Successful Nordic RAS workshop
October 20 2017
The interest shown in the 4th Nordic RAS workshop was overwhelming. BioMar was again a main sponsor of this bi-annual workshop.
The 4th international Nordic RAS workshop took place 12th and 13th October 2017 in Aalborg, Denmark. The organisers presented an interesting and relevant programme where farmers, operators, technology- and service providers, and researchers presented and discussed the current development, experiences gained, and recently achieved research results within the field of recirculation aquaculture.
RAS interested persons from 24 nations travelled to this event, coming from South and North America, New Zealand, Australia, the Middle East and Europe. According to the organisers the interest shown in attending the Nordic RAS workshop was overwhelming. More than 400 people were interested in signing in and the registration list counting 224 seats was soon fully booked.
In his opening speech Brian Thomsen, director of the Danish fish farmers association, gave an explanation on why the Nordic RAS workshop attracts the interest of so many. RAS is a relatively new farming technology. In Denmark, environmental law requirements forced trout farmers to intensify aquaculture and so called ‘model’ farms that are almost identical with a RAS system, but they are not fully closed, started up in 2005-2006. Model farms already count for more than 50 % of land based trout production in Denmark. In salmon smolt production RAS has for several reasons become an important production tool, too. But as innovations are being added, based on science and on professional proficiency, and as technologies are yet to be matured the Nordic RAS workshop offers a platform for exchange and for boosting the development, based on information on lessons learned, science to cast light on black holes and for enhancing the collaboration not only between farmers and sciences but also in between farmers from around the globe and between farmers and other stakeholders connected to RAS farming.
BioMar was again a main sponsor of this bi-annual workshop on Recirculating Aquaculture Systems, organised by the Nordic Network on Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (Nordic RAS) and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU Aqua). Founded in April 2011, the major aims of this network are to co-ordinate and strengthen research and development of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) in Nordic countries. However, the network is open to everyone with an interest in RAS related activities.
