Research & Development

Hightech systems for fish-friendly breeding of Yellowtail Kingfish

The development, implementation and testing of:
a high-tech water purification system for surface water; an innovative fish-friendly transport system; and an innovative, reliable stunning system that provides a fish-friendly breeding process for Yellowtail Kingfish. This project receives co-financing from the European Regional Development Fund in the context of OPZuid.

Yellowtail Kingfish: Duurzaam en Natuurlijk (Sustainable and Natural)

The goal of this project is to make the farming system for our Yellowtail Kingfish even more sustainable. To this end, knowledge will be gathered, and technical developments will be carried out related to 4 crucial domains: development of an organic feed; development of an optimal light regime for the fish; development of an optimal flow regime in the breeding tanks; development of a detection system for off-flavours (geosmin). The ultimate goal of these developments is to realize improved growth and increased animal welfare. The knowledge development from this project can lead to valuable insights that serve as a basis for similar research with other fish species. This project receives co-financing from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (European Union) within the framework of 2017INNAQUA (Innovation Projects Aquaculture 2017).

INNOVATION

Sustainability is at the core of every choice we make.

Land-based Marine Aquaculture is facing a watershed moment, moving from experimental to practical technology that is poised to fill the growing supply gap.

RIprojects

It starts with fresh North Sea water flowing through a pristine nature reserve marine estuary. And then we make it even better: our advanced system purifies, enriches and adapts the water to the Yellowtail's optimal conditions.

Working closely with some of the world's leading

equipment suppliers and engineering companies, we have access to proprietary first hand expertise regarding the requirements and demands of the Yellowtail in land-based recirculation systems. This has resulted in Kingfish Zeeland’s production facility, which has been designed to achieve levels of control, safety, reliability and sustainability not currently available in alternative production systems.

Fresh marine water is drawn at high replacement rates, purified, oxygenated and meticulously monitored and controlled to create optimal temperature, light and water conditions for the Yellowtail, resulting in healthy, strong and apparently happy fish.

• Close to market, fresh, year round production

• Optimal growth conditions (oxygen, water quality that can be monitored and controlled)

• No feed waste

• Lower Feed Conversion Ratios (lower FCRs are better, as it implies higher efficiency in converting

feed into growth in body mass)

• Reduced risks of disease and mortality

• No need for medication

• Minimal resource and natural waste footprint

• Small land requirement (a 2000 ton system requires only 3 hectares)

• Seawater-based system means no fresh water is wasted.

• Solid output can be separated from seawater and used as fertilizers

• Reduced manpower requirements

• Isolated from predators, extreme weather, water pollution, parasites, or algal blooms

Kingfish Zeeland is located in the Province of Zeeland, in the Netherlands, on the shores of a pristine marine estuary nature reserve.

Clean fish eat well and swim in pure water. For our Yellowtail, it starts with the pristine water of a Natura 2000 marine estuary Nature Reserve. And then we make it better.

Utilizing cutting edge technology, over 30 years of hands-on marine fish farming experience, and the strictest sustainability practices, Kingfish Zeeland is introducing a uniquely pure fish to the premium EU market: Fresh daily deliveries of locally grown, Dutch Yellowtail (Hiramasa / Kingfish / often used interchangeably with close cousin Hamachi or just as "Yellowtail")