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Irish Lumpfish Hatchery Chooses TMC Commercial to supply RAS and LED Lighting
aoû . 22 / 2018

BMRS is a privately owned, award-winning marine bio-technology company focused on the delivery of marine bio-based products, processes and services, and holds the only aquaculture research licence in Ireland, a HPRA animal experimentation licence, macro-algae farming licence and a macro-algae harvesting licence. The objective is to produce cleaner fish for on-farm trials, and run a broodstock development project and associated field studies to support this sustainable approach to sea lice management.

The new, purpose-built marine hatchery will consist of three recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), including an incubation unit consisting of 10 x 0.6m3 tanks, a larval rearing unit with 10 x 2m3 tanks, and a nursery area with 12 x 10m3 tanks. The state-of-the-art RAS for the incubation and larval rearing systems were supplied by TMC Commercial, and comprise of fluidised sand filters, trickle bio towers, protein skimmers, UV sterilisers, mechanical filtration and ozone, plus associated controls. All three sections will be lit using TMC’s BioLumen LED lighting fixtures, controlled by a central BioLumen controller, offering precise, independent photoperiod control.

Luke Wilson, the BMRS Hatchery Manager says “The decision to run with TMC’s filtration systems was due to a combination of the company’s previous experience in cleaner fish hatcheries in Scotland and England, and the plug and play nature of its filtration solutions. TMC’s BioLumen lighting system offers not only an energy saving alternative to traditional lighting methods, but full controllability – I’m eager to see how the system delivers, not just on cost savings, but on potential biological wins too. Lighting is not an area many people give due consideration to, but the science behind it certainly makes sense.”

BioLumen has an industry-wide patent on its “Nature Perfect” range of fixtures which have a spectral output specially designed for aquatic applications, and these form the core of its modular system. 

“The system we’ve supplied to BMRS includes all the elements of the BioLumen range – robust, compact, energy-efficient fixtures, advanced controllable drivers, extensive mounting accessories that make the system quick and easy to install and maintain, and an integrated control system, providing precise, independent control across each production stage, from incubation, through to grow-out,” said Gyles Westcott from BioLumen. “This means that all the critical lighting variables – spectrum, intensity and photoperiod – can be optimised to meet the changing photobiology of each developmental stage as the fish grow and develop within the system”.

Nick Bridel, TMC’s COO and Commercial Systems Manager, commented “We are delighted that BMRS has put their faith in us, and we look forward to working with Luke and the rest of the team at Bantry as the system comes on-line.  We’re confident that it will become a great reference site in terms of how RAS, together with lighting technology, can improve production outcomes.”.

TMC Commercial, a division of UK based Tropical Marine Centre, is a manufacturer and supplier of complete recirculation filtration systems up to 100m3, as well as LED lighting and control systems, suitable for hatchery, brood-stock and shellfish holding applications.

 

Contact TMC Commercial by email at [email protected], or by phone on +44 (0)1923 284151.