Jere Northrop and Aaron Resnick, founders of TimberFish Technologies, have developed a commercial fish feeding system that reduces the use of water and energy when raising fish and the need to buy fishmeal — an economically and environmentally friendly alternative to current commercial fish farm technology, reports Brian Hayden for BuffaloNews.
According to the news report, TimberFish’s technology uses two fish tanks, one of which is filled with fish, the other with decaying plant and tree matter. Small invertebrates that live and reproduce on the decaying matter are sucked into the second tank and eaten by the fish.
The fish waste is filtered back into the original tank and consumed by microorganisms. The invertebrates then eat the microorganisms, the fish eat the invertebrates and the cycle starts itself again.
Northrop and Resnick told BuffaloNews that the re-circulating technology uses far less energy and water than a typical system that requires more for feeding and flushing out the waste. It reduces food costs, since the invertebrates living on the plant matter reproduce and can sustain themselves. Naturally grown fish food on-site also reduces the risk of fish contamination. There is less pollution, since the fish waste is not taken anywhere else,
“We think this is going to be the future of agriculture,” Northrop said. “They will grow faster and more efficiently in a controlled environment.”
Does Decay Lie at Root of Future Fish Farms?
US - Two entrepreneurs are confident they have reeled in a new technology they say will revolutionise the fish farm industry and provide an economic incentive for reforestation efforts.
