Land based on-growing of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and salmon (Salmo salar) using Recirculation Aquaculture Systems in the Basque Country: contributions to scientific understanding of economic feasibility, environmental sustainability of economic acceptability

274 p.Animal farming systems, including fish farming, are regarded to be a major cause of problems such as resource (water and land) depletion and climate change. Their required intensification represents a relevant cause of environmental concern at global level. In aquaculture, the option for reducing the environmental footprint of aquatic animal production and mitigating many of the impacts associated with traditional commercial fish culture technologies (i.e. net pens, ponds, flow-through systems) is Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) technology. The present work studies the feasibility of using RAS to rear cold water species such as Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the Basque coastal area. The study is made from four different perspectives: technical, economic, environmental and societal. The viability of the technology is tested coupled with the surrounding environment; the cost/benefits of producing fish in the local market are analyzed; the environmental performance and the created impacts are studied; and the final product¿s acceptability is studied among local consumers and seafood experts. Moreover, a new environmental assessment is presented and detailed knowledge of the main issues and future challenges are obtained.AZTI TEKNALI

Land based on-growing of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and salmon (Salmo salar) using Recirculation Aquaculture Systems in the Basque Country: contributions to scientific understanding of economic feasibility, environmental sustainability of economic acceptability

274 p.Animal farming systems, including fish farming, are regarded to be a major cause of problems such as resource (water and land) depletion and climate change. Their required intensification represents a relevant cause of environmental concern at global level. In aquaculture, the option for reducing the environmental footprint of aquatic animal production and mitigating many of the impacts associated with traditional commercial fish culture technologies (i.e. net pens, ponds, flow-through systems) is Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) technology. The present work studies the feasibility of using RAS to rear cold water species such as Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the Basque coastal area. The study is made from four different perspectives: technical, economic, environmental and societal. The viability of the technology is tested coupled with the surrounding environment; the cost/benefits of producing fish in the local market are analyzed; the environmental performance and the created impacts are studied; and the final product¿s acceptability is studied among local consumers and seafood experts. Moreover, a new environmental assessment is presented and detailed knowledge of the main issues and future challenges are obtained.AZTI TEKNALI

An update on the 2014 report: "Review of Recirculation Aquaculture System Technologies and their Commercial Application"

This report has been commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise to provide an update on the earlier report "Review of Recirculation Aquaculture System Technologies and their Commercial Application" from the same authors and published in 2014. The leading salmon aquaculture companies are all making strategic investments in RAS, mainly for juvenile production. This has been a trend over the past 20 years and has contributed substantially to technology development. The established industry has therefore demonstrated a willingness to adopt RAS technologies where they perceive a strong business case, such as enabling more consistent year-round supplies of juveniles. Parallel to the strategic adoption of RAS by existing salmon producers has been a series of RAS based grow-out projects based on a mix of optimistic technology promises and ethically driven enthusiasm for land-based farming drawing in investment from equity investors as well as government and other non-government organisations. Most of these have experienced a range of technical, financial and market problems and have either failed completely or are operating at a loss. Nevertheless, there is substantial momentum and lessons are being learned and technology is developing at a faster rate than when previously assessed in 2014. The lack of investment in grow-out RAS by established producers, notably salmon companies already culturing smolts in RAS, may reflect their greater understanding of market and economic fundamentals and/or reluctance to invest in disruptive technology given their heavy investments in cage grow-out production. More encouragingly, entry into the RAS sector by major water and sanitation companies such as Veolia, capable of more standardised technology development suggests previous barriers will be overcome. The immediate interest of the Scottish salmon industry is in strategies to reduce the impact of sea lice and other disease problems. One element of this is to reduce the time the fish are in sea cages through the stocking of post-smolts of between 250g and 1 kg in weight. It appears likely that landbased RAS could provide an economic means of achieving this, although sea-based closed containment systems are also being investigated as a potential alternative. Land-based RAS are also being used for cleaner fish production as another part of the sea lice control strategy. RAS offers opportunities for new species development in Scotland, with examples including sturgeon (caviar), yellow tail, sole, tropical shrimp, and spiny lobster. However, these are generally high value products for which domestic markets may be more limited. If already planned investments in salmon grow-out RAS go ahead in the USA, China and other important export markets for Scotland, long-term market opportunities are likely to be affected. A more substantial risk to the Scottish industry in the short to medium term could be a further decline in social license necessary to achieve ambitious growth-targets due to perceived conflicts with environmental and conservation targets. For this reason, combined with steadily maturing technology and new species opportunities, it is anticipated that aquaculture production using recirculated aquaculture systems will gradually expand in the coming years.Consultancy report produced under contract with Ekos Limited for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. Update of previous 2014 report on the same topic

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) analysis: main issues on management and future challenges

The main issues for Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) are analyzed, in order to lead to better solutions for future managers, identifying possible areas for improvements and future challenges for the industry. RAS-based production companies, researchers, system suppliers and consultants were interviewed separately, in order to gain an overall understanding of those systems and what developments could assist, in a positive way. Answers and subsequent analysis identified as significant barriers: poor participation by the producers; a disincentive on sharing information; and a lack of communication between different parties. The main issues are poor designs of the systems, as many had been modified after a previous approach was unsuitable; and their poor management, due mainly to an absence of skilled people taking responsibility for water quality and mechanical problems. As RAS will play an important role within the future of aquaculture, their enhancement is needed. Key priorities are the necessity to improve equipment performance, through researching at a commercial scale and further work on the best combinations of devices for each particular situation. Additional recommendations are for a specialized platform, to share knowledge on RAS, together with a more indepth and distinctive education programme

Diseño y construcción de una bodega de vino tinto de alta calidad y vino en lata, en Los Arcos (Navarra)

Ingeniería Técnica AgrícolaNekazaritza Ingeniaritza Tekniko