RAS Talk

This is a live recording of the second keynote session of RASTECH US 2026 Conference & Trade Fair on May 20 in St. Augustine, Fla., USA. Industry leaders and stakeholders discussed the current state, challenges, and growth opportunities within the land-based aquaculture sector, specifically focusing on Florida and international markets.

Featured speakers include:

• Jane Evans Davis, Evans Fish Farms & Florida Aquaculture Association
• Craig Watson, Florida Aquaculture Association
• Kathleen Hartman, Kennebec River Biosciences
• Meghan Sorby, Pine Island Redfish

This episode is a live recording of the first keynote at the RASTECH Conference & Trade Fair on May 19-21, 2026 at St. Augustine, Florida in the United States. Asia is moving with unprecedented speed and capital. Across the continent, massive, first-of-their-kind megaprojects are moving from blueprint to biomass, redefining what is possible in land-based production. Panelists share stories inside the rise of Asia's high-investment megaprojects.

Featured speakers:

• Ajdin Rizvic Rizvo, Pure Salmon Technology & Pure Salmon Japan
• Sam Kim, BluGen Korea
• Morio Kaneko, Fisheries Agency of Japan

To view extras related to this episode, visit rastechmagazine.com/podcast.

Rob van de Ven, managing director of Landing Aquaculture, discusses his extensive experience in the RAS industry, emphasizing innovation and tackling challenging projects. He highlighted the importance of tailoring RAS systems to specific species. He stressed the need for standardization while maintaining flexibility, especially for new species.

Marcelo Shei, owner of Altamar Sistemos Aquáticos, discussed his extensive experience in the RAS industry in Brazil and Latin America. He highlighted major projects with marine species, including Genomar’s tilapia genetics facility. He also shares his work as president of the World Aquaculture Society’s Latin America and Caribbean chapter and translating the Yellow Book of Recirculating Aquaculture in Portuguese.

Steffen Nielsen is CEO of Danforel, one of Europe’s largest producers of rainbow trout located in Grindsted, Denmark. The farm produces about 4,000 metric tons per year. In this episode, Steffen highlights the farm’s close relationship with its owner and feed supplier, Aller Aqua. Since the acquisition, the farm and feed supplier have enjoyed a close collaboration towards an effective fish production. He also shares Danforel’s efforts to minimize off-flavours, produce fish oil, and utilize by-products for proteins.

CEO Ragnar Joensen discusses the Nordic Aqua Partners project in Ningbo, China. He highlights the facility’s strategic location near Shanghai which allows them access to 800 million consumers within 12 hours. The Atlantic salmon project started with a 4,000-ton capacity, expanded to 8,000 tons, and plans to reach 20,000 tons. Ragnar estimates profitability by the end of this year.

Carlos Lopez, commercial director of Spring Genetics in Miami, Fla., explains the company's history, its focus on growth and disease resistance, and the importance of biosecurity. He details the facility's operations, including the use of UV-treated water, restricted access, and health surveillance. He also offers his thoughts on tilapia aquaculture's potential to expand in the U.S. market, and the potential for future technological advancements in production.

Last year, Lago Sofia became the first Chilean aquaculture farm to be WELF-CERT certified for its animal welfare standards. CTO Daniel Elton shares their approach to animal welfare in RAS systems, emphasizing the five domains defined by the OIE: feeding, environmental parameters, behaviour, and mental well-being. He also introduces a new venture, Blue Waters Aquaculture Engineering, where they can offer their technological expertise to design RAS projects for others.

Matt Craze, lead researcher at Spheric Research, sat down with our co-hosts at the end of last year to discuss the 2025 industry trends in land-based aquaculture. He highlights a significant increase in deal flow with known investments surpassing US$2 billion. Over 90% of investments were in Atlantic salmon, with notable projects in Norway, Iceland, and Japan. The conversation also touched on the importance of a favourable regulatory environment, government support, and the need for more success stories to attract investors. 

David Serino, director of Aquaculture Research & Development at Carteret Community College, discussed the potential of striped bass in land-based aquaculture. He highlighted the benefits of retrofitting existing sites, such as a former hog farm in North Carolina, to create a 1,500-ton annual production facility. The project aims to scale up production gradually, leveraging existing infrastructure and partnerships to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.