Incorporating a new technology

Production increases are either obtained by developing the farm's installations or by improving the performance and productivity of the existing facilities.

Increased production is easier to establish and maintain when better equipment is installed in all aspects of the production process, from production through to administration and marketing.

As examples, these items could include:

• New production plant which may include items such as improved tanks, water filtration and re-circulation systems.
• Manipulation of photo-periodicity and temperature, and other ëbiologicalí methods to improve or allow out-of-season production.
• Automatic feeding systems allowing feed to be administered more effectively & efficiently, noting that many systems can provide pre-determined rations and data recording facilities.
• Automated grading equipment which allows improved stock management as well as facilitating counting and moving live fish
• Automated packaging is expensive but can be very cost effective if the sales volume is high
• Automatic assessment of stock biomass
• Computerisation of all data records (biological, environmental and administrative information).

Questions

Can you make an estimate (for items relevant to your own farm taken from the list in the Discussion Topic) of the benefits to the farm against cost in order to take the best cost-effective decisions?

Danger Point

New technologies that may have the potential to optimise production and maximise profitability cannot be introduced and maintained successfully without skilled staff.

Training checklist

Training provision related to introducing new technologies.

• New Technology
• Introducing new technologies
• What type of equipment/techniques do you intend to introduce?
• Would specific training be beneficial for this?