The National Prawn Co. of Saudi Arabia has signed a deal with Maine-based biotech MariCal Inc. to use its technology in boosting shrimp production. MariCal will be using its proprietary calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) capabilities to assist the Saudi firm. “Our technology can enhance their production by either improving the performance of the shrimp through diet or through the water or the environment,” said William Thomas, chief operating officer at MariCal. National Prawn is looking to take the CaSR technology and apply it to its shrimp production operations at an industrial scale, explained MariCal. National Prawn is one of the world's largest desert coastal aquaculture enterprises. This isn't MariCal's first global venture. The firm already has a subsidiary in Chile and strategic partners in Norway. Last July, MariCal established a global licensing agreement with a Norway-based company Europharma AS for the rights to MariCal's salmon smoltification technology. NPC believes in providing customers with premium quality natural shrimp the way nature intended. This means that it produces antibiotic-free shrimp, no hormones and no preservatives using only eco-friendly shrimp farming methods. NPC's product-line is currently marketed locally and internationally under the brand name “ Al- Watania” and other international brand names. This comes as part of the firm's drive to cater for the diversity of its customers needs wherever they may be.
