John Williamson
Business Development Director
Auranta
Ireland
John is a seasoned aquaculture professional with over 30 years of global experience in animal nutrition and aquaculture feed production, with a particular focus on the development and application of functional ingredients to enhance health and performance in fish and shrimp. He is currently Business Development Director at Auranta, a biotech company based in Ireland, where he supports the development of solutions to improve shrimp resilience against key challenges such as white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) and white faeces disease. Previously, John was Managing Director of Skretting UK, where he had full P&L responsibility for the £120 million UK and Ireland operations. As a member of Skretting’s Global Business Management Team, he played a key role in shaping strategy, driving innovation, and delivering major product launches across international aquaculture markets.
John holds a BSc in Biological Sciences, specialising in fish nutrition, from the University of Plymouth, and an MSc in Animal Nutrition and Biochemistry from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. He is passionate about reducing antibiotic use, addressing antimicrobial resistance, and promoting more sustainable and profitable aquaculture practices. Combining deep technical expertise with strategic insight, John continues to contribute to innovation and long-term value creation across the global aquaculture industry.
| Presentation | Functional Nutrition Strategies to Mitigate Key Pathogens in Shrimp Aquaculture: Insights from Asia and Latin America |
Abstract
The shrimp farming industry continues to face significant threats from infectious diseases such as Vibrio parahaemolyticus, white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP), and gregarines like Nematopsis spp. All these contribute to substantial economic losses in Asia and Latin America.
This presentation will outline the regional economic impacts of these pathogens and explore their infection mechanisms, including bacterial virulence systems, viral replication pathways, and intracellular parasitism. Particular attention will be given to host immune responses, oxidative stress, and gut epithelial integrity.
Drawing on published trials and shrimp gut models, the focus will be on functional nutrition, specifically blends of organic acids and phytogenic compounds, as a strategic tool to enhance disease resilience and sustainability in shrimp production. Data will include both in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrating reduced pathogen colonization, inflammation, and mortality. A field case study from Thailand where AuraAqua application led to a dramatic drop in WSSV prevalence will be presented.