David Barnes’ recent journey through shrimp farming can be described as navigating turbulent waters. As the president of Planet Shrimp, he eagerly anticipates the inaugural harvest at his indoor shrimp farm situated in Aylmer, Ontario, just thirty minutes southeast of London, following a virus outbreak that impacted operations nearly three years ago.
This initial virus stemmed from shrimp post-larvae—tiny, eyelash-sized baby crustaceans—imported from the United States in late 2019 to establish a new crop. Similar to how humans encountered a disruptive virus shortly thereafter, Planet Shrimp, which was rising as a leader in sustainable seafood production, faced a sudden halt.
“It was quite a grueling experience,” Barnes reflects. “We were effectively at a standstill during that timeframe.”
Calmer Seas Ahead
However, the future appears bright for a facility capable of sustainably producing 300,000 lbs (136,000 kg) of Pacific white shrimp annually and marketing its innovative technology globally to revolutionize the distribution of one of the planet’s most popular seafood options.
At Planet Shrimp, sustainability means cultivating shrimp to a target weight of just over 1 oz (30 to 35 g) every four months, completely free of antibiotics, growth hormones, pesticides, and other chemicals typically found in Southeast Asian and Central American farms, which account for over half of the world’s shrimp supply.
The facility employs 10 million gallons of water in shrimp pools across various life stages, ensuring that water is purified and recycled internally to minimize pressure on local resources and infrastructure. Any waste is filtered, dried, and repurposed as fertilizer for nearby farmers.
“I am truly amazed by the potential to deploy this technology worldwide, fundamentally altering our food systems; improving environmental stewardship; and enhancing our perspectives on food safety, traceability, and health,” remarks Barnes.
It’s clear that the oceans greatly benefit from the efforts of Planet Shrimp and similar enterprises.
Innovative Shrimp Farming in Canada
To tackle their challenges, Barnes and Planet Shrimp, alongside investors, established a shrimp post-larvae hatchery—the inaugural facility of its kind in Canada—located just 20 minutes away. The first batch of domestically produced shrimp post-larvae is expected to hit dinner plates shortly, with more generations to come.
“Imagine, in five years, having facilities across multiple continents positively influencing the health of consumers worldwide, while simultaneously assisting in saving our oceans and preserving vital ecosystems in Southeast Asia where much of the global shrimp supply is sourced,” Barnes envisions.
“If we can create economic incentives for developing new farms without further harming mangroves and coastlines, we believe we are positively impacting the planet.”
