Comments on: Competitive Advantage Uncovered in Norwegian Cod Farming Practices http://finfish.org/blog/competitive-advantage-uncovered-in-norwegian-cod-farming-practices/ Significant Aquaculture Innovation Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:42:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Steve http://finfish.org/blog/competitive-advantage-uncovered-in-norwegian-cod-farming-practices/#comment-113 Steve Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:38:38 +0000 http://finfish.org/?p=210#comment-113 Good post, Andrew, and it raises issues that are the subject of ongoing debate (and argument). As for most issues, there is no simple answer. All aquaculture production can be considered to have three elements: site, species and production system. The optimum production system (for example, recirc or open ocean cages) will be determined by site and species and ultimately by the associated competitive advantages, management and cost of production. Similarly, if you start off with a production system, like a recirc system, you then need to select a species and site that are compatible with the system and satisfy the critical requirements of both (management and biological). An intensive recirc system may well produce fish profitably if located, constructed, managed and operated in such a way that production costs are within economic limits, but that would obviously be governed by where it is, the cost of power, other inputs, water availability and so on. Clearly, features that are sustainable and provide a competitive advantage would help, such as the availability of large (reliable) volumes of heated water. Another key factor, of course, is fresh or marine. Fresh water recirc is well established and used successfully for the commercial production of fresh water finfish species, or diadromous ones such as barramundi. I think we have good opportunities to develop this form of aquaculture in Western Australia. However, I am not aware of any large-scale marine finfish production based on recirc systems (I'd be delighted to hear if there are any that are operational on a commercial scale). Good post, Andrew, and it raises issues that are the subject of ongoing debate (and argument). As for most issues, there is no simple answer. All aquaculture production can be considered to have three elements: site, species and production system. The optimum production system (for example, recirc or open ocean cages) will be determined by site and species and ultimately by the associated competitive advantages, management and cost of production. Similarly, if you start off with a production system, like a recirc system, you then need to select a species and site that are compatible with the system and satisfy the critical requirements of both (management and biological).

An intensive recirc system may well produce fish profitably if located, constructed, managed and operated in such a way that production costs are within economic limits, but that would obviously be governed by where it is, the cost of power, other inputs, water availability and so on. Clearly, features that are sustainable and provide a competitive advantage would help, such as the availability of large (reliable) volumes of heated water.

Another key factor, of course, is fresh or marine. Fresh water recirc is well established and used successfully for the commercial production of fresh water finfish species, or diadromous ones such as barramundi. I think we have good opportunities to develop this form of aquaculture in Western Australia. However, I am not aware of any large-scale marine finfish production based on recirc systems (I’d be delighted to hear if there are any that are operational on a commercial scale).

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