The aquaculture industry is currently undergoing a transformative shift with the emergence of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). These advanced systems are poised to revolutionize sustainable aquaculture practices by efficiently managing water quality, reducing environmental impact, and optimizing production. In this article, we will consider three innovations in RAS that have the potential to reshape the industry. By examining specific examples, we can gain valuable insights into the wide range of potential advancements that will ultimately shape the future of aquaculture. Exciting times lie ahead as we explore these cutting-edge technologies and their implications for a more sustainable and productive aquaculture industry.
Biological filtration optimization... Or replacement?
Innovations in water treatment technologies will undoubtedly play a crucial role in the future of RAS. Advancements like these are expected to quickly and efficiently remove excess nutrients, contaminants, and other pollutants from the system. Of course, for RAS systems to reach their full potential, these technologies must be able to process large volumes of water quickly to keep up with production demands.
RASLab, an innovative research company, is leading the charge in revolutionizing biofiltration methods in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS).
One promising avenue is using encapsulated nitrifying bacteria as an alternative to traditional biofilters. This cutting-edge technology allows for precise control of bacterial numbers and biomass, allowing the company to create a custom bacterial mixture tailored to the specific requirements of a particular species.
By employing this approach, it should be possible to develop microbial and genomic tools to assess the health and resilience of biofilters, ensuring the utmost safety in fish production. It’s important to note that these innovative technologies will not only function as a safety net to complement conventional biofilters but will also mitigate potential losses and risks associated with fluctuations in system loading throughout production cycles.
Never one to be limited to a single approach, RASLab is also exploring disruptive technologies with the potential to transform the very concept of biofiltration itself. In this case, they’re examining the ability of novel electrochemical processes to oxidize ammonium and other compounds, which eventually could render the traditional biofilter obsolete.
Instead of relying on the biomass of nitrifying bacteria to convert ammonium into less harmful substances, this new frontier of water treatment uses electricity to chemically oxidize them. This method facilitates faster waste conversion into less toxic substances without needing biological agents. The electrochemical approach is efficient, scalable, flexible, and reliable, positioning it as a potential game-changer in the aquaculture sector.
Digital Technologies and the Internet of Things (IoT)
At Noras Watertech, innovators have developed a unique system control software that, combined with automatic sensors, can alert RAS managers to an emerging problem and help them make decisions quickly and effectively.
Like everywhere else, fish raised in RAS facilities have needs that change as they grow. While all RAS operators know that there is a level at which total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), carbon dioxide (CO2), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) become toxic, this specific level changes according to the type and size of the fish in question.
In a situation with fluctuating water parameters, the Noras software determines the safest pH range for a variety of parameters and draws the results dynamically using a Deffeyes diagram. This data allows managers to grasp the entire situation immediately, and accurately designate the correct amount of chemicals to adjust those parameters. The dynamic nature of the program enables operators to manage multiple systems at once, quickly, and without the risk of calculation errors.
This kind of integration of digital technologies holds immense potential for optimizing RAS operations. Automation technologies like the one developed at Noras can be combined with data relayed by advanced sensors to monitor and adjust the parameters of the recirculating system in real-time, alerting managers when action is required. In addition, the program can highlight any equipment problems that may have contributed to the problem, ensuring that production efficiency is maintained while minimizing losses.
CO2 to Fish Food: Sustaining the Circle of Life
The conversation in aquaculture is shifting from sustainability to circularity, and there is a growing emphasis on developing sustainable feed alternatives in RAS. Enter Kiverdi, a revolutionary company that utilizes bacterial bioprocessing to convert CO2 into protein–for fish food.
Traditionally, fish food has been sourced from forage fish like herring and anchovies. However, this approach is not a viable long-term solution due to the depletion of forage fish populations and the subsequent environmental damage caused by overfishing. Kiverdi offers an alternative feed source that provides essential protein for farmed fish while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by up to 99%.
Kiverdi’s technology uses CO2 as a sustainable carbon source for microbial synthesis. It involves the conversion of CO2 into lipids and proteins by bacteria, which are then used to create fish feed. By directly converting atmospheric CO2 into food, this process has the potential to significantly reduce the demand for other protein sources, such as forage fish.
Currently, Kiverdi’s technology is being utilized in Norway to produce sustainable feed for salmon farms. The collaboration between Kiverdi and the Norwegian Seafood Research Fund (SFF) has proven highly successful in reducing waste and providing a more sustainable food source for farmed fish.
Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) managers have embraced this technology to provide essential nutrition to farmed fish without negatively impacting wild populations or releasing excess waste into the environment.
The circular nature of recirculating aquaculture (RAS) presents an innovative and sustainable approach to seafood production, epitomized by the integration of CO2 bioconversion, closing the production loop and creating a virtuous cycle that is both economically viable and environmentally responsible.
In this circular system, waste is not merely discarded but instead converted into valuable resources, significantly reducing the environmental footprint of fish farming. RAS’s innovative utilization of CO2 bioconversion underscores the potential of science and technology to revolutionize traditional industries and pave the way for a more sustainable future. By reimagining waste as a resource, RAS is transforming the aquaculture industry, promoting responsible production practices, and addressing urgent environmental challenges.
These groundbreaking technologies have the potential to transform aquaculture by allowing fish farms to produce seafood with greater efficiency, less environmental impact, and improved economic viability. As we look ahead, these innovations could help usher in an era of sustainable and renewable aquaculture – one that is better for our environment, the industry, and consumers everywhere.
