Show Notes
Success in RAS can come in all shapes and sizes. At RASTECH 2025 (June 9-10 in San Diego, Calif., USA), our keynote panel explores how their farms forged their own path of profitability, and on their own terms. Our panelists: Thorsten Vammen is the general manager of FREA Solutions, based in Denmark. FREA AS is fully recirculated facility raising rainbow trout in Felding, Denmark. Located just a few metres from FREA Solutions’ headquarters, the facility has been operating since 2014, producing over 2,800 tonnes of fish annually across two 4,000 m² buildings. Sara Rademaker is the founder and CEO of American Unagi, a glass eel recirculating hashtag#aquaculture farm in Waldoboro, Maine. American Unagi is the first and only producer and processor in the U.S. of locally sourced and harvested American glass eel. The large-scale farm was built in 2023 to produce 240 tonnes annually and plans to double its capacity within the year. Yosuke Kurihara is the co-founder and CEO of ARK Inc. based in London, U.K. and Tokyo, Japan. Established in 2020, the company developed a small-scale, 10-square-metre Closed Recirculating Aquaculture System (CRAS) known as "ARK" that supports off-the-grid aquaculture with solar power generation and a solar hot water supply. There are currently six units installed and in operation in cities across Japan.
More from 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
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.