a review of the current status of land based warm water recirculation fish farms in england
DESCRIPTION
A review of the current status of land based warm water recirculation fish farms in England. 20th February 2012 Keith Jeffery: Senior Fish Health Inspector. Why carry out a review ? Research plan Findings and case studies R&D requirements 8 th World Recirc Conference. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
A review of the current status of land based warm water recirculation fish farms
in England
20th February 2012Keith Jeffery: Senior Fish Health Inspector
Why carry out a review ?
Research plan
Findings and case studies
R&D requirements
8th World Recirc Conference
2008 - Paul Abel European Grants Centre• Spate of Tilapia farms• Sustainability claims ?• Could Cefas investigate ?
2009 – Applied for Defra Challenge funding2010 – Awarded contract to begin June 2010
Why carry out the Review ?
Project Plan1. Technology, performance and operation of RAS.2. Financial sustainability ?3. Failures ?4. Sustainability issues.5. Contribution to the fish supply chain.6. SWOT7. Report
Interim 1 Literature Search / ConferenceInterim 2 Field visits with semi structured interviewsFinal Report
Findings and case studiesProduction of table trout v’s RAS
1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 20100
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
E&W table trout
E&W RAS table fish
Tonn
es p
.a.
Findings and case studiesRAS production by species
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
English TilapiaEnglish barramundiEnglish catfishWelsh Sea-bass
Annu
al to
nnag
e
Findings and case studiesRAS start up and shutdown
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010-6
-4
-2
0
2
4
6
8
New opertors
Ceased operating
Findings and case studiesTop ten critical factors for success or failure
Government support
Veterinary support
Technical stock issues (e.g. maturation)
Added value/own processing
Supplier support
Husbandry difficulties
Disease
Scale of site
Supermarkets
Diet / nutrition
Access to markets
Competition from cheap imports
Staff aquaculture knowledge
Owner / manager experience
Sales price achieved
Demand for product
Fingerling supply (& price)
System design
Rank score
Case study 1- What Not to DoBuild Cost £10Million - £14millionRental costs 25k pcmSalt water supply ?? £2.10m3Waste Treatment ?? £1500 pump outExperienced staff ?? NilInsufficient bio-filtrationWater quality problems (all parameters)H&S issues• Lack of harvesting technology• Lack of mort removal technology• Power supplySpecies knowledge - change of diet Lack of surrounding support industryLondon investors - salaryBelt filters 3 men ½ day, 2k, 1MillionDepuration ? Released fish before ready£16.00 per kilo (£6.00) – best £3.20 Av £2.40BUT at END FCR 1.35, 95% Survival, 300g – 1k 4-6months TOO LATE
Case study 2 –Turkey & Tilapia (We thought he might make it)
Agricultural farmer diversificationPurchased system 2nd hand £75KExisting vacant barnIntended 40 tonnes Close to London marketsFisk keeping knowledge
BUTToo many teething problems , too longSystem designs faultsInadequate filtrationElectricity, gas, water costsHalf sales – double costsUnscrupulous customers – cheaper imports£3.00 per kilo might have made it
Case study 3 – The Future ?1000 tonne site - Economy of scaleHigh Bio-security – Ozone inGood water supply !!Dedicated sales managerSkilled, experienced staff part of big groupNow have significant backingMarket uptake for product - body shapeContract with higher end supermarketAdequate filtration, solids removal - alarmsNo medicines / health problemsLower lipid diets95% survival FCR1.3Bio-remediation Wetlands
BUT – Electricity supply ? generators, Nimbys, 24 hr attn, Staff, Not easy, still improving technology, Know your market!
R&D requirements(industry suggestions)
Economics & running costs Improving the energy efficiency of RAS. Greater integration of alternative
(greener) energy sources thus reducing both carbon footprint and running costs.
Technology & System design Investigation of long-term effects on RAS e.g. build up of
organics, heavy metals with small replacement volumes. Is the removal of trace elements a problem? Better delivery systems for Oxygen O2 and Ozone O3 Cheaper water quality monitoring equipment Improvement in a common design Simplification of systems Long term prospects and issues for RAS
Stock Improving growth rate genetic selection and selective breeding Domestication of alternative species & research into their lifecycles Genetic selection of existing aquaculture species for farming in RAS Saltwater tilapia production systems / work better and easier to run
Feed Development of fish meal and oil
alternatives Development of RAS specific diets Use of sprouted grains and seeds for herbivorous fish
Discharge Use of effluents as very rich in nutrients Aquaponics
Product Consistency of quality of product Research into tainting (taste)
Others Image of fish farming needs to be
improved Closer co-operation between science and
RAS sector (more applied research)
8th World Recirculation ConferenceVirginia Tech - International Conference - 2 years
• RAS in Penaeid Shrimp Culture• RAS for Salmonids• RAS Technology for Mollusk Culture• RAS Process Control • Fish Health/ RAS Biosecurity • Culture of Algae as an Alternative Fuel Source • Innovative Feeds for RAS• Sustainable RAS
Freshwater Institute , Shepherdstown, VA
Thank You
Co-authors Tim EllisNick Stinton
Sponsor Steve Feist
Defra Challenge Funding