HATCHERY Feed & Management Vol 9 Issue 1 2021

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How to ensure peak performance from a recirculating aquaculture system Greg Beckman, Innovasea

Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) have grown in popularity over the last decade for a number of reasons. In addition to providing optimal water quality for maximizing fish production, they’re also more efficient than traditional flow-through systems and help fish farms conserve water, energy and space. Because RAS systems require a fraction of the new water that a flow-through facility requires, their use in hatchery operations for both freshwater and saltwater species is on the rise. Less need for new water means that operators can: • Locate a facility where there are large seasonal or daily variations in water temperature, salinity or availability. • Develop a large facility in an area where there’s not enough water for a similar size flow-through facility.

• Provide optimal growth conditions year-round. • Limit or stop the flow of new water when there are toxic algal blooms nearby or if you have other water quality concerns. • Monitor the grow-out site and manipulate their RAS water to match those conditions prior to stocking. In addition, by using less new water and producing less effluents, RAS systems often make it easier to obtain permits, especially in coastal areas. For those making the switch to RAS for the first time, however, there is a learning curve. Getting a new recirculating system dialed in takes time, patience and some trial-and-error. Here are some tricks of the trade to help you ensure your system is running at peak performance and producing robust, healthy and greattasting fish.

Hatchery Feed & Management Vol 9 Issue 1 2021


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