Research and redevelopment
the same supply, fresh water or seawater. This will give the unit the fl exibility to run a large trial or smaller trials and proof of concept work. Very few trials facilities can smolt fi sh, for example, which is something we could do here. In terms of fresh water treatment for sea lice, this could be very interesting,’ he adds. With an eye on both sustain- ability and cost-effectiveness, Benchmark has invested in both a biomass pellet boiler system – as part of the government’s renew- able heat incentive – PV, thermal PV and water source heat pumps for the shellfi sh hatchery. And, with the water supply acting as a coolant, the facility will have the fl exibility to run its water from ambient up to 30 degrees, opening it up beyond salmon to other, warm water species. The redevel- opment of the facility also includes a more effi cient pumping system, and further down the line they are looking at creating freshwater res- ervoirs from their existing brackish lagoons to help with the issue of freshwater supply and to mitigate
pumping costs. ‘We are planning to have the re- development of Ardtoe completed by October this year’, says Perry. ‘The whole project is a huge leap forward, and demonstrates Bench- mark’s commitment to extending its portfolio. With the combination of high-value fi nfi sh production, the Shellfi sh research centre (there is currently no such facility in the UK) and cutting edge R&D, we will have a good mix of academics and fi sh farmers and shellfi sh pro- ducers working here and further enhance the facility’s world-wide reputation.’ FF
Clockwise from far left: Research Director, Jim Treasurer; continuous
inflow tank to rear bobbins seeded with seaweeds; farmed goldsinny wrasse; Miguel Sanchez, iDREEM project technologist,
with ulva species; drying Himanthalia elongata to produce seed; raceways with ulva in tumbling culture
www.fishfarmer-magazine.com 35
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