Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) are revolutionizing how farms produce seafood for public consumption. From using recycled water to eliminating water pollution as a land-based system, RAS is providing sustainable production methods globally.
Although RAS aquaculture can be a solution to overfishing, industry improvements are required for farms that utilize these systems. RAS fish farms face various challenges, such as improper water treatments due to a lack of technical training and inconsistent production standards from insufficient funding.
Learn more about the benefits of RAS aquaculture systems and how the industry can resolve current constraints with lasting change.
What is Recirculating Aquaculture?
Recirculating aquaculture is one of the systems used to cultivate seafood in a land-based farm or facility. It uses recirculated water treatment technology, including fish tanks, water filters, water pumps, and oxygenation devices, to create an optimal artificial environment for breeding fish and aquatic species. RAS is even considered the most sustainable method to produce seafood commercially, per the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).
Advantages of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) & Solutions Required for Sustainable Seafood Farming
Recirculating aquaculture systems offer several advantages for farms and facilities. However, the aquaculture industry faces various challenges with RAS that require new solutions to improve sustainable production.
Recirculating Aquaculture is Low Risk But Requires Technical Skills to Manage Successfully
RAS is considered a low-risk method than other aquaculture systems because of its design. It consumes less water as it recycles most of it to operate, making it more sustainable for locations with limited water reserves.
Since recirculating aquaculture is land-based, it also removes the risk of non-native species escaping and disrupting natural gene pools. Additionally, RAS treats its water before discharging, preventing environmental damage like water pollution and toxic algal blooms. However, these highly technical systems need qualified management skills for success.
Solution: Hire Qualified Staff with Technical RAS Management Skills
Recirculating farms require highly skilled staff to manage these advanced aquaculture technologies and fully gain the benefits RAS offers.
RAS requires vast technical management skills, including:
- Water quality monitoring, treatments, and chemistry testing procedures
- System cleaning via UV doses, micro screen drum, disk filters, fixed bed filters, foam fractionation, etc. to remove captured solids from fish waste and uneaten feed
- Mechanical system repairs, like pump failures, aeration systems, troubleshooting excessive heat sources, leaks, etc.
When hiring farm operators to manage RAS fish farms, they must possess these technical skills or receive diligent training.
RAS Allows More Quality Control But Has Saltwater Species Limitations
RAS gives recirculating farms greater quality control because it’s an enclosed land-based system, including:
- Reduced Disease Risks: Strengthens disease resistance because RAS farms can maintain required oxygen levels, filter unwanted water substances, and UV-disinfect more efficiently, improving the health of cultivated species.
- Simpler Water Temperature Management: Uses less water, allowing farms to control the temperature more easily.
- Optimal Animal Welfare: Creates a controlled environment fish and aquatic species need to breed and cultivate ethically, as it’s not in natural water where sudden temperature changes can stress or kill them.
- Weather Protection: Allows production to continue in any climate because it’s shielded from the outdoor elements.
- Stable Production Conditions: Provides more consistency and growth in production because of the increased quality control.
It’s important to note that recirculating aquaculture is best for freshwater species as they benefit from consistent water environments. Cultivating saltwater species in a large-scale RAS may harm animal welfare due to the potential risks of using ammonia for water treatment and increased CO2 levels from high-protein fish feeds that reduce oxygen.
Solution: Custom RAS Design, Close Monitoring, Quality Fish Feed, Species Pre-Exposure, & BAP Certification
If recirculating farms use RAS to cultivate saltwater species, they must customize the design to suit their environmental needs. Standardized RAS systems are typically built for freshwater species, like sturgeon and salmon. RAS fish farms must invest in custom system engineering to provide the water conditions marine species need to thrive in an artificial environment.
Additionally, recirculating farms must closely monitor their fish or aquatic species to ensure they consistently maintain optimal production conditions. This also includes using high-quality fish feed with high protein and fat-extruded diets. RAS uses filters that remove excess nutrients, metabolic waste, and solids to create a healthy water environment. That way, the species receive the nutrition required that’s gained in natural waters.
Aquaculture production facilities can also expose cultivated fresh or saltwater species in a pre-circulated setting to reduce the consequences of RAS intensification. It helps promote pre-adaptation and prevent animal stress when entering a controlled circulated environment.
Recirculating farms can apply for BAP (Best Aquaculture Practices) certification to assist in creating ethical and sustainable end-to-end production processes.
RAS Require Less Room But Have Higher Investments
RAS is smaller than other aquaculture systems, allowing greater access for farms to open in more locations. Due to their lower surface area, recirculating farms can open facilities in converted warehouses or urban areas where groundwater is limited or chlorine-free municipal water is used.
However, startup RAS fish farms or those with lower budgets will find these systems require higher initial investments. Recirculating aquaculture technology is relatively expensive to buy and install. There are also ongoing costs from its 24/7 electricity and oxygen consumption and skilled workforce to pay for managing them.
As a result, some farms may cut corners to save on RAS costs and maintain profitability that sacrifices animal welfare.
Solution: Use Modular RAS & Apply for Financial Assistance to Save on Costs
Modular recirculating aquaculture systems are majorly pre-designed, allowing farms to save on engineering and installation costs. Instead of configuring RAS systems that could take two to three years to build and install, they come standardized based on facility size requirements.
These systems are also simpler to replicate, allowing RAS fish farms to scale productions more easily—along with streamlining project timelines and opening facilities faster.
Additionally, modular RAS are easier for farm operators to maintain. Because these systems are standardized, they can understand their components more efficiently, requiring less training and reducing human errors. However, if your facility uses modular RAS, these likely won’t be configured to cultivate saltwater species properly, as they’re typically designed for freshwater.
Lastly, RAS fish farms can apply for federal government-funded grants and low-interest loans from financial institutions to help lower upfront investments. Government bodies and environmental organizations are increasingly funding aquaculture farms to help secure the supply of future aquatic food from rising seafood demands globally.
Support SIAA’S Mission for Sustainable Aquaculture: Let’s Solve Industry Challenges Together
While RAS aquaculture farms currently face various constraints, many solutions are available to help resolve these issues. At SIAA, our partners include the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) to advocate for stronger policy changes and legal measures for sustainable aquaculture practices.
And with your support, we can make a lasting difference.
Giving a one-time donation or becoming an SIAA member funds our efforts to elevate worldwide aquaculture standards while conserving aquatic ecosystems.
Let’s change the future of commercial seafood production together.
