crab (Scylla spp.) aquaculture.
• Global Seaweed: New and Emerging Markets Report 2023.

Although the drying up of the Aral Sea and the salinisation of a lot of agricultural lands in different regions in Uzbekistan (UZB) and Kazakhstan (KAZ) have major negative consequences, there is a high potential to develop a new profitable industry and create new job opportunities in this region: the environmental-friendly and sustainable pond farming of brine shrimp Artemia, a wellknown source of food in the farming of fish and crustacean species around the world. This workshop aims to show the outcomes of the implemented Artemia pilot project, present guidelines and recommendations important for such a new business sector, lessons learned and discuss prospects of Artemia production to further develop aquaculture sector in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

In this issue:

• Training Programme on Safeguarding Artemia Resources for Aquaculture held in Rome.
• First International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium Conference and Members' Meeting, Ostend, Belgium.
• Inception workshop: Knowledge brokering for nature-based solutions in aquaculture transformation.
• Reported Aquatic Animal Diseases in the Asia-Pacific Region during the First Quarter of 2024.
• 14th Asian fisheries and Aquaculture Forum, India.
• PhD scholarships: Shanghai Ocean University PhD Programme 2025.

The first ever IAAC conference was a free half day event held in Ostend, Belgium on 9 September, as a prelude to Larvi 2024, which ran from 9-12 September. The conference featured twelve presentations introducing the IAAC and providing an overview of many of the issues surrounding Artemia, including management of salt lakes habitats that still provide the bulk of global Artemia supplies, Artemia biodiversity, hatching optimisation, and aquaculture of Artemia biomass in tanks and ponds. Video recordings of most will be posted shortly (the programme below will be updated with links). Video recordings of the presentations are now available on the NACA YouTube channel.

The first IAAC Members’ Meeting was held in the afternoon following the IAAC Conference. The proceedings involved two panel discussions, by the Academic Sector and Private Sector respectively. The panels included remote members participating via Zoom.

The Training Programme on Safeguarding Salt Lake Brine Shrimp (Artemia) Resources for Aquaculture was held in Rome from 2-6 September. The course was attended by 37 participants from 15 countries. The programme was jointly organised by FAO, NACA / IAAC, and by RAOS and ANSO, which provided the financial support that made the activity possible. The programme featured a series of expert presentations on three themes: Salt lakes, management tools for Artemia cyst and biomass harvesting, and Artemia biodiversity. The full programme is appended below, along with links to the video recordings of the presentations on NACA’s YouTube channel.

In this issue:

• NACA and Thailand's Department of Fisheries Strengthen Collaboration.
• Full-degree scholarships and research internship grants from Prince of Songkla University, Thailand.
• Manual on Artemia production and use.
• The Grass Carp Aquaculture Manual.
• Pacific oyster farming: A practical manual.
• The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024: Blue Transformation in action.
• Safeguarding salt lake brine shrimp (Artemia) resources for aquaculture: A training project.
• Reported Aquatic Animal Diseases in the Asia-Pacific Region during the Fourth Quarter of 2023.
• First International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium Conference, 9 September (hybrid event).

The first conference of the International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium (IAAC) will be organised on 9 September as part of the same premises as the Larvi '24 Conference, in Ostend, Belgium. This is a hybrid event, with participation possible both in person and online via Zoom. In the morning session (open to all larvi participants), the following IAAC members will give presentations: Yeong Yik Sung (Malaysia), Patrick Sorgeloos (Belgium), Simon Wilkinson (Thailand), Sui Liying (China), Stephanie De Vos (Belgium), Brad Marden (USA), Phil Brown (USA), Yathish Ramena (USA) and David Johanson (Belgium). A detailed programme will be available shortly. Participation in the IAAC conference is free, but people attending in person are requested to indicate your interest to attend it on the Larvi registration form. The Zoom link for virtual participants will be announced shortly.

This FAO publication on brine shrimp is a manual for all those who are using Artemia or have an interest in this organism, whether as a source of live food in the hatchery, as a model organism in research, or for other purpose. It is intended for those who wish to update their knowledge on its biology, production or its use, but also for those who want to learn about Artemia for the first time. This manual presents in a concise form essential information on Artemia biology and the most important natural cyst resources that find their way to the aquaculture market. It also provides detailed information on general principles and practical procedures to produce Artemia in ponds and in tank systems. Finally, the manual offers a compilation of state-of-the-art guidelines and methodologies related to the use of this crucial live food organism in aquaculture.

In this issue:

• Second High-Level Meeting on Aquaculture Transformation in Asia and the Pacific Region.
• Reported aquatic animal diseases in the Asia-Pacific region during the second quarter of 2023.
• Expert Workshop on Aquaculture Effluent Management.
• Larvi 2024: First announcement and call for papers.
• Tuskfish CMS 2.0.7 released.

In this issue:

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia joins NACA; Applications for the position of Director General, NACA; NACA awarded the Aziz-Ul Haq Rural Development Medal; Training Course on Risk Analysis in the Aquaculture Value Chain held in Bangkok; Free FAO publication: Genetic management of Indian major carps; 7th International Symposium on Cage Aquaculture in Asia; PhD scholarships: Shanghai Ocean University PhD Programme 2024; WAS Journal Special Issue: Global Conference on Aquaculture Millennium +20 Thematic Reviews; Seminar on Artemia Research and Production: Videos; Reported aquatic animal diseases in the Asia-Pacific Region during the first quarter of 2023.

A Seminar on Artemia research and production was held on 28 July 2023 in Putrajaya, Malaysia, in conjunction with the first meeting of the International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium Steering Committee. Video recordings of the technical presentations are available below. The programme included: NACA's role with the International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium; Brine shrimp Artemia culture and research in Malaysia; Production and use of Artemia in Iran; UGent Laboratory of Aquaculture and Artemia Reference Center; AR-ARC actions towards sustainable utilization of Artemia resources; Artemia pond production: Pros and cons; and Feeding 9 billion by 2050: Embracing Artemia in nourishing a growing world