The Tocha farm is the second of its kind, after SSF’s site in Cervo, Spain, which began harvesting in December 2020.
Jordi Trias, President of Stolt Sea Farm, commented: “This is an exciting time for all at Stolt Sea Farm, especially the teams at Cervo and Tocha who have been central to the success of these projects. Not only did we build both farms on time and on budget, but we also completed our first harvest well ahead of schedule, as a result of better growth than we had originally modelled.”
SSF's RAS technology is the result of 20 years of investment in the research and development of the sustainable farming of sole. At Tocha, feed conversion ratio (FCR) levels are the lowest ever achieved for the species; water use is limited; energy is green-certified and its consumption is optimised.
The unique design also supports the well-being of the fish, ensuring that the highest animal welfare standards are maintained. These RAS modules will be able to produce fish close to the consumer and deliver a consistent and high-quality supply to market.
Globally, sole is one of the most popular fish to eat, with increasing demand. Although not an endangered species, sole has suffered severe overfishing, partly due to the now banned electrical pulse fishing method, which has caused consumers to turn to sustainably farmed sole to satisfy their appetites.
