Recently, our team had the privilege of visiting Utah’s Great Salt Lake to observe the annual Artemia harvest—a crucial event for aquaculture and a testament to the power of sustainability, expertise, and partnership. Led by our senior management team, CEO Patrick Waty and Commercial Director Fernando Garcia, and joined by our valued partners from India, Indonesia, and Vietnam, this experience offered a look into the dedication and coordination that go into every stage of the harvest.
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Our journey began with a tour around the lake, marked by serene landscapes and rich biodiversity, setting the stage for the next steps of our journey and emphasizing the importance of environmental stewardship that guides our aquaculture practices. From there, we travelled to the technical base of the Great Salt Lake Artemia Cooperative, where we delved into the complex details of the Artemia harvest process.
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As the largest contributor to the COOP, it was a special moment for our team to board a boat and witness the Artemia streaks on the lake—a visual representation of the harvest we help bring to life. Overhead, small planes guided the boats and their crews, orchestrating an impressively coordinated effort to maximize the harvest’s efficiency. The dedication and precision of the COOP’s team underscored the amount of effort that goes into every step of this process.
The following day, we toured the processing facilities to see how harvested Artemia is prepared and packaged, ready to support aquaculture operations around the world. We also attended a presentation on the sustainability initiatives at the Great Salt Lake, which emphasized the importance of protecting this unique environment. The Great Salt Lake brine shrimp fishery’s MSC sustainable wild fishery certification was a highlight, underscoring the high standards in place to protect the ecosystem while ensuring a reliable supply of Artemia. As the first inland fishery in the United States to receive this certification, it reflects the dedication to sustainable practices that we value so deeply.
With fluctuating water levels and environmental challenges facing the lake, the dedication to preserving its ecosystem while sustaining the Artemia harvest is remarkable. This careful balance is essential not only for the health of the lake but also for maintaining a sustainable supply of Artemia for global aquaculture.
Artemia serves as a cornerstone of sustainability in aquaculture, playing a pivotal role as a raw material that does not compete with animal protein sources intended for human consumption, such as fish meal. This unique characteristic contributes to a more balanced use of global food resources. Patrick Waty, CEO of INVE Aquaculture.
This experience was a powerful reminder that the Artemia harvest is much more than a commercial endeavour—it is a complex, carefully managed process that relies on the expertise of scientists, the hard work of crews, and the commitment of partners who share the same vision. By working together, we are not only supporting the aquaculture industry today but also paving the way for a more sustainable future.
The partnership and dedication of everyone involved—from our team to our partners around the world—are crucial in achieving this vision. We are proud to be part of an industry that prioritizes sustainability and global cooperation, and we look forward to continuing this journey towards shaping a brighter future for aquaculture and the environment.
The recent visit to the Great Salt Lake by our esteemed distributors from three of Asia’s major shrimp farming regions, alongside the INVE management team and hosted by the COOP, provided our partners with an in-depth look at the dedication and efforts behind the Artemia harvest. These distributors are instrumental in ensuring this critical resource reaches hatcheries across their countries, playing an essential role in our shared mission. This visit highlighted the collaborative effort required to make Artemia—one of aquaculture’s most stable and sustainable resources—available to support a responsible and increasingly sustainable aquaculture industry.– Fernando Garcia, Commercial Director.
In the pictures:
Representatives from our distributors in India (Lashi Exports Ltd.), Indonesia (Cindomas), and Vietnam (Ngoc Trai), along with key members of INVE Aquaculture: Patrick Waty, CEO; Fernando García, Commercial Director; and Teri Potter, IAINC Plant Manager.