Their aquaculture journey began with curiosity sparked by an unused pond on his father’s land. With no prior experience in fish farming but a strong background in finance and business, Lauris Apsis saw an opportunity to create something meaningful. Recognizing sustainability as the key to long-term success, Lauris and his Finnish partner, Salmela-Yhtiot Oy founded Blue Circle (Zivs uz Ledus), a Latvian farm dedicated to producing premium Arctic char using cutting-edge recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS).
For Lauris, sustainability wasn’t a decision he had to overthink, it just felt like the obvious way forward. Yet, the path from ambition to reality was far from straightforward. Establishing a sustainable fish farm requires more than enthusiasm. It needed careful planning, practical decisions, and the effort of everyone involved. One of the hardest parts of this journey was translating a vision into actionable steps. Lauris knew the importance of breaking down the challenge into manageable pieces, and this approach became central to Blue Circle’s success. By promoting a company-wide commitment to responsible practices, the entire team shared ownership of the mission, ensuring the mindset became embedded in everything they did.
“Sustainability is both the challenge and opportunity of our time, and it was quite easy for me to get committed to, it just comes naturally. The sustainable approach is for everyone, you just need to change your mindset, “Lauris Apsis says
Blue Circle’s sustainability journey included overcoming the misconception that every improvement would be costly or complicated. Instead, they found that small changes often had significant benefits. By reviewing their operations and identifying areas for improvement, the farm discovered that 90% of their adjustments reduced costs, while only 10% required additional investment. For instance, Blue Circle partnered with a biogas producer to transform how they handled sludge and waste, which streamlined their processes and reduced operational complexities.
They also made impressive strides in cutting energy consumption by upgrading their ventilation system and optimizing RAS operations around slaughter and sales timings, achieving a remarkable 20% reduction in energy use.
Lauris believes that transformative change doesn’t have to be revolutionary. Sustainability can be built step by step. While the journey requires effort, carefully planned and executed manageable projects pave the way for broader and more impactful transformations.
Blue Circle’s ambitions extend far beyond their current measures. Lauris and his team are working toward a fully circular, zero-waste operation. They are exploring ideas like sustainable packaging, alternative transport methods, solar energy, and ways to minimize water usage. While these goals are ambitious, Lauris emphasizes the value of starting small and building momentum gradually.
Collaboration has been key to these innovations. Lauris highlights the importance of partnerships along the way. “Our feed supplier, BioMar are supporting us throughout our journey, with advisory, networking events and delivering sustainable produced feed that support our end goals perfectly” he states.
Blue Circle’s approach to responsible aquaculture has delivered a wide range of benefits, from cost savings and improved efficiency to a stronger position in the market. Today’s consumers are increasingly drawn to businesses that prioritize ethical production, and Blue Circle’s dedication has set it apart from competitors. This commitment has not only attracted new customers and built trust with investors but also elevated product quality to meet the high standards of both local and international markets. Lauris sees this approach as having given Blue Circle an exclusive reputation, firmly positioning the farm as a leader in sustainable aquaculture in the region.
Perhaps one of the most significant lessons from Blue Circle’s journey is the importance of storytelling. Sharing their achievements, challenges, and ongoing efforts has amplified their impact, showing that transparency and accountability are essential in building trust.
Blue Circle’s story illustrates that sustainability is not a destination but a continuous journey, with every step offering new opportunities for growth and innovation. By sharing their challenges and achievements, Lauris and his team are not only shaping a better future for aquaculture but also inspiring others to take their own meaningful steps.
Results (69)
An all-time low FFDR of 0.37 was reported today in BioMar’s 2024 Sustainability Report. This milestone was reached through the innovative use of alternative ingredients and trimmings, which now represent 55% of the total marine ingredients.
Biomar, in its effort to continue with its 2030 sustainability agenda, has made progress in defining and developing suppliers that are sustainable and increasingly closer to our production factories.
BioMar’s Costa Rica production facility has achieved ASC Feed Certification, marking a significant step forward towards responsible feed production for Central America's aquaculture industry.
The aquaculture industry has focused on reducing carbon footprints for years, which is a key element of environmental responsibility. An overlooked factor lies beneath the water’s surface. Gases like methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases are greenhouse gases significantly more potent than carbon dioxide. While CO2 has dominated climate discussions, these lesser-known gases may significantly impact the environmental footprint of farmed shrimp.
Forest, Land and Agriculture (FLAG) emissions will be important as the aquaculture industry transitions towards lower-carbon production. These emissions, now tracked under the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), originate from land use and agricultural activities rather than from energy consumption.
BioMar introduces CALM the latest offering to complement the SmartCare range of products in Salmon feeds.
Iron (Fe) is a crucial trace mineral involved in various biochemical processes in fish. For Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.), the dietary iron requirement ranges from 60 to 160 mg/kg. However, these requirements were established using purified diets with highly bioavailable iron forms, and may not reflect the needs in practical diets where interactions with antinutrients such as phytate can affect iron bioavailability.
Marine ingredients are a finite resource, and by including microalgae in aquaculture diets, we can help stabilise the pressure on fish stocks.
The global aquafeed industry has undergone a significant transformation over the past two decades, shifting from marine-based ingredients to plant-based raw materials. This transition has linked aquafeed production more closely with the environmental and social impacts of agriculture. Sustainable raw material sourcing is critical, given that aquafeed production accounts for up to 80% of the scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions in salmon farming.
BioMar’s feed concept Blue IMPACT has a special focus on minimising the environmental impact of aquaculture.
Loch Duart is the first salmon producer in the UK to use the Blue Impact feed, launched by BioMar last year.
The skin and mucous membranes are the only things that separate the inside of the fish from their surroundings.