1. This project will research a novel aquaculture approach which adopts a more sustainable and environmentally friendly production of farmed fish and involves the integration of a warm water species into main stream farming. This will permit diversification and benefits to small scale producers whilst stimulating growing niche markets for fresh fish in the UK.
Warm Water Fish Production as a Niche Market and Diversification Strategy

2. Why aquaculture?
Aquaculture in the UK remains a mainly coastal, specialised enterprise
Not integrated with agriculture
Specialised knowledge, sites (water sources), markets
Off-farm feeds-linked with marine ecosystems

3. Why warm-water fish? Why tilapia?
Lack of suitable local species with the right qualities
Tastes good
Feeds low in the food chain
Tolerant of culture
In many contexts tilapia are raised integrated within a broader, terrestrial farming system

4. Warmwater…..
Maintaining culture systems at the right temperature (28oC)
Insulated, underutilised farm buildings
Low value thermal heat-potential for use locally

5. a rationale diversification approach?
Diversification a common aim
Many constraints:
No familiarity with technical and market issues
Level of capital required
Potential benefits
Can be based on locally available feedstock
Marketed as local and possibly ‘organic’

6. History..and the future
Tilapia start-ups in the UK over last two decades have been capital intensive
Commodity orientation, specialised
Now, massive production in the Tropics will make commodity market very competitive

7. Scale and function
Can tilapia production be simplified to produce relatively small amounts of high value fish to local and specialised markets?
And if so what technical and markets research is required?
What holistic benefits might result?

8. Technical challenges
Naturally tilapias graze on aquatic pastures-plankton, bacterial floc
Commercial systems tend to feed complete feeds-like broiler chickens
…but they require feed supplementary to natural feed to grow well
Ok in ponds but…..tanks?

9. Trials

10. ‘Clean’ water or ‘food-rich’ water?
Conventionally waste feed removed by a filter and fish raised in clean water
Can waste be retained in the system and used as a further source of feed?
Feeding the fish? Feeding the bacterial floc?
Results so far…..fish are growing (slower than conventional recirculation (filtered) systems….

11. Waste …or food???
Natural food rich
Natural food poor

12. But…. Water quality remains high without expensive filter (25kg/m3 +)
Lower densities-appropriate,
lower risk approach
simple design and management of the system
Overall yield on 20% crude protein
Field beans and barley??

13. Other benefits Without fishmeal/oils and associated problems
Only useful effluents-local nutrient reuse
Traceability, low ‘fish miles’
Potentially organic

14. Who will eat the fish? We have identified two major groups:
Ethnic markets
The ‘foodies’
Small quantities;
Specialist retailers
Farmers markets
Internet sales
Direct restuarant

15. Ongoing research
Trying to understand how to best manage the ‘floc’ system and produce fish profitably
Would this meet the needs of rural entrepreneurs? What types of farmers might be interested?
How could this system contribute to sustainable rural livelihoods?

16. The team University of Stirling: Institute of Aquaculture
Department of Marketing
Public Health Group
Prof. Jimmy Young
Prof Andrew Watterson
Dr David Little
Dr Francis Murray
Kathleen Grady
Dr. Jimmy Turnbull: Institute of Aquaculture
Dr. Kim Jauncey: Institute of Aquaculture
Dr Ekram Azim: Researcher, Marie Curie Grant
Dr. Sarath Kodithuwakku: Entrepreneurship
Anton Immink: Communications officer
Marcus Thomson: Rural diversification
Dr. Sunil Kadri: Industry Liaison, Fish Welfare
Commercial Partners
Pisces Aquaculture Ltd
Freshwater Fish Farms Ltd
Nam Sai Farm
RELU projects – multi-disciplinary focus. Assessing market opportunities and social impacts while simultaneously developing a technical production model. Main project group: one PI from each dept, Francis and Kathleen. Jimmy Turnbull specialist in fish welfare/. Kim Jauncey. Pisces Aquaculture: technology development, RAS systems, interested in helping develop new technology. Fresh Water Fish Farms, small farm in Devon, RAS production of Catfish and Tilapia on the side. Main business is in Elvers. Trials later this year. Sunil Kadri, specialist in fish welfare.

17. Questions?
11/19/2018