EUREKA PROJECT > 1376 AQUA-MAKI
ICELAND
INTENSIVE LAND-BASED REARING OF SEA BASS IN RECYCLING SYSTEM
A COMMERCIAL RECYCLING SYSTEM OF LAND-BASED FARMING OF SEA BASS IN GEOTHERMAL WATER, APPLYING MAKI'S AND AQUAOPTIMA'S WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM AND AQUAOPTIMA'S ECOFISH CONCEPT TOGETHER WITH AGA'S OXYGENATION TECHNOLOGY.
Project Description
The aim of this project is: 1. To support an experimental full scale rearing of sea bass in recycling systems with annual production of 70 tons. The systems will be based on the ECOFISH-technique and a water treatment unit developed by MAKI and AQUAOPTIMA. 2. To define a commercial product (technique, biological - and operational know-how). After the experimental period, MAKI and AQUAOPTIMA will co-operate in providing consultation and deliveries to new and established fish farms for Sea Bass. The EUREKA project will be connected to 3 AIR programmes (2 share costs and 1 concerted action) which were applied for in March 1995 by institutes and private companies (including MAKI and AQUAOPTIMA). The AIR programmes will stand for the physiological part of the project (Optimisation of Natural Resource Use in Land-Based Marine Fish Farms). The EUREKA project will stand for the technical part of it and transfer of technology into commercial scale. Definition: The project will be defined in a working committee in May 1995 formed by the 3 partners in MAKI, AQUAOPTIMA and ISAGA. AQUAOPTIMA will be responsible for specifications and delivery of the technique in rearing tanks (ECOFISH technology) and water treatment, except the technique for heat exchange, which will be designed by MAKI, based on use of geothermal energy. Concerning biological filtration, a unit which is based on MAKI's and AQUAOPTIMA's competence will be developed. ISAGA will be in charge of the design and delivery of oxygen supply to the system. Economic analysis for investment costs and economical feasibility study have been done by AQUAOPTIMA (based on experience in existing EUREKA project) and recalculated by the UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND. Implementation: MAKI will stand for the construction of the experimental system in the company's facilities. AQUAOPTIMA and ISAGA will, in the construction phase, assist with quality control and inspection in MAKI. This will secure that the delivery from the company will be installed in a satisfying way. These two companies will together test all functions, as sea water into and in technique before the fish are introduced into the system. Full Exploitation: This phase will last for 2 to 3 production cycles, i.e. 1-2 years. Performances of the fishes (survival, growth, feeding conversion ratio and quality of the product) will be registered. Water quality (TxC, oxygen, NH3 and NO2 levels, pH and CO2) will be monitored using automatic computerized technique. Operation procedures for management and control of quality will be central, but also operations like handling of fish, internal transportation and grading. Economic factors concerning investment in rearing systems (dimensions of water treatment unit) and different operation parameters (new water exchange, degree of recirculation, thermal energy, oxygen supply etc.) will be clarified. A new concept concerning biofiltration and heat exchange, developed by MAKI in association with AQUAOPTIMA and external experts, will also be improved. On the basis of these results, a concept for a commercial product of a complete rearing system will be created for Sea bass. Marketing of the concept will be made by AGA Departments world wide. The two companies, MAKI and AQUAOPTIMA will undertake delivery of technology and assistance (expertise, management and training of personal) in the start-up phase.
Technological Development Envisaged
It is generally accepted that fish consumption will increase in the years to come and that aquaculture will be the main source of the increase, as existing wild stocks are already over-utilized. Up to date marine aquaculture is practised in: Sea cages: Low productivity and high organic loading on environment. Open Flow Through land Based Systems: High environmental impact in form of energy consumption (electric and thermal) and high organic loading on the environment, limited control of rearing environment (experimental rearing temperature), hence relatively low growth rate and high production costs. Recycling land based systems: The technique is well developed in small scale. The technique has also been in a commercial scale applied for fish production throughout Europe, facing difficulties in maintaining proper water quality for rearing species. The technique must be improved before more general application. The environmental impact of aquatic farming has led to the fact that aquacultural activity is causing growing concern and it is facing restrictions today in many areas. The aim of this project is in a controlled environment to optimize/minimize use of natural resources (electricity, new sea water and food) and increase productivity by total control of rearing environment. By this means we will lower production costs and minimize the impact on environment. The project will be executed on the north coast of ICELAND. The country is extremely rich in non-polluting energy resources, geothermal energy and electricity from water power plants. The experimental rearing of Sea Bass in MAKI's experimental farm in 1994, partly based on the company's own technical development, gave good results concerning growth and survival of the species and the recycling technique in general. Results indicate `low cost production' on a commercial scale. AQUAOPTIMA, NORWAY will introduce the ECOFISH technique to the system. The technique includes: ECOFISH-tanks and ECOFISH-flow (special design of tanks and inlet water system to improve hydraulics in rearing tanks) and ECOFISH-trap which separated 90% of faecis and uneaten food-pellets from main outlet water within 2-5 minutes from reaching the bottom to a transparent sludge collector. This technique together with AGA's oxygenation will secure 1) significantly improved water quality in rearing tanks which will maximize performance of rearing species 2) collection of particles minimizing the impact on nature and bring down the cost of water treatment 3) particle collectors to improve feeding strategy, and 4) increase the productivity in the rearing system thereby lowering production costs. The project will be related to AIR-programmes covering fields of fish physiology (sub-toxicity of metabolites), fish pathology, engineering (recycling systems), microbiology of biofilters, sea water chemistry and economics. Connecting the EUREKA project to AIR programmes will enable us to bring results from research directly to commercial scale fish farming.
Main contactAQUAOPTIMA LTD.
DR. (M.SC.) IDAR SCHEI > MANAGING DIRECTOR Organisation type > SME |
Contribution to project
Responsible for planning/quality control in construction phase, technical assistance during operation, registration, drawing up of commercial concept of complete farm delivery with MAKI.
Expertise
Supplier of fish farms throughout the world with on shore farms based on the ECOFISH concept, originally invented in SINTEF. What is basically new with this technology is the control of the water quality inside the tanks with some new patented technology. This technology is now adapted to different species and types of recirculation systems, to be optimised and given the best result for different conditions - employees all come from SINTEF, and have several years of experience as scientists from research and development within aquaculture.
Main contactISAGA LTD.
MR. GEIR ZOEGA > TECHNICAL MANAGER Organisation type > SME |
Contribution to project
Will participate in the definition of appropriate techniques for use of oxygen supply/control. Delivery of process know- how, equipment and service.
Expertise
Member of the AGA Group which has developed special know-how in the field of oxygenation in land-based fish farming. ISAGA (25 employees) produces gases, mainly oxygen and ammonia, using air separation unit technology. It has participated in many research projects involving the fish processing industry.
Main contactMAKI LTD. (no longer active) MR. GUDMUNDUR ORN INGOLFSSON > DIRECTOR Organisation type > SME |
Contribution to project
Will provide rearing facilities, know-how in farming sea bass in closed systems, biofilters and geothermal energy knowledge. It will directly use research results from AIR programmes.
Expertise
Experimental fish farm. The company succeeded in importing and rearing sea bass on an experimental scale for 10 months in closed systems, adapted to the Icelandic environment in 1994. MAKI has hired two biologists and a technician, both highly qualified in rearing sea water species (hatchery and ongrowing) in open through and closed systems. MAKI has a formal cooperation agreement with the UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND and is involved in two AIR programmes (share cost and concerted action) dealing with "the optimisation of natural resource in land-based marine fish farms".