Australian aquaculture company Clean Seas Tuna has developed a multi-million dollar feeding station for its kingfish grow-out operations.
The A$2.5 million (US$2.03 million) feed station was designed and built by Clean Seas and can carry up to 600 tonnes of dry feed, the equivalent of up to a month's food supply for the kingfish and southern bluefin tuna. Measuring 52 metres by twelve metres, the fully automated barge is now stationed offshore from the Clean Seas Arno Bay hatchery in Spencer Gulf, South Australia.
Dry pellets are distributed in strictly controlled portions via a floating network of flexible pipes connected to up to 30 sea pens holding about 3,000 tonnes of fish spread across a three square kilometre area of ocean.
Previously the kingfish were fed by Clean Seas feeding vessels supplying feed to each pen daily.
Clean Seas Tuna Managing Director Marcus Stehr said the feeding station has been two years.
"The dry feed is sprayed over the middle of each sea cage, ensuring not one pellet goes to waste," he said. "Computers control the distribution of the feed, spraying pellets into two sea cages at a time under the watchful eye of closed circuit TVs on the feed barge.
"Once a sea cage has received its portion, a valve automatically shuts off the pipe to that pen, and feed is then directed to the next two pens. Portion sizes vary to meet the individual needs of fish in each sea cage.
"Feeding is monitored by television cameras and the barge is manned 24 hours a day by an operator who also supervises the cages."
Mr Stehr said the feeding station also assisted with bio-security by ensuring the feed was stored securely and not contaminated by any foreign matter. It also boosted the company's commitment to environmental sustainability.
The feed barge also has the flexibility to feed southern bluefin tuna (SBT) once Clean Seas begins commercial production of its aquaculture-bred SBT later this year.
Disclosure: Members of the Baird family and companies in the Baird Publications group own shares in Clean Seas Tuna.
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