Alkame Holdings, Inc., a health and technology holding company with a focus on patentable, innovative, and eco-friendly consumer products, is pleased to announce its entry into the aquaculture sector with the acquisition of High Country Shrimp Company ("HCS"), a Colorado-based indoor aquaculture technology developer and operations company.
Robert Eakle, CEO of Alkame Holdings Inc., stated, "High Country Shrimp's patented technology and business strategy presents an ideal opportunity for Alkame to develop a proof-of-concept for its unique water treatment systems incorporated into an intensive indoor aquaculture farming process. By incorporating their system and technologies with ours, along with all of the added benefits of the Alkame Water micro-clustered structure, increased oxygenation, and proper pH levels, we expect there will be significant benefits which can be implemented not only in shrimp farming but in the aquaculture industry as a whole."
High Country Shrimp will initially produce and sell high quality fresh Pacific White Shrimp. These shrimp will be grown utilizing an indoor recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). The shrimp will be locally grown, using clean Colorado ground water and in accordance with USDA and FDA standards. The shrimp will be grown indoors in a controlled environment year round at constant temperature and be fed naturally grown shrimp feed produced in the U.S. under strict guidelines.
Seafood is the 2nd largest U.S. trade-deficit category behind petroleum. About 80% of the seafood consumed in the U. S. is imported. In 2011, the seafood-related deficit was $11.2 billion dollars and increasing. Shrimp is the #1 consumed seafood worldwide and the USA is the #2 consumer of shrimp in the world behind only China. The imported frozen shrimp industry in the United States has been the primary source of shrimp in the supermarkets. In 2011, the USA imported almost $4 BILLION of frozen shrimp and prawns. The shrimp market itself has continued to grow over the past decade with the amount consumed increasing to over 4.1 pounds per capita in the U.S. During Q1 2014, shrimp prices were 15.5% higher in the U.S. than in the same period in during 2013.
"We are looking forward to be working in conjunction with Alkame Water to provide a very healthy, clean, and fresh shrimp to our local markets with a low environmental impact," says Scott Hays, President of High Country Shrimp. "With the Alkame technology implemented into the water treatment process of our facility, we hope to reduce the time that shrimp are in grow tanks from the traditional 90-120 days with 20% mortality down to approximately 60-90 days with a 10%-15% mortality rate, all while increasing the quality and overall health of the shrimp. This would be an enormous strategic and economic advantage for us. High Country Shrimp powered by Alkame Water technologies will strive to be a leading source of locally produced, sustainable, chemical free, fresh never frozen shrimp, and we're very excited about our prospects."
The vast majority of the shrimp consumed in the U.S. are imported from Thailand, Indonesia, Ecuador, Vietnam, India, China, and Mexico. These products are generally produced in poor conditions. Environmental degradation, use and overuse of prohibited drugs, hormones, and antibiotics are just some of the problems with third-world seafood production. Other shrimp entering the market come from wild caught stocks. These wild shrimp populations are continually declining and have the added problem of environmental toxins, such as mercury and lead.
Robert Eakle concluded, "It's really kind of scary that only about 2% of the seafood imported into the USA is USDA inspected and we import almost 95% of our shrimp from countries who don't always abide by USDA rules. They regularly use banned chemicals like steroids, hormones and antibiotics that would never be acceptable here. So we believe there is an excellent demand for naturally raised, fresh never frozen, Made in the USA, and USDA inspected shrimp and this acquisition should allow HSC and Alkame to potentially dominate this extremely lucrative market."
The Company anticipates releasing additional information regarding High Country Shrimp and the near-term development plans for the Company's first shrimp aquaculture grow facility in the near future.
About High Country Shrimp
Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, High Country Shrimp ("HCS") will produce a locally grown, sustainable, chemical free, fresh never frozen shrimp for the Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Region. These USA raised and USDA inspected Pacific White Shrimp will be grown indoors, utilizing an indoor recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) controlled environment year round at constant temperature and fed naturally grown shrimp feed produced in the USA, under strict guidelines.
About Alkame Holdings, Inc. (ALKM)
Alkame Holdings, Inc. is a publicly traded health and technology holding company with a focus on patentable, innovative, and eco-friendly consumer products. The Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Alkame Water, Inc., markets and distributes micro-clustered, alkaline, antioxidant and oxygenated bottled water utilizing an exclusive patented formula and technology. Alkame's patented technology creates water with several unique properties which allow the body to absorb and utilize it more efficiently and help to achieve an optimal pH balance. The patented Alkame technology also increases the available oxygen content and absorbability which equates to more fuel for improved metabolic efficiency, boosted immune system, and improved cardio respiratory function.
Not all waters are created equal™. For more information, visit www.alkamewater.com.
Disclaimer/Safe Harbor: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. The statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Among others, these risks include the expectation that Alkame will achieve significant sales, the failure to meet schedule or performance requirements of the Company's contracts, the Company's liquidity position, the Company's ability to obtain new contracts, the emergence of competitors with greater financial resources and the impact of competitive pricing. In the light of these uncertainties, the forward-looking events referred to in this release might not occur. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Source: Alkame Holdings, Inc.
