Increased Research Capacity at New Aquaculture Research Laboratory
As the RAS industry continues to grow, so do the research and development demands necessary to continue to optimize the RAS production and technology. We built our recently-completed Aquaculture Research Lab to meet this need. Here, the Freshwater Institute’s experts will continue and expand on innovative research and development of land-based fish farming technology.
The new laboratory, with an interior footprint of 40’ x 130’, will provide a controlled environment with replicated culture tanks in flow-through and partial water reuse at 13˚C.
Watch the video below for a tour of the new facility:
The facility includes:
- 12 replicated partial-water reuse systems, each with 5 m3 culture tanks (1,320 gallons) and individual photoperiod control
- 1 medium-scale partial reuse system with an 18 m3 culture tank (4,800 gallons)
- 16 replicated flow-through system tanks, each 0.57 m3 (150 gallons)
- 6 replicated flow-through system tanks, each 1.9 m3 (515 gallons)
- Gas balancing system for spring water supply (180 to 340 gpm)
- Centralized closed-air-handling system to scrub CO2 from air exiting twelve cascade aeration/CO2 stripping columns
- Biosecure entry vestibule
- Effluent drum filtration and multiple fish exclusion barriers to prevent escapees and capture particulate waste
The new systems will be used for research focusing on:
- Sustainable feeds, immunostimulants, and their effects on salmon performance, quality, and welfare, as well as water reuse system water quality
- Off-flavor purging technologies and practices
- Energy conservation and heat recovery in RAS buildings
- Water recirculation technologies, fish densities, water quality, and makeup flushing rates
- Benign chemotherapeutics, such as hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid
- Environmental and husbandry practices to produce robust post-smolt Atlantic salmon with minimal advanced maturation
Why it matters
The Freshwater Institute’s new laboratory will allow it to continue to advance RAS and improved fish feeds for large-scale production of fish such as Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout. These developments make it possible to produce fish in a way that recycles water, repurposes waste for fertilizer and can be located next to any market, expanding consumer access to sustainably-raised, fresh and local seafood, no matter where they are.