Abstract

The article discusses the economic aspects of salmon farming in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and highlights the differences between RAS and traditional hatcheries. The fast growth rates achieved in ideal conditions make RAS projects highly profitable, with an internal rate of return (IRR) of up to 30%. However, several factors need to be considered when evaluating the investment efficiency, including growth periods, mortality rates, feed conversion ratios, and fish purging before slaughter. The high energy consumption required to power pumps and chillers for water cooling adds to the operational costs of RAS farms, and designing farms should be done to align with ESG principles. The article outlines the main principles that should be taken into account when considering investment in RAS salmon farming projects.

Keywords

salmon farming, recirculating aquaculture systems, RAS, ESG, economics of fish farming, principles of salmon farming