Land-based mariculture-systems

Land-based intensive mariculture-systems are flow-throughs or recirculating systems. Flow-throughs are constructions, where the water inlet and outlet are on opposite ends, permitting aquatic organisms to be grown in streams of controlled velocity. In those systems, the water is used once only and then discharged into the receiving water with or without treatment. Recirculation systems are closed or partially closed systems employed in aquaculture production, where the effluent water from the system is treated and recirculated to enable its re-use.

Usually, a relatively small portion of the actual culture medium is exchanged per unit time. These systems are also called recirculating aquarium systems (RAS). It is assumed that use of recirculation systems in intensive commercial aquaculture will increase in the future. Moreover, these systems would be preferred for cultures of exotic species and genetically modified organisms (GMOs), because escapees can be prevented. Generally, recirculation systems are used for the culture of high value products such as crustaceans and other marine delicatessens.

The Department of Marine Aquaculture for Sustainable Fisheries works with Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) in the Centre for Aquaculture Research (ZAF) to answer questions given from the industry or funded research projects.

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) represent production systems, which partially or completely recirculate the water used for the culture. Therefore the water is treated and can be reused. Commonly only a small fraction of the total system volume will be replaced per day, between 1 and 10% per day...

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