Yellowtail kingfish farmer, Clean Seas, and CH4 Australia partnered for an R&D collaboration into the propagation and commercial grow-out of Asparagopsis.
Asparagopsis armata and Asparagopsis taxiformis are species of marine algae that occur naturally in the waters of Spencer Gulf, South Australia, the use of which as a feed ingredient has been shown to significantly reduce the methane output of livestock with the potential to increase their productivity.
Clean Seas and CH4 believe that the complementary production of kingfish and Asparagopsis represents an opportunity to offset the carbon and nitrogen output of aquaculture while at the same time expediting the grow-out to harvest of Asparagopsis.
As part of this R&D collaboration, Clean Seas will provide infrastructure and nutrient-enriched water at its Arno Bay hatchery and CH4 will provide the intellectual property and operating capability to propagate and harvest pilot commercial quantities of Asparagopsis at Clean Seas’ facility. CH4 will immediately begin site preparation activities and the pilot program is expected to run for an initial period of three years, with options to extend for further periods. The estimated revenue to be generated, and the quantity of methane, carbon and nitrogen to be abated is not quantifiable at this stage, however, these factors will be disclosed to the market once known. The collaboration will not impact kingfish production on site.
If successful, the study is expected to confirm Asparagopsis as a suitable feed ingredient that can significantly reduce methane output from livestock, and while grown in synergy, have the potential to reduce the nitrogen and carbon footprint of kingfish production, and reduce costs of production.
Clean Seas’ CEO, Rob Gratton, said that “Clean Seas is justifiably proud of its sustainability credentials. Growing a native species of yellowtail kingfish in its natural waters gives us substantial quality and provenance benefits, but we are always looking to the future of sustainable aquaculture. This R&D collaboration provides us with the opportunity to encourage a new and emerging industry with the potential for meaningful environmental benefits for aquaculture and agriculture into the future.”
