DTU Aqua is organizing the fourth international NordicRAS workshop on recirculating aquaculture systems—this time in Aalborg on 12–13 October 2017.
When researchers, equipment manufacturers and feed producers meet for ‘4th NordicRAS Workshop on Recirculating Aquaculture Systems 2017’ in Aalborg on 12–13 October, the purpose is to exchange knowledge and experience on recirculating aquaculture systems.
The advantage of a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) is that it is possible to control emissions from the plants so that they have less of an environment impact compared to plants which take water directly from a river or the sea.
"Fish farming in recirculating systems is a fast-growing industry, and the technology is developing rapidly, but a lot of R&D is still required to determine how to design and operate the systems in the best possible way. This applies in particular to onshore saltwater plants, where the technology is relatively new, and where the saltwater in itself presents particular challenges," explains Senior Researcher Anne Johanne Tang Dalsgaard from DTU Aqua, who is coordinating the Nordic Network on Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (NordicRAS Network) and the workshop.
Growing interest in eco-friendly aquaculture
Even though the NordicRAS network is basically Nordic, members come from all over the world, and the network is seeing a growing interest in participating in the workshops, which are held every other year.
"The aquaculture industry is growing all over the world, and there is an increasing level of interest in technology for fish farming with minimal environmental impact. Over the past six years that the NordicRAS network has existed, more and more people have been attending our workshops—this year, in fact, we had to announce that the workshop was fully booked before the registration deadline—and today the network has around 400 members from all over the world, both from the research community, industry, public authorities, and NGOs," says Anne Johanne Tang Dalsgaard.
Programme
During the two-day workshop, six sessions will be held with a total of 39 presentations. The workshop sessions will cover water quality in RAS, on-growing of different species in RAS, waste treatment, fish health, gases and online monitoring, as well as saltwater RAS.
In continuation of the workshop, an excursion is being organized on Saturday 14 October to Sashimi Royal’s new modular, fully recirculating saltwater plant at Hanstholm on the north-west coast of Jutland west of Aalborg. The plant is used to produce yellowtail kingfish, which are used, for example, to make sushi. In addition, there will be a visit to Christiansminde Dambrug near Holstebro—a so-called model fish farm which features an advanced water-treatment system.
See the full programme for the workshop on the network’s website, nordicras.net
Download the Book of Abstracts, which contains summaries of all the workshop lectures
The Section for Aquaculture at DTU Aqua, which organizes the NordicRAS Network, conducts research into rearing systems and environmental impacts as well as into the nutrition, growth, and welfare of farmed fish. The research focuses on recirculating plants, biofilter technology, purifier components, water quality, and environmental efficiency in onshore plants, as well as aquaculture fish nutrition, bioenergetics, feed utilization, and nitrogen removal. The researchers have facilities of a high international standard at their disposal.
Read more about aquaculture research at aqua.dtu.dk