Road to food sustainability: What is RAS and why is it the future of fish farming?

The world population is growing really fast.

By 2050, it is expected to reach 9.8 billion, which is going to put more stress on our natural resources than we can imagine.

Every aspect of our lives will be impacted, especially the increased stress on the world's food resources.

But the solution is not so far away.

As the world's population keeps growing, aquaculture could be a big part of the solution to the problem of getting enough food for everyone.

As the demand for food increases, we need sustainable and efficient food production methods that can produce more food with fewer resources, and aquaculture has the potential to do just that.

The opportunity is big

India is the third-largest producer of fish in the world and the second-largest aquaculture country after China.

In 2022, the size of India's aquaculture market was 12.4 million tonnes. IMARC Group predicts that the market will reach 19.9 million tonnes by 2028, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1% from 2023 to 2028.

In terms of fish production, it makes up 8% of global production.

The sector is seen as a "sunrise sector," and it is likely to have a big impact on the Indian economy in the near future.

Even though inland fisheries and aquaculture have grown in terms of numbers, they have not yet reached their full potential.

The problem in existing fishing methods

Aquaculture is a business that is growing quickly and gives people all over the world a healthy and sustainable way to get seafood.

With more people wanting to eat fish, traditional aquaculture systems are becoming unsustainable, expensive, and hard to keep up with.

Solution?

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) —

What are recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS)?

Fish are typically grown in open ponds or tanks with regular additions of clean water to keep the environment healthy.

Because water is often lost through evaporation and runoff, and because the fish waste builds up and pollutes the water, this practice can be both expensive and wasteful.

RAS is an advanced system that solves these issues.

It is a system that keeps the water quality at the best level for the fish by recirculating it through a series of filters and treatment devices. As a result, less water is consumed overall, and pollution-causing byproducts are eliminated before they have a chance to build up.

RAS technology is often used in the fish farming industry, especially for species like salmon and trout that need clean water.

RAS has many advantages over traditional aquaculture systems.

Improved biosecurity

Biosecurity is one of the most important benefits of RAS technology in aquaculture. With traditional aquaculture systems, diseases are more likely to spread from one fish population to another.

With RAS technology, recirculating water makes sure that fish populations are not exposed to disease-causing agents from outside sources. This lowers the chance that a disease will spread and, in the long run, lowers the number of fish that die.

Eco-friendly and Sustainable

RAS technology is a way to farm fish in a way that doesn't hurt the environment. With this system, the water is constantly recycled.

This cuts down on the amount of water used and makes sure that no harmful waste is dumped into the environment. When RAS technology is used in aquaculture, it also makes sure that it doesn't hurt the ecosystem around it.

Best conditions for growth

With RAS technology, the fish population can grow in the best way possible because the water keeps recirculating.

The system makes sure that the water quality, temperature, and oxygen levels stay the same. This lets fish grow the best they can, and it also helps farmers get a lot of fish from their farms.

Reduced cost due to efficiency

With RAS technology, resources are used in a smart way. Compared to traditional aquaculture systems, this one uses less water, and the recirculation process makes sure that less waste is made.

This means farmers can save money on their water bills and lower their overall costs of doing business.

Better rates of feed-to-food

When compared to traditional fishing methods, RAS systems have better feed conversion rates. This means that less feed is needed to raise the same amount of fish.

This is because fish in RAS systems can digest their food better, so there is less waste and feed costs are lower.

Successful examples from the industry

Using RAS technology in the fish farming business has turned out to be a good idea.

A successful example is Smart Green Aquaculture.

It is an Indian company based in Telangana that designs and builds RAS systems for fish farming. The company's RAS technology is made to use less energy and cost less money, so a wide range of farmers can use it.

The RAS technology used by Smart Green Aquaculture makes it possible to produce high-quality fish that is free of antibiotics and hormones.

Farmers can get RAS systems from them, which also helps them learn how to use the technology and do it well.

Ready for Blue Revolution 2.0?

Aquaculture's Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) technology is a game-changer that makes fish farming more sustainable and better for the environment.

This is a chance for farmers in the fishing industry to change the way they do things. By using this technology, farmers can improve their operations, get more crops, and have less of an effect on the environment.

The advantages over traditional fishing methods are clear and important, and it's exciting to see more and more farmers in India and around the world adopting this new way of raising fish.

So, let's dream big and encourage farmers in the fishing industry to think about how RAS technology could change their businesses and open up new opportunities.

With the right support and resources, there is no limit to what they can achieve.