Everything You need to Know About RAS Farming

Recirculating Aquaculture System Farming, commonly known as RAS Farming, is an environmentally sustainable method of raising fish and shellfish in a controlled environment. Unlike traditional commercial fishing or pond and sea cage fish farming, RAS Farming offers significant advantages. In this blog, we will provide a comprehensive overview of RAS Farming and its benefits.

Before we delve into the technical aspects of recirculating systems, let’s explore the need for aquaculture systems. Traditional seafood acquisition methods are not sustainable, with commercial fishing depleting one third of the world’s assessed fisheries in the past 50 years. This unsustainable practice adversely affects ecosystems and local communities dependent on fishing for sustenance and income. Consequently, the aquaculture industry has witnessed substantial growth.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, aquaculture is among the fastest-growing food industries. It comprises two main categories: marine aquaculture, which involves farming aquatic organisms in saltwater environments, and freshwater aquaculture, which involves farming aquatic organisms in freshwater environments. This industry generates an estimated $2.1 billion in revenue annually. The rising demand for eco-friendly gourmet seafood has fueled innovation within the sector.

Historically, cultivating seafood in controlled systems presented numerous challenges. Maintaining a healthy environment with a continuous flow of recirculated and filtered water demanded considerable energy consumption. NaturalShrimp, aware of the obstacles faced by large-scale RAS farming systems, developed a custom design tailored specifically for the aquaculture industry. Introduced in 2014, their innovative “Vibrio Suppression Technology” incorporates Electrocoagulation (EC) technology in the filtration loop. This technology treats wastewater by passing an electric current through it, resulting in the formation of small, charged particles called flocs. These flocs can be easily removed from the water through sedimentation or filtration, effectively eliminating pollutants and other harmful contaminants.

Furthermore, Vibrio Suppression Technology simplifies the wastewater treatment process by eliminating the need for biofilters. Traditional biofilters, such as gravel or sand, are used to remove impurities and excess nutrients from the water by providing a surface for beneficial bacteria to grow. However, relying on uncontrollable bacteria populations can foster the development of harmful organisms.

NaturalShrimp offers an alternative to sea cages, providing a biologically controlled, antibiotic-free, and chemical-free sustainable water system. Their enclosed saltwater systems utilize patented technology to produce fresh, naturally grown shrimp without the use of antibiotics or toxic chemicals. Visit our shop today to order freshly harvested, gourmet-grade shrimp and experience sustainable aquaculture at its finest.

1“What Is Overfishing? Facts, Effects and Overfishing Solutions.” WWF, World Wildlife Fund, https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/overfishing.
2 Hakai Magazine. “A Short History of Aquaculture Innovation.” Hakai Magazine, https://hakaimagazine.com/features/a-short-history-of-aquaculture-innovation/.
3Hakai Magazine. “A Short History of Aquaculture Innovation.” Hakai Magazine, https://hakaimagazine.com/features/a-short-history-of-aquaculture-innovation/.

Gary Shover

I am one of the few lucky recipients that received some of the most beautiful shrimp during a shipping trial…. and when I say lucky and beautiful, I am not exaggerating.The shrimp arrived in a sealed Styrofoam container and the temperature was 37 degrees. I then went to the store and purchased some regular shrimp. Sadly, the guy working the counter did not know where the shrimp originated from. After cleaning both the store bought shrimp and the Natural Shrimp I set about cooking and did so with a skillet and the grill…. The taste of Natural Shrimp was outstanding when compared to the store bought shrimp the taste comparison was as different as night and day. The texture and taste was shrimply outstanding… The store bought shrimp was gritty and had little flavor versus NaturalShrimp that was tasty and buttery smooth. After eating Natural Shrimps product, I will never eat store bought shrimp again and gladly rate this a 5 star product.

Randy Tye

I live on the Gulf Coast and regularly purchase fresh caught wild shrimp right off of the shrimp boat and I have had the pleasure of eating Natural Shrimp numerous times. There is no comparison in the quality. Natural Shrimp is gourmet quality and I highly recommend it.

Allen Frank

I have had the pleasure of tasting the Natural Shrimp on 3 separate occasions. I normally buy my shrimp from a small shop located in San Leon, Texas on the Gulf Coast right on the water that gets their shrimp ” Right off the boat”. I like that since I know they are American caught shrimp, and the boats are tied up next to the store. I can honestly say that the Natural Shrimp is BY FAR taster and has NO odor than the shrimp I normally buy from the store. They have a sweet and buttery taste. As a big plus there is no need to de-vein the shrimp also. There is NO visible vein to remove…..I can honestly rate these tasty shrimp as a HUGE 5 STAR.

Steve & Deb Salmen

My husband and I drove 12 hours to purchase shrimp from Natural Shrimp. We were not disappointed in our purchase. The shrimp was extremely clean, no odor and had a good flavor. We’re looking forward to purchasing more in the near future. 5 stars!

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Gary Shover

Randy Tye

Allen Frank

Steve & Deb Salmen

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