The project will be located in Tongoy Bay and will produce 900 tons per year in the first stage, with production expected to double to reach 1,800 tons per year in the second stage.
AquaMaof Aquaculture Technologies Ltd. – a global pioneer in RAS technology for land-based aquaculture – has signed its first contract in Chile with Atacama Yellowtail SpA (AYT), for the cultivation and production of 900 tons of Yellowtail Kingfish (Seriola lalandi) in the Coquimbo Region. The signing is the result of the dedicated work and effort invested together by AquaMaof, AYT and Inno-Sea, AquaMaof’s partner in Chile and Latin America.
Supporting the diversification efforts of the Chilean aquaculture industry, the project will offer the market a premium fish, known in the Japanese market as Hiramasa. Considered ‘premium grade’ for sashimi, the Yellowtail Kingfish is also highly valued in markets such as the USA and Brazil.
With an initial investment of US $25 million, the project will produce 900 tons per year of premium Seriola lalandi in the first stage and will be located in Tongoy Bay. It is planned to double production in the second stage to reach 1,800 tons per year.
“We are honored to have signed this contract with AYT, and grateful for the great efforts of our local partner Inno-Sea in making it happen,” says Roberto Tishler, Sales Director of AquaMaof. “This project is strategically important for AquaMaof in Chile. We look forward to working with AYT to supply the most upscale markets with high-quality Yellowtail Kingfish. We consider this to be the next Bluefin Tuna, grown in a healthy and controlled environment, without the use of antibiotics or chemicals. The result is a healthy, nutritious and fresh source of seafood, produced in a sustainable way while safeguarding fish welfare throughout their lifecycle, and optimizing the human resources required to be involved in the processes.”
“Respect for the environment in the development of a sustainable fish farming facility are key values for AYT,” says Jorge Urrutia, General Manager of AYT. “This first RAS facility for the cultivation of Yellowtail Kingfish is a major part of the company’s vision to establish a sustainable commercial production of the highest-quality Yellowtail Kingfish. We strongly believe in and trust the AquaMaof RAS technology, which is integrated and operational in facilities around the world.”
He adds: “In addition to deploying the latest recirculation technology and processes, the Atacama Yellowtail project will create approximately 50 new jobs, enabling the communities of Tongoy and Puerto Aldea to train in and develop economic activities different from those traditionally available to them. This is one of the objectives of AYT – to deliver a sustainable industrial activity that provides decent jobs, with employment security and permanent training.”
AquaMaof and Inno-Sea are to participate in this project as shareholders. Construction of the facility is expected to begin during the second half of 2022, delivering the first harvests to the market in Q4 of 2024.
AquaMaof will be sharing the latest news and developments at AquaSur 2022, March 2-4, booth #A157 and will be delighted to meet you in person.
About Atacama Yellowtail SpA (AYT)
AYT is a joint venture between private investment fund Best Potential (supported by CORFO), FDU, Inno-Sea SpA, AquaMaof and Aleta SpA. This JV was initially created to develop the cultivation of Yellowtail Kingfish, in the context of the diversification process to cultivate more species by the Chilean aquaculture industry, promoted by the Chilean state over the last 15 years (by entities such as FONDEF, CORFO, Fundación Chile and universities).
About Inno-Sea
Inno-Sea is a national company established in 2015 to develop innovation projects and bring the best aquaculture technologies to Chile and Latin America. For the last years, its focus has been to develop RAS projects together with its main partner, AquaMaof. Inno-Sea’s activities include selecting the optimal terrain, design, financial and corporate structuring of projects and, depending on the project and market, developing relationship with potential customers.
About AquaMaof Aquaculture Technologies Ltd.
AquaMaof Aquaculture Technologies Ltd. specializes in the field of Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) technology for land-based aquaculture. AquaMaof’s team of technology and aquaculture experts has over 30 years of experience in research and development, as well as providing comprehensive design, production, operation, and support solutions for aqua farming around the world.
The company’s unique fish production platform offers an advanced, sustainable, and cost-effective solution for today’s fish-growing needs. From concept to operational fish production facilities and ongoing service and support, AquaMaof’s cutting-edge RAS technology has been proven worldwide, producing fresh, tasty, healthy fish for local markets, while consistently meeting production goals.
About AquaMaof’s RAS technology
AquaMaof’s RAS technology utilizes several water-treatment patents and filtering techniques to significantly cut water consumption in the fish production process. At the core of AquaMaof’s integrated RAS technology is efficient power management, which dramatically reduces energy costs. Strict biosecurity protocols and complete environmental control eliminate the use of antibiotics and chemicals in the process, and result in high survival rates. Sophisticated, flexible design makes the AquaMaof RAS system adaptable to different requirements, with more and more new technologies integrated as they become available.
AquaMaof’s smart selection and allocation of system components has created robust, easy-to-operate, tailored facilities, that require minimal maintenance, while optimizing feeding, and reducing Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) and operational costs.
For more information on AquaMaof please visit our website: www.aquamaof.com
