Why land-based aquaculture?

Land-based aquaculture placed near high value markets offers a more sustainable, efficient and profitable aquaculture solution than open net pens

  • Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) represent an advanced approach to farming fish. Instead of the traditional method of growing fish outdoors in open ponds, raceways, or sea-based net pens, this approach rears fish at high densities, in indoor tanks with a "controlled" environment.

  • RAS technology has a ~60-year history and matured in the 1980s; it is now standard for the world’s most advanced fish farmers

  • Land production is driven by multiple advantages relative to sea-based production, where it has lower logistics, processing, packaging & transport costs, fewer regulations, shorter time from tank to plate, and significantly lower environmental impacts

Land-Based Farming System

 

It provides a more sustainable source of animal protein

  • The rapidly increasing demand for animal protein is causing growing production of livestock, leading to increased deforestation and significant carbon emissions

  • Fish generally offer a much higher % of edible meat and protein retention. Research also clearly shows that many fish are significantly healthier than beef, pork or chicken. For example, over 80% of the fat in salmon is unsaturated (incl. omega-3 fatty acids)

  • Furthermore, as fish are cold-blooded, they convert more of the food they eat to muscle than warm-blooded animals farmed on land:

 

Feed Conversion Ratios

 

Aquaculture is expected to be the “fastest growing food production sector” through to 2030, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (UN FAO)

  • By 2030, the world will eat 20% more fish (or 30 million tonnes live equivalent) than in 2016

  • Aquaculture production in 2030 is projected to reach 110 million tonnes, a 37% over 2016 (a 4% CAGR)

  • Increasing restrictions on net pen aquaculture will substantially increase demand for RAS

  • Currently, only about 5% of global aquaculture output is supplied by RAS

  • By 2030, up to 40% of total global aquaculture output could be from RAS facilities

 

Projected Fish Production by Source

United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, 2021