With its Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), Veolia Water Technologies helps aquaculture businesses improve productivity by up to 30% and reduce utility and operating costs.

Designed to optimise the entire water cycle of marine, fresh water and brackish water aquaculture farms with a wide variety of species, the modular RAS provides a highly controlled farming environment based on Veolia’s innovative recirculation and water treatment process. It utilises Veolia technologies such as AnoxKaldnes® MBBR (Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor) for biological treatment and Hydrotech™ Drumfilters for solids removal, and is available as a closed loop or semi-closed loop aquacultural system.

“These technologies create a controlled aquaculture setting that helps optimise growth, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and overall fish survival,” explains Chris Braybrooke, Veolia Water Technologies South Africa’s GM: Marketing.

In so doing, the Veolia RAS can help overcome many of the challenges faced by the South African aquaculture industry in reaching its full potential: Land and water availability A highly efficient aquaculture treatment solution that treats and recirculates over 99% of the process water means significantly reduced water consumption.

Efficient facility design and construction and an optimised water cycle yields a higher density of fish products in a reduced physical footprint of up to 50%. Animal welfare and performance Greater water quality and improved environmental conditions means healthier and more disease-resistant fish. Operational conditions and technical risk Veolia’s RAS reliably controls water quality conditions, reducing exposure towards outside influences and optimising biological performance with reduced technical risk.

Environmental impact, sustainability and regulatory and consumer risks Efficient and reliable treatment processes, including sludge and effluent recovery in an over-99% closed loop water reuse system, reduce impact on the natural environment, and help guarantee compliance with reduced regulatory and consumer risks.

Efficient handling, logistics and transport Geographic challenges make it difficult and expensive for many regions to receive fresh seafood. RAS systems allow farmers to achieve a farm-to-table strategy by locating facilities on land near key markets. This reduces shipping costs and shortens delivery timeframes, while offering customers a superior fresh product.

Profitability With reduced installation and operational costs and lower energy consumption, the prefabricated, modular RAS systems improve the profitability of aquaponics operations. Its water treatment components can accommodate the high feed inputs, growth rates and stocking densities required for maximum financial viability. With an optimised water cycle, these systems require only 250 to 500 litres of water per kilogram of fish.

Significant growth potential in South Africa “While still an emerging industry in South Africa, aquaculture is a potentially vital economic activity that can contribute to increased food security, create employment and ensure the sustainable use of coastal and inland resources to the benefit of local communities,” Braybrooke explains.

Veolia’s modular Recirculating Aquaculture Systems are designed for an annual fish production capacity of 1 200 tons, and are suitable for a wide range of species, including salmon, trout, tilapia, kingfish, sea bass and catfish.