New Technology to Enhance UK Farmed Seafood Production

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1 New Technology to Enhance UK Farmed Seafood Production D. J. & I.T. Fletcher RAS Aquaculture Research Ltd Tel: Mobile: March, 2014

2 Recirculation Aquaculture Systems (RAS) (Water Treatment Technology) UVc DISINFECTION ph CONTROL TEMPERATURE CONTROL OXYGENATION BIOLOGICAL FILTER SKIMMER SOLIDS FILTRATION VESSEL PUMP FISH TANKS FISH TANKS SOLIDS TO FURTHER TREATMENT

3 Advantages of RAS Water dependence >90% less cf flow through farms, no seasonal factors influencing growth, site flexibility, enable planning for system failure. Significantly lower incidence of viral / bacterial disease Eliminate escapees so enables culture of non-endemic species in UK Consistency of product supply, freshness traceability, meet specific seasonal demand Potentially control release of any pathogens to recipient waters Potential to convert farm waste into energy and value added products so reducing nutrient pollution. Possible to secure far superior FCRs, reduce feed waste and generally lower mortality

4 Application of RAS Technology a) Hatchery operation for fry production b) Head starting to support offshore cage production e.g. blue fin tuna, S Korea (RTD / SME technology partners required for collaboration to develop BFT RAS technology) c) High value niche market species e.g. abalone, sea cucumber, several crustacean sp. d) Fattening farms for near market supply - specific application to flatfish species e.g. sole, turbot, and round fish species e.g. bass, bream, yellowtail AAL harvesting 11 to 12 tonnes / week MCS 1 rating for sustainability Supply all UK Waitrose stores and Whole Foods Market Premium price secured 36h to store counter

5 Anglesey Aquaculture Ltd Largest EU marine RAS farm established ~ 2007 Operates at 95-98% recirculation o C, ~70-75kg/m 3 final SD ~ tonne European sea bass, Dincentrarchus labrax, fattening farm with integrated waste management Grow out tanks of 800m 3 each require a complete water exchange every 40 90mins according to biomass.

6 Size - g Comparative Growth Rates European sea bass in RAS and Sea Cages - pilot production 20tonnes in RAS RAS Trial MANAQUA Petros farm'94 Petros farm'95 Vourlia farm'98 Fouski farm' Months The challenge is to achieve the same growth rate at commercial production levels in excess of 500tonne pa.

7 European sea bass Once maximum biomass is achieved new technical challenges can appear. These relate to a range of metabolic by-products that can impact water quality if the treatment process is inadequate. Suspended solids and dissolved organics removal via rotary drum filters and ozonated protein skimmers.

8 Health Warning on Every RAS Package Every new commercial marine RAS project will require a modified approach specific to country, target species, site and market for perhaps 30-35% of the final RAS design. There is absolutely no such thing as a single RAS package suitable for off-the-shelf application to all species, sites and countries. Beware claims of competence in marine RAS based on a tonne pa pilot project. Expertise in RAS technology for species like Asian Sea Bass, eel and tilapia production does not equate to good competence in marine RAS. High incidence of failed UK tilapia RAS projects is not surprising and should not be considered as a true reflection of RAS technology status.

9 Investing in UK RAS based on the expectation of securing a premium price can also carry a premium risk especially for commodity species or those competing with supplies from the cage sector, wild fisheries or high quality imports Current technology status suggests that UK RAS production should focus on higher value seafood species possibly integrated with hatchery and processing facilities. Land-based salmon farms and the fish oil salesperson Posted by Alaska Salmon Ranching on Wednesday, February 12, 2014 Leave a Comment Last month, another land-based (aka closed containment ) salmon farm quietly went fish belly up. The Montana-based company, unfortunately, follows a growing line of salmon aquaculture companies that have been lead down a garden path by unscrupulous promoters of an unproven business.

10 Tonnes EFF & Wales Assembly Government European spiny lobster Palinurus elephas Similar to global spiny lobster fisheries, prospects for revival of EU P. elephas fishery are weak High ecological, conservation and socio-economic importance EU market = /kg (Groeneveld et al., 2013). Market Trends : China - demand for high-end imported seafood reflected by FAO fish price index which hit a record high in May, 2013, up 15% from Long term trend of P. elephas landed in England & Wales since 1920 (CEFAS) ww II

11 Initially, its necessary to develop the culture technology - pilot work by RASAR on P. elephas. Preliminary 2013 results Stage VI final phyllosoma stage prior to juvenile Feeds and specific feeding strategy identified for Stage I to Stage VI. Phyllosoma survival rate of 90 96% for Stage I II with survival of between 55-66% to Stage IV. Planktonic period to Stage VI phyllosoma significantly reduced. Programme for formulation of specific feeds for spiny lobster initiated. Captive breeding programme started. Several research areas require development

12 RAS technology EU R&D projects developed by RASAR Ltd Still require range of improvements in water treatment / monitoring technologies: Domestic sewage treatment sector Anammox technology (2-year EU F7 project just completed). Phase 2 planned for 2013/14. Anammox denitrification - could provide significant savings in oxygen, energy and buffering costs in RAS farms so further improving sustainability AquaMMS Oil and security industry. In line, 24hour water quality monitoring required for >25 parameters RAZone Optimisation of ozone technology and improve understanding of O 3 / sea water chemistry interaction.