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<\/p>\nThe Razone water treatment solution developed by \u00c5lesund-based Normex to provide improved water quality and fish health in recirculation aquaculture system (RAS) plants It is now being tested at Mowi Steinsvik\u2019s broodstock facility in Volda in collaboration with scientists at the Nofima food research institute.<\/p>\n
One of the biggest challenges when raising fish in recirculation systems is the increased quantity of particles, which can reduce water quality and thereby fish welfare.<\/p>\n
\u201cWater quality is very important for us,\u201d says S\u00e6tre. \u201cWe generally have a good tank environment at our facility, but there\u2019s always room for improvement. Clean water improves fish health, biosecurity and fish welfare, which can in turn increase feed take-up and utilisation and thereby enhance growth conditions for the fish.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nofima has now compared two independent production batches of broodstock in the same department at Mowi with and without the use of Razone.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve hoped that the system will help us to remove more of the small particles, get clearer water and provide an even better environment for the fish,\u201d says S\u00e6tre. \u201cAnd water quality has definitely improved for the fish raised with Razone.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe\u2019ve never had such clear and transparent water in the department before, and growth has never been better than during testing with Razone,\u201d he reports.<\/p>\n
However, he emphasises that it is too early to attribute all the improvement to Razone, since several other factors may have contributed.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring the test period, for instance, we\u2019ve had a rather higher water temperature in the department, and the type of feed has been changed.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe monitor whether the fish are affected positively or negatively by the process, and if their appetite is good,\u201d explains researcher Kevin Torben Stiller at Nofima. \u201cTreating the water doesn\u2019t appear to have had a negative effect on the fish.\u201d<\/p>\n
The final conclusions from the project are due at the end of 2020, but Stiller and Per Brunsvik, Nofima\u2019s innovation coordinator, confirm that the trends are positive.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth fish batches have generally been fine,\u201d reports Brunsvik. \u201cBut we\u2019ll be following up yet another batch and will process welfare data and gill histology before drawing final conclusions.\u201d<\/p>\n
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– \u201cTesting Razone has shown positive results. \u201cAccumulations have been avoided, and the number of particles in the water has been reduced.\u201d<\/p>\n
Samples show a lower content of natural organic material (colour), reduced particle concentration in the water (turbidity) and fewer solid particles \u2013 such as mud, fish sludge, feed residues and faeces (suspended solids).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Mowi Steinsvik\u00b4 laboratory for water quality: “We monitor whether the fish are affected positively or negatively by the process, and if their appetite is good,” explains researcher Kevin Stiller at Nofima. Photo: Malin Hoem Storholt, Mowi Steinsvik. Water quality has improved with Razone, affirms Kjell Arne S\u00e6tre, operations manager at Mowi Steinsvik . \u201cAnd we\u2019ve […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4340,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4826","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n