Looking back on the past 30 years we can see where failed projects went wrong – technology that could not maintain water quality at maximum feed loading required for the bioplan, inconsistent seedstock supply resulting in missed cohorts and/or poor growth, insufficient operating capital before first harvest and cash flow began, unrealistic fish growth assumptions, inadequate water supply, and many more reasons.
Land-based projects may be quicker to fail from the risks that are common with other types of aquaculture, but we have not looked at that yet.
Our goal at The Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute is to effectively de-risk land-based fish farming by identifying limitations and issues, developing and testing solutions, and then publishing the results for everyone to learn from. We sincerely believe that we have had a positive impact that is now helping to build success in the sector.