SEAWATER Cubes - the fully-automated, plug-and-play fish farm
Only every 10th fish consumed in Germany comes from domestic production. SEAWATER Cubes aims to change this, starting from the bottom up. Their cutting-edge solution brings a whole new approach to the aquaculture
industry, by allowing cultivators to raise sea fish inland.
The key investible factor behind SEAWATER is it's uniquely sustainable approach to the industry. It uses recycled materials, utilises energy- and water-efficient operating equipment, and most significantly reduces transport costs and emissions by allowing farmers to rear close to the end consumer. These attributes put the Cube ahead of the game when it comes to solutions in sustainable fish farming.
SEAWATER Cubes GmbH - a new partnership with MegaGroup
Why we're partnering with SEAWATER, as part of our ongoing sustainability strategy Aeternum.
As MegaGroup we believe in making water solutions accessible that are good for people and the planet. With our strong background in the agricultural and aquacultural market, the unique fish farming solution of Seawater Cubes is very interesting.
The controlled production of fish is experiencing a huge growth, and this plug-and-play solution offers farmers great opportunities in a sustainable way.
“The solutions offered by SEAWATER Cubes fully embody our CSR strategy. It represents a future-proof business model with efficient use of space and resources.”
Marijke Ernest - CSR Coordinator
The SEAWATER Cube in numbers
The numbers speak for themselves. These are the key metrics that you can expect when investing in a fish-farming solution from SEAWATER Cubes:
| Production 7.8 t raw fish / year |
Water exchange 500 l / day (<1%) |
| Power consumption 48.000 kWh / year | Cube dimensions 12,20 x 7,20 m |
|
Workload
8 hours / week |
Feed amount 25 kg / day |
What awaits with your SEAWATER Cube
Whether you're an entrepreneur looking to diversify your portfolio to the fish farming industry, or already in the aquaculture sector wishing to update your current system, SEAWATER provide the complete solution from start to finish. Partnering with SEAWATER means:
- A highly efficient, future-proof solution providing a secure return on investment.
- Planning consulation with a team of experts.
- Service support to help you achieve optimum results.
The Brains behind the Cube
SEAWATER Cubes GmbH was founded in 2018 by three aspiring graduates Carolin Ackermann, Christian Steinbach and Kai Wagner. Challending well-established structures in the fish industry to revolutionise production and consumption was their shared passion.
Fast forward to today, SEAWATER have built up an experienced team with knowledge from a wide variety of specialist areas. Natural scientists and engineers join forces to create innovative, sustainable solutions.
How SEAWATER Cube works
The entire system from the four shipping containers which hold the fish, to pumps and filtration units, can all be accommodated in a floor space of just 250 m² (including maneuvering area). This makes the system perfectly suited for food production in urban areas where space is limited. The Cube is pre-fabricated off site, and can be assembled on the customer's premises to form a single operational unit in just a few steps.
Mechanical and biological filters recycle 99% of the water within the system and remove any waste without leaving residues. This helps to conserve natural resources and provide the best possible conditions for the fish to thrive. In total, the Cube can provide a mean annual production of 7.8 tonnes of fish.
What you'll receive with your SEAWATER Cubes system
What to expect when you partner with SEAWATER Cubes
- 4 x purpose-insulated shipping containers. 3 x holding pens, plus 1 optional slaughtering container. The separate containers together form a cohort system, where each pen can separate fish at various stages of development, ensuring your harvest runs year-round.
- Mechanical and biological filtration system. 99% of water is cleaned and recirculated, leading to little wastage and required supply of around 500 l per day. The filters also work through denitrification, breaking down toxic nitrogen compounds and thereby ensuring good animal welfare.
- Circulatory pumps and airlifts. These help to recreate natural conditions that mimic oceanic currents, creating swarming behaviour of the fish.
- The programmable logic controller (PLC). The revolutionary, intelligent switchboard forms the heart of this automated system, making sure that all data is read and computed from actuators and systems to ensure the Cube is always running at its optimum.
- Seedling fish, food and water treatment. Special mineral mixtures and specialised supplemented food sources to emulate natural conditions for your chosen fish species.
1. Initial call
2. Detailed discussion
3. Plant tour at our main facility
4. Site visit at your location
5. A fully-prepared proposal
6. Authority applications
7. Installation
8. Afterservice
Would you like more information about SEAWATER Cubes?
The team are happy to discuss your requirements with you.
Pillars of sustainability
Local fish production has economic and environmental benefits
Food production accounts for a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions, and much of these emissions are due to transport. So "eat local" is a common recommendation to reduce the carbon footprint of your food.
Transporting food around the world takes a lot of energy; much of the fish we eat comes from far away. Buying food locally not only reduces your carbon footprint but also supports the local economy.
SEAWATER Cubes helps to retain biodiversity in our oceans
Unsustainable or destructive fishing can have serious consequences for biodiversity. About 35% of global fish stocks are currently overfished, a trend that leaves fewer fish in the ocean for future generations.
Local fish farming (if sustainable) can be a good local alternative to meet fish demand. This has some positive effects on biodiversity, as farmed seafood can reduce pressure on overfished stocks and there is no destruction of vital habitats by fishing.
Government funding to help you invest sustainably
The time has never been better to invest in sustainable aquaculture. Grants provided by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund have recently become available for small-scale aquaculture enterprises, with a sustainable focus.
The program, launched in 2021, offers funding ranging from rates of 20% to 50% in Germany and other applicable EU nations.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'fully automated' mean?
Fully automated means, that besides the control of the aggregates, pumps and filters the monitoring and controlling of all process parameters (pH-value or salt concentration) works fully automated as well.
How many employees are necessary?
It makes sense to employ one part time worker and two temporary workers for the operation of one Cube to have all shifts covered even in case of illness or vacation. For the operation of four Cubes, we recommend three full time workers and one temporary worker.
What are the typical tasks of the Cube's operation?
The daily tasks include in particular the controlling tasks. First of all it is important to do a visual control of the fish in the basin. Then you have to check the data that is documented in the software, clean the sensors and monitor the function of the filters. Furthermore, the feed and salt automats up to two times a week. Besides that it is really important to keep the basin and the whole cube clean at all times.
Do I need a special training or education?
The requirements for the system operation are different in every federal state (in Germany). In some states you only need a license for fishery. In others you need a certain training for fish farming. The potential operator can get all information about the legal situation at the responsible ministry for environment and consumer protection. Since 2022 we offer our own training in RAS technology which takes place twice a year (in German only).
Which water do I need?
The Cube is filled with tap water which gains its salinity by adding a special mixture of sea salt minerals. It may also be possible to use well water, but that requires an analysis of its composition before.
One Cube contains 70m³ of water. That equals 70.000 litres.
For which fish species is the Cube suitable?
The Cube is suitable for all sea or saltwater fishes that live in warm water and do not grow too big. These include sea bass, gilthead, yellowtail kingfish, red snapper, barramundi and other exotic species. Actually, we cannot grow salmon and tuna fish because they live in cold water (and cooling is very expensive in a closed system) or rather grow too big for our basin.
Frequently asked questions
Fully automated means, that besides the control of the aggregates, pumps and filters the monitoring and controlling of all process parameters (pH-value or salt concentration) works fully automated as well.
It makes sense to employ one part time worker and two temporary workers for the operation of one Cube to have all shifts covered even in case of illness or vacation. For the operation of four Cubes, we recommend three full time workers and one temporary worker.
The daily tasks include in particular the controlling tasks. First of all it is important to do a visual control of the fish in the basin. Then you have to check the data that is documented in the software, clean the sensors and monitor the function of the filters. Furthermore, the feed and salt automats up to two times a week. Besides that it is really important to keep the basin and the whole cube clean at all times.
The requirements for the system operation are different in every federal state (in Germany). In some states you only need a license for fishery. In others you need a certain training for fish farming. The potential operator can get all information about the legal situation at the responsible ministry for environment and consumer protection. Since 2022 we offer our own training in RAS technology which takes place twice a year (in German only).
The Cube is filled with tap water which gains its salinity by adding a special mixture of sea salt minerals. It may also be possible to use well water, but that requires an analysis of its composition before.
One Cube contains 70m³ of water. That equals 70.000 litres.
The Cube is suitable for all sea or saltwater fishes that live in warm water and do not grow too big. These include sea bass, gilthead, yellowtail kingfish, red snapper, barramundi and other exotic species. Actually, we cannot grow salmon and tuna fish because they live in cold water (and cooling is very expensive in a closed system) or rather grow too big for our basin.