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