Aquaculture@Fraunhofer
Aquaculture@Fraunhofer

Infrastructure and Test Possibilities

Work area

Aquaculture takes place in both open waters and in closed systems on land. The Aquaculture@Fraunhofer community offers a variety of closed, land-based facilities as well as an extensive marine infrastructure for a wide range of tests.

Within the community, there are land-based systems available ranging from small aquarium facilities with a high replicate number to semi-industrial recirculation systems as well as various special systems (e.g., respirometry or feces collection system). Special features such as stainless steel recirculation systems for experiments with radiolabeled substances are included in the infrastructure portfolio of the community. In addition, offshore test fields on the island of Helgoland (North Sea) and in Nienhagen near Rostock, Germany (Baltic Sea) can be used for a wide variety of test scenarios. Materials, modules and complete underwater systems can be tested, assessed and optimized in a real environment under controlled conditions.

In this way, research and development for the aquaculture industry can be advanced within the community at the highest level in almost every conceivable aquatic environment.

Fields of research

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Tests in closed recirculating aquaculture systems

Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) are a common form of land-based aquaculture for fish, algae or crustaceans in tanks. The farming water is cleaned in an integrated water treatment system and then returned to the farming tanks. Continuous improvement of the recirculation technology continuously reduces the need for fresh water. At Aquaculture@Fraunhofer, the wide variety of facilities with different tank configurations can be used for almost any research question in aquaculture.

Stainless steel RAS research system for metabolic studies

  • Consists of seven individual circuits and allows the use of 14C-labeled substances
  • Allows studies on the persistence of feed-borne and biogenic substances in the production chain
  • Aids in the composition of fish feed and the optimization of feed additive properties
  • Helps to develop products with a high level of safety for consumers and the environment

MODULAR RAS FACILITIES   SPECIAL SYSTEMS CO-CULTURE SYSTEM

- Aquarium facilities

- Semi-industrial facilities

- Small recirculating aquaculture systems

- Respirometry

- Feces collection system

- Fish larvae recirculating aquaculture systems

- Incubator

- Stainless steel RAS facility

- Fish farming tank

- Detrivore tank

- Macroalgae tank

Offshore testing: Digital Ocean Lab Nienhagen/Baltic Sea

At the Digital Ocean Lab in Nienhagen near Rostock, Germany, various sensors, current and echo sounding data provide a virtual image of the real offshore test field. The broad-band connection and the power supply on the research platform allow various in situ and virtual test scenarios. The artificial reef of the Digital Ocean Lab is suitable for monitoring and conservation research of ecosystems and can provide valuable insights for the aquaculture industry through the use of a mobile platform with net cages.

Services

  • Accompanying biological research
  • Protected marine area with environmental data for assessing the impact on aquaculture systems
  • Farming of juvenile fish in the Baltic Sea
  • Testing, monitoring and supply of aquaculture facilities under real and digital conditions
  • Material testing
  • Testing and development of sensor and monitoring systems

Offshore testing: Helgoland/North Sea test field

The Test Center for Maritime Technologies on the island of Helgoland (North Sea) provides a test and trial environment under North Sea conditions for material and component requirements under extreme offshore conditions.

Services

  • Accompanying biological research
  • Protected maritime area with the possibility of recording environmental data
  • Material testing
  • Testing and development of sensor and monitoring systems