Culture

HATAY

Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy stated that the ministry works on 293 registered cultural assets in the Feb. 6 quake-hit region Hatay, is focusing on Kurtuluş Street, known as the “world’s first illuminated” street, and Köprübaşı Square.

He said that they have allocated 2.5 billion Turkish Liras for many projects set to be completed next year.

Ersoy, who recently visited the city, noted that they carried out emergency work immediately after the earthquake, started damage assessment studies and established the Disaster Excavation Directorate.

“Work continues on a total of 293 registered cultural assets, including mausoleums, fountains and public buildings. We implemented emergency applications for the museums in Hatay. Since the Cemil Meriç, Vali Rahmi Doğan and Hatay City Museum libraries were destroyed in the earthquake, we decided to rebuild the City Museum as the Hatay Literature Museum. The restoration and furnishing of this place has been completed and it is ready to open,” he said.

Speaking about some of the regulations made, Ersoy said, “With the amendment to the regulation that came into force in May 2023, the upper limit of project aid for the disaster area was increased by five times, and the upper limit of implementation aid was increased by 10 times. While the Ministry applied for 368 registered immovable cultural properties in Hatay, project aid was provided to 325 registered immovable properties and implementation aid was provided to 12 registered immovable properties. In the 2023-2024 period, approximately 225 million liras in aid was provided to a total of 325 registered immovable cultural assets and 233 million liras to 12 registered immovable cultural assets. On the other hand, the restoration process of eight of these assets is carried out by our ministry.”

Ersoy said that they initiated the Development Plan and Urban Design Studies for the Protection of Antakya City Center, and explained the following:

“In this context, work was completed in the 307-hectare area under eight main headings, including historical research, natural structure of the area, sociological structure, archaeological research, urban memory research, architectural texture, structural characteristics and planning design. Simultaneously, the plans for the revival of the city, including analysis in the fields of archaeology, climate, environment and sociology, as well as architectural details, have also been created with 3D modeling. As the third step, the conservation master plan, prepared by the ministry and the expert team and consultants of the Turkish Design Foundation, was completed. Within the scope of the plan, the 307-hectare planning area will be transformed into its most original form with old and new structures.”

Ersoy said that the focus of the project will be Kurtuluş Street, known as the “world’s first illuminated” street, and Köprübaşı Square.

“Within the scope of urban design projects in this region, urban furniture, lighting elements and floor coverings will be made in accordance with the historical texture. An allowance of 1 billion liras has been allocated for the project, which is set to be completed next year. The restoration and display of the Hatay Museum City Library has been completed. We aim to open the Hatay Archaeology Museum next year. The General Directorate of Libraries and Publications will complete the Hatay Literature Museum Library construction in January 2025,” Ersoy added.

L. vannamei shrimp showed better grow-out performance and zootechnical indices than F. brasiliensis under biofloc technology culture conditions

The significant production growth for farmed crustaceans – around 11 million tons, or 9.2 percent of total aquaculture production – reported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is mainly due to the excellent zootechnical indices, high production rates, lower protein requirements, and the significant market acceptance of the Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), which accounts for 52 percent of production by all farmed crustaceans.

Despite their higher nutritional requirements, shrimp species native to Brazil can be of interest to the aquaculture industry. For example, the pink shrimp (Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis) has been shown by researchers to have the potential to grow in confined environments. The species ranges from North Carolina (USA) to the coast of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) and is one of the primary fishing resources of the southeastern Brazilian coast.

However, one of the main limitations to its production is the lack of a specific commercial feed that meets its nutritional requirements, as it is the lack of a complete technological package that would guarantee the economic viability of production, challenging the economic viability of its production.

The Pacific white shrimp has been one of the main species used for studies in biofloc technology (BFT) systems and enjoys an already developed and consolidated technological package for commercial production. Various studies have reported that bioflocs are important food sources for this species for reproduction and the post-larvae stage, and that the contribution of this food source can vary from 63 to 86 percent in the grow-out phase.

But few studies have evaluated the zootechnical performance of other, native species like F. brasiliensis in a BFT system. Some studies have shown its potential but only focused on the nursery phase, with further research needed to assess the potential and economic viability of F. brasiliensis and other native shrimps in biofloc system, especially in the grow-out phase.

This article – summarized from the original publication (Krummenauer, D. et al. 2024. Comparative Analysis of the Culture of Pink Shrimp Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis and Pacific White Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei in Biofloc System. Aquac. J. 2024, 4(1), 1-14) – reports on the results of a study to evaluate the potential of rearing pink shrimp F. brasiliensis in a BFT system during the grow-out to market size phase.

Study setup

The study lasted 70 days and was conducted at the Marine Station of Aquaculture at the Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The experiment comprised two treatments that compared the cultures of the two shrimp species in a biofloc system: (FB), grow-out of F. brasiliensis; and (LV), grow-out of L. vannamei.

The animals were stocked with initial weights of 0.72 ± 0.37 grams (F. brasiliensis) and 0.78 ± 0.29 grams (L. vannamei) at a stocking density of 100 shrimp per square meter for both species. The shrimp were fed twice daily using a commercial diet (Potimar GUABI™) with 38 percent crude protein. Throughout the experiment, water quality parameters (temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and total suspended solids), nitrogen and phosphate compounds (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and orthophosphate) and zootechnical performance parameters (final weight, productivity, survival, and feed conversion rate). The third maxillipeds (anterior thoracic limbs modified to function as mouth parts) of individuals from both species were collected and processed, and samples subjected to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis.

For detailed information on the experimental design, animal husbandry, and data collection and analyses, refer to the original publication.

Results and discussion

The water quality results showed no significant differences between the treatments and are shown in Table 1. The water quality results are within the appropriate parameters for both species.

Krummenauer, Biofloc, Table 1

Table 1: Means (± standard deviation) of the physical and chemical parameters of the water in the culture of L. vannamei and F. brasiliensis in the experimental biofloc system.

The weekly growth rate (Fig. 2a) was also higher (p < 0.05) for L. vannamei. Similarly, the final weight of L. vannamei shrimp (11.28 ± 1.89 grams) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared to F. brasiliensis (3.96 ± 1.40 grams) (Fig. 2b). Survival percent was 64.50 ± 9.68 for F. brasiliensis and 98.12 ± 6.12 for L. vannamei. Productivity (Kg per square meter) was higher for the treatment with L. vannamei (1.12 ± 0.01) compared to the treatment with F. brasiliensis (0.26 ± 0.05). The results of the zootechnical performance of the two treatments were statistically different (p < 0.05).

Scanning microscope photographs of the structure of the third maxilliped show that the parts (endopods) of the third maxilliped of L. vannamei are covered with longer, more abundant, and feathery bristles (Fig. 3 a, b), which make it easier to capture biofloc particles. In contrast, F. brasiliensis (Fig. 3 c, d) has straighter and shorter bristles, making it more challenging to capture floc particles.

The water quality parameters were within the expected range for both species, showing that this factor did not influence the zootechnical performance of the cultured animals. The results of the zootechnical performance of F. brasiliensis may indicate the species’ lack of adaptability to efficiently consuming biofloc. Another essential factor to highlight is that the commercial feed used in this study is produced according to the nutritional requirements of L. vannamei, and there is no commercial feed available formulated for native species such as F. brasiliensis.

Based on the results obtained in the present study, the pink shrimp (F. brasiliensis) has lower zootechnical indices compared to the Pacific white shrimp (L. vannamei), showing that the former species still needs further research and testing to be successfully adapted to the BFT system during the grow-out phase.

Significant advances are still required for the successful culture of various native shrimp species, including new studies on their nutritional needs, protein digestibility, stocking densities, genetic improvement and consumption, and their use of bioflocs.

Normandy is renowned worldwide for its culture, cuisine, and outstanding natural beauty, but for over a millennium its history has shaped not only France, but also the world. It was the seat of kings, France’s gateway to the New World, and the first step on the road to a liberated Europe during the Second World War. This summer, sail to Normandy with DFDS and discover the region’s unparalleled historical and cultural contributions at some of its best historic festivals.

D-Day Festival, Normandy: 1st – 16th June 2024

www.80e-normandie.fr

2024 marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings and Normandy is going all out with a huge programme of events over the two weeks of the festival. The region’s many museums, memorials, and monuments will be welcoming millions of visitors during this time, many travelling from around the world to pay their respects to the fallen and be part of this historic event.

Over 100 events are planned across Normandy, at all five of the landing beaches from Utah to Sword, and dozens of locations further inland. Parachute jumps, parades, and re-enactments are just some of the exciting events taking place at key locations including Arromanches, Ouistreham, and Saint-Mère-Église. New additions include the moving ‘Standing With Giants’ art installation at the British Normandy Memorial, kayaking trips around the ruins of the Mulberry Harbour, and the recently opened extension of the incredible Musée du Débarquement in Arromanches.

Normandy Impressionism Festival, Normandy: 22nd March – 22nd September

www.normandie-impressionniste.fr

It was a pivotal moment in the art world when a young Claude Monet met renowned painter Eugene Boudin in Honfleur in the 1850s. A quarter of a century later, Monet, Renoir, and several other notable artists came together, united by a love of painting en plein air. Impressionism was born, with Normandy its birthplace, and to celebrate 150 years of the world’s most famous art movement 150 events are taking place across the region, dedicated to the art and artists that have defined it.

Honfleur, Le Havre, Rouen, Étretat, and Giverny are among the towns and cities that provided the inspiration for Monet and his fellow impressionists, becoming the subjects of some of the most remarkable paintings ever committed to canvas.

Head to Giverny to explore Monet’s home and world-famous water garden, visit historic Rouen and marvel at David Hockney’s Normandism exhibition by day, and the spectacular Cathedral of Light son et lumière show at the cathedral by night. Or perhaps take a painting class on the breathtaking cliffs at Fécamp, then stay a while at La Ferme Saint Simeon in Honfleur, a favourite sojourn of Monet himself and described by Boudin as “the most ravishing spot in the world”.

The festival’s impressive series of events, from exhibitions to painting classes, is sure to fire up your creative engines and leave you as inspired as those early masters of impressionism, so make sure to pack your paintbrushes and head over to explore the birthplace of impressionism this summer.

Bayeux Medieval Festival, Bayeux: 5th-7th July

www.lesmedievales.bayeux.fr

Normandy has a particularly strong connection with its medieval history, and the Bayeux Medieval Festival is one of the biggest and most popular celebrations of its kind in France. A real-life Festival of Fools, the festival opens with a grand medieval parade featuring an exciting array of entertainers including fire-eaters, jugglers, and stilt walkers as mythical creatures stalk the streets of Bayeux.

Dedicated and talented reenactors bring the medieval atmosphere to life, with a medieval marketplace selling all manner of medieval crafts and souvenirs, and master craftsmen teaching festivalgoers some classic traditional crafts from centuries gone by, including blacksmiths, glassmakers, and stonemasons. There is even the opportunity to try some medieval cooking! The fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. Death-defying acrobats and fearless firebreathers put on an impressive fire show in the evening, and, for anyone brave enough to watch, a mysterious ritual is performed by a shadowy brotherhood in the dead of night…

Cider and Dragon Festival, Merville-Franceville-Plage: 21st – 22nd September

www.cidreetdragon.eu

For one weekend a year the seaside town of Merville-Franceville-Plage becomes the village of Merravilla, a fantasy realm of brave heroes, wise mages, and magic old and new as it hosts the annual Cider & Dragon Festival.

Since 2006, the festival has been a haven for fantasy fans of all ages and visitors are sure to bump into their Hogwarts classmates, Fellowship members, and Westerosi bannermen on their quest to Merravilla. A dedicated team of costumed volunteers and craftsmen bring the festival to life, constructing a whole village complete with a medieval market, thrilling tournaments, and reenactments of epic battles, while dancers, jugglers, magicians, and performers from across the nine realms put on spectacular shows for the thousands of visitors who come to the festival every year. Costumes are strongly encouraged!

At the Cider and Dragon Festival completely immerse yourself in an age of chivalry and savagery, myths and legends, and magic and mystery, all washed down with goblets and goblets of delicious local cider. Discover a new board game, take up arms in a LARP battle, or simply show off your best cosplay as you enjoy the festival and its fantastic programme of events.

Getting there

DFDS offers up to 54 crossings per day on its Dover to Calais service, with day trip fares starting at £39 return and short break fares starting at £99 return for a car and up to four people. Browse a selection of fragrances, cosmetics and electronics in DFDS’ Duty Free shops and save up to 50 per cent off UK high-street prices.

Upgrade your ticket to include access to the exclusive Premium Lounge with complimentary hot and cold drinks, freshly made sandwiches, and delicious pastries from £18 per person. Add Priority Boarding to be one of the first to board and disembark the ferry from £10 per car each way.

Travel on the newly refurbished ships on the Newhaven-Dieppe route from just £87 one way for a car and two people. Sail in style as you enjoy a delicious meal at the onboard restaurant, sit back and relax in one of the comfort lounges, or indulge in some retail therapy at the expanded Duty Free shop.

Yong Ho-seong, head of the International Cultural Affairs and Public Relations Office at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, speaks during a briefing at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul’s Jongno District, May 23. Courtesy of MCST

Yong Ho-seong, head of the International Cultural Affairs and Public Relations Office at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, speaks during a briefing at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul’s Jongno District, May 23. Courtesy of MCST
By Park Jin-hai

As part of a comprehensive strategy to enhance its global recognition and reputation, Korea will update and correct information about the country on influential platforms like Wikipedia and tourist websites, aiming to address the rapidly changing digital and media landscape and reinforce Korea’s status as a top-tier nation.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) announced the Global Public Relations Plan for the Era of Digital Transformation (2024-2027), Monday, which includes establishing the Global Public Relations Strategy Committee in the latter half of this year. The committee will focus on delivering accurate and up-to-date information about Korea through various channels.

“It’s quite embarrassing to find that searching for information about Korea on Wikipedia often yields outdated or inaccurate results. When searching for Korea-related information on travel information platforms, one often encounters topics such as the demilitarized zone (DMZ) tourism, while the rich and diverse aspects of Korean culture and society remain largely overlooked. This lack of comprehensive and well-organized information can be frustrating for those seeking a deeper understanding of Korea,” Yong Ho-seong, deputy minister for International Cultural Affairs and Public Relations, said during a press conference at Government Complex in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, Monday.

To ensure a strategic overhaul of its overseas promotion efforts, the ministry unveiled a mid- and long-term global public relations plan inspired by successful models in countries such as Sweden and Finland. These models have outlined strategic directions to position their national images and promote them effectively.

The public-private committee — comprised of government officials, brand specialists and journalists from international media outlets — will use generative artificial intelligence (AI) and embrace the growing influence of non-traditional media to identify what representative images Korea has and what information global audiences really want to know about Korea through annual surveys.

The nation’s image and narrative will be crafted around the vision of becoming a “global backbone country aligned with the world,” a concept that emerged during a forum of experts. This vision will be bolstered by six keywords characterizing Korea: innovative, creative, friendly, trustworthy, growing, and safe. These keywords were derived from a survey conducted among 13,000 people from 26 countries last year.

The MCST will also improve the accessibility and timeliness of information for foreign media by ensuring that they receive major policy updates and news about international events simultaneously with domestic media. Regular policy briefings will be organized specifically for foreign media to ensure they are well-informed and engaged with ongoing developments.

Reflecting the changing media landscape, the strategy seeks to broaden cooperation with non-traditional social media platforms by incorporating foreign opinion leaders and influencers. Programs will be designed to promote positive perceptions of Korea, inviting international students, correspondents and foreign laborers to become Korea’s honorary ambassadors.

Moreover, influential social media personalities will be invited to Korea to experience and share their insights into their areas of interest, helping produce content that highlights Korea’s culture and society, thus enhancing the country’s global image.

“In terms of content, immigrants who have settled in Korea and expatriate employees in Korea serve as bridges, conveying information about Korea to their home countries. However, until now, we have been unable to provide them with accurate information. We’ll offer resources like a guide to living in Korea to help them share their positive experiences and become honorary ambassadors for Korea,” Yong said.