Background

Larval rearing of aquaculture organisms faces a challenge in obtaining high quality and sufficient amounts of eggs of the brine shrimp Artemia, tiny crustaceans living in natural hypersaline lakes, and solar saltworks. The global production of Artemia eggs is insufficient to fullfil the demand for fish farms worldwide. Many fish farms in Egypt, the MENA region, and worldwide depend on imported Artemia eggs in their shrimp and fish hatcheries and farms. However, no existing company in Egypt or the MENA region produces and exports Artemia eggs. A local source of producing Artemia eggs is needed to be self-sufficient and reduce costs of importing. 

Technology Overview

Artemia was reared in brine water which is produced from desalination plants. The key aspects include the incubation density of hatched Artemia nauplii in ponds, the inputs of Artemia feed, the feeding rate of the Artemia, the water levels in the ponds, the oxygenation management in Artemia ponds, controlling the reproduction method, and the drying and packaging of Artemia eggs. 

Benefits

• Providing a local source of Artemia eggs in Egypt and the MENA region rather than importing.
• Enhancing the aquaculture industry in Egypt and the MENA region resulting in achieving food security
• Realizing economic benefits during the evaporation of desalination brine water by generating income source
• Proper management of brine water 

Applications

The produced Artemia eggs can be utilized in feeding fish larvae. The Artemia eggs can also be marketed to fish hatcheries, farms, and ornamental fish growers. It can be used as a rapidly growing food source for farm fish. In addition to other added-value products that can be generated from the Artemia biomass.