Access to recirculating aquaculture system (RAS)

Research on recirculating aquaculture systems is conducted using three separate RAS setups. The longest-operating system consists of twenty LED-lit tanks connected to a shared water purification system. The FREA-RAS system includes four tanks, with effluent treated through a passive water treatment field. A separate experimental and learning environment comprises ten independent RAS units, each equipped with continuous monitoring sensors (O₂, temperature, pH, spectrometer). Additionally, the platform includes three cultivation containers based on partial water recirculation.

The RAS systems support services such as feeding trials, testing of water treatment systems, off-flavor studies, and growth trials of juvenile fish of various sizes for marine transfer. The service includes system preparation, experiment planning, fish stock, fish care, and measurement activities. Research data is produced according to the experimental plan.

The service can be combined with experimental feed production and molecular biology laboratory services at Natural Resources Institute Finland’s Jokioinen site, the Baltic Sea brackish water RAS system at the Parainen station, and experimental net cage farming (4 units of 5×5×5 m and/or 16 units of 4×4×4 m net pens) at the Rymättylä research collaboration site.

Collection, preprocessing, and delivery of biological and chemical samples as agreed.

Researchers, research groups, research communities, research networks, research projects, research organizations, companies.

• Physical, remote or hybrid access.
• Minimum reservation duration: 1 week.
• Three different RAS systems available.

• Experiments are primarily conducted using fish stock from the Laukaa research infrastructure. Exceptions must be negotiated separately.
• To prevent infectious fish diseases, biosecure working practices must be followed.
• Proper permits are required for regulated experiments, and the competence of assisting personnel must be ensured.
• Ownership of results generated during the experiment must be agreed upon in writing.
• Research must not cause long-term harm or reduce the usability of the research infrastructure after the study period.

• Fish species used in the experiment (age, size, quantity, special requirements).
• Number and size of tanks required.
• Describe the environmental conditions required for your experiment as precisely as possible (water temperature, tank lighting conditions, feeding, etc.).
• Special equipment and measuring devices needed.
• Samples and data to be collected, and how the results will be managed after the experiment.