Unima

Unima was founded by Aziz Hassam Ismail in 1965. In 1973, he acquired the modest shrimp-fishing operations of the small company Les Pêcheries de Nossi-Bé. During the 1990s, Unima launched Aqualma, 1,800 acres of aquaculture basins, and developed domesticated specific pathogen-free (SPF) broodstock of black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon).{{Cite journal|last1=Le Groumellec|first1=Marc|last2=Rigolet|first2=Vincent|last3=Panchayuthapani|first3=Duraisamy|last4=Vandeputte|first4=Marc|last5=Rao|first5=Vemulapalli Manavendra|date=2011-11-01|title=Development of the shrimp industry in the Western Indian Ocean - a holistic approach of vertical integration, from domestication and biosecurity to product certification|url=https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00099/20980/|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2021-10-20|title=Unima: how one Malagasy company reframed the international shrimp industry|url=http://africa-reports.com/2021/10/20/unima-how-one-malagasy-company-reframed-the-international-shrimp-industry/|access-date=2021-11-09|website=Africa Reports|language=en-US}}

In 1998, Amyne H. Ismail, son of Aziz Hassam Ismail, became CEO of Unima.  Under his leadership, Unima turned into a fully-integrated shrimp production group, including a breeding and broodstock selection center, a larvae to post-larvae center, a software development company, a conditioning center (in France), and a high-quality fish-food factory (in La Réunion).{{Cite web|date=2021-08-30|title=Amyne Ismail|url=http://www.leaders-afrique.com/amyne-ismail/|access-date=2021-11-09|website=Leaders Afrique|language=fr-FR}}

In 2012, Unima started distribution in China.{{Cite web|last=Godfrey|first=Mark|date=15 December 2011|title=Madagascar shrimp farmer targets China's wealthy|url=https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/supply-trade/madagascar-shrimp-farmer-targets-china-s-wealthy|access-date=2021-11-09|website=Seafood Source}} In 2012, Unima was hit by the white spot syndrome and overhauled its production process.[https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/110681468054563438/pdf/882570REPLACEM00NAME0Reantaso0Melba.pdf Reducing disease risk in aquaculture], World Bank, June 2014

In 2019, the Indian government authorized Aqualma to supply SPF black tiger broodstock to Indian producers to relaunch its domestic production of black tigers.{{Cite web|last=Daom|first=Toan|date=1 June 2021|title=India turning back to black tiger shrimp as profits fall|url=https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/aquaculture/india-turning-back-to-black-tiger-shrimp-as-profits-fall|access-date=2021-11-11|website=Seafood Source}}

Unima's shrimp became the first non-European food product to be acknowledged under the French quality Label Rouge.[http://africa-reports.com/2021/10/26/amyne-hassam-ismail-the-man-who-wants-to-show-the-wonders-of-madagascar-to-the-world/ Amyne Hassam Ismail: The man who wants to show the wonders of Madagascar to the world], Africa Reports, 26 October 2021 They also obtained the Ikizukuri certification in Japan, and are certified organic by the European Union.

Since 2006, Unima has been involved with UNICEF’s WASH program, and working with WWF in Madagascar to implement a Biodiversity Action Plan since 2007.{{Cite web|date=25 November 2011|title=UNIMA Group and WWF Madagascar join forces to promote best practices in the private sector|url=https://www.wwf.mg/?202534/UNIMA-Group-and-WWF-Madagascar-join-forces-to-promote-best-practices-in-the-private-sector|access-date=2021-11-11|website=www.wwf.mg|language=fr}} The company has planted over 1 million mangrove trees and developed fields of cashew (Verama). Unima also applies the principles of the FAO code of conduct for Responsible Fishing.Sandy Rajaosafara & Thomas du Payrat, [http://www.unima.com/en/UNIMA_WWF.pdf Sustainable Development in Madagascar: A case study], the Unima Group, WWF{{Cite book|last=Visser|first=Wayne|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iqo0DwAAQBAJ|title=The World Guide to Sustainable Enterprise: Volume 1: Africa and Middle East|date=2017-09-08|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-351-28442-4|language=en}}

Besides, Unima pioneered carbon accounting, as one of the first companies in the world to apply the method developed by Jean-Marc Jancovici in the early 2000s. This project was supported by the French Development Agency and the Malagasy Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries.{{Cite web|date=1 July 2009|title=Le bilan carbone en long et en large|url=https://www.madagascar-tribune.com/Le-bilan-carbone-en-long-et-en,12212.html|access-date=2022-06-10|website=www.madagascar-tribune.com/|language=fr}}

In 2016, the company's aquaculture farm Aqualma in Mahajamba was the first in Africa to be awarded Aquaculture Stewardship Council certification.{{cite web|url=http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?279761/Aqualma|title=WWF welcomes first ASC certified shrimp farm in Africa|website=Wwf.panda.org|access-date=15 October 2018}}{{Cite web|last=Duxbury|first=Kestell|date=5 October 2016|title=Africa's first ASC certified shrimp farm accredited|url=http://www.africanfarming.net/livestock/aquaculture/africa-s-first-asc-certified-shrimp-farm-accredited|access-date=2021-11-11|website=African Farming|language=pl}}

• Aquaculture in Madagascar
• Shrimp farming

{{Reflist}}

• [http://unima.com Official website]

Category:Aquaculture

Category:1965 establishments in Madagascar

Category:Companies established in 1965

Category:Fishing in Africa

Category:Companies of Madagascar