RASTECH Conference and Trade Fair

Why attend?

RASTECH 2022 is an international technical conference and trade show serving owners and operators of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS).

Whether it’s raising fish juveniles, producing larger smolt, growing full harvest size fish, aquaponics or research, RAS technology continues to lead the way in the continued expansion of the aquaculture industry around the globe.

As populations rise, so does the demand for seafood. Having already proven its value and efficiencies in the hatchery segment of aquaculture, RAS continues to evolve and develop as one of the most promising farming technologies for raising healthy fish to help meet the world’s growing need for protein.

Who should attend RASTECH?

  • Fish farmers/producers/operators of RAS
  • Fish Hatchery professionals
  • Engineers, contractors and consultants
  • Research and University professionals
  • Investors in RAS

RASTECH 2022 is a capped in-person niche event (limited to 300 RAS professionals). Registration priority is given to the above listed professionals.

Supplier registrations will be refunded (unless they are presenters/speakers or RAS designers/contractors).

Register here

Stellar Speakers

Hear about current RAS projects with Megan Sorby from the Kingfish Company, Erik Heim from Nordic Aquafarms, Justin Henry from West Coast Salmon amongst others.

Learn about the latest RAS research and engineering innovations from the Freshwater Institute or drop into a technology session chaired by the President of the Aquaculture Engineering Society (AES).

Other presenters include RAS veterans and consultants like Yonathan Zohar and John Holder, plus Joe Cardenas from AquaCo sharing his advice for new RAS start-ups.

Registration is limited to just 300 people and priority goes to users of RAS (fish growers/farmers/hatchery technicians), RAS contractors and investors …and what a venue we have this year with lots of great food, drinks and conversation in a beautiful beach location! Every registration includes breakfast and a hot buffet lunch for both conference days plus entry into our pool-side evening cocktail reception.

 

Trade Show

The RASTECH 2022 trade show is 100% sold out.

All RASTECH exhibitors and sponsors offer relevant products and services to the RAS sector.

Meet and discuss your next RAS project with our exhibitors who will be showcasing the latest in RAS project design, technology, equipment, feeds, genetics and more.

2022 Floor plan

Industry Suppliers: Did you miss your opportunity to secure an exhibitor booth at RASTECH 2022? Avoid disappointment and contact your RASTECH rep to reserve your space at RASTECH 2023.

For RASTECH 2023 Exhibitor Booth reservations and Sponsorships, contact: Morgen Balch or Jeremy Thain

Attend Rastech 2022

Register to Attend


Should provincial guidelines not allow for social gatherings at the time of the event,
your registration can be transferred to our next event date or refunded.

Schedule

*Event schedule subject to change

7:00 AM - 8:00 AM

Registration/Trade Show Open/Networking Breakfast
8:00 AM - 8:15 AM

Welcome Remarks
8:15 AM - 9:00 AM

Keynote: Kingfish Maine: Project Updates and Insights

Speaker: Megan Sorby, Operations Manager, Kingfish Maine

The Kingfish Company is making its way to the USA with its Kingfish Maine recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facility. The operation will be located in Jonesport, Maine, and will look to establish a significant local sustainable seafood production for U.S. retailers and food service.

Join us as we welcome Kingfish Maine Operations Manager, Megan Sorby, a recipient of the Hatchery International 2021 Top 10 Under 40 Program, who will open the RASTECH 2022 Conference with her keynote presentation. Sorby will look to give attendees a technical overview of the Kingfish Maine operation, discuss the technologies to be incorporated in the facility, the operating strategy and expected challenges to be faced, training staff and ensuring they are equipped for success, and more. Audience members can look forward to hearing about the Kingfish Maine project, from an operator’s point-of-view, during this opening keynote.

 
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Networking Break
9:30 AM -
 12:00 PM

Morning Sessions

Click the title above to view our current morning sessions

RAS FEED + NUTRITION MANAGEMENT

Session Chair: Jason Mann, Director of Nutrition, Riverence Trout Farms

Speakers:

  • Alex Tsappis, Alltech
  • Steve Backman, Product Manager/ Veterinarian at Skretting
  • Craig Browdy, Director of Research and Development at Zeigler Brothers Inc.
  • Mikkel Detz Jensen, RAS Specialist at BioMar

Fish feed can be tricky, and the aquaculture industry continues to tirelessly work on finding the best, well-rounded and nutritious feeds for fish, especially those in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). During this session, industry experts discuss today’s major feed trends, how these trends can potentially change in the future, how specific feed ingredients can affect a fish’s health, the essentials of RAS feeds, the barriers for growth as well as the opportunities for more sustainable, RAS-friendly fish nutrition, and common RAS feed challenges and solutions.

AQUAPONICS

Session Chair: Huy Tran, Aquatic Equipment & Design

Speakers:

  • Huy Tran, Huy Tran, Aquatic Equipment & Design
  • Tim Hovanec, DrTim’s Aquatics

Join us as we discuss all things aquaponics, which is an integrated approach to produce edible fish and plants in recirculating systems. This session will include topics such as engineering components, mass balances to design an efficient system, the dynamics of beneficial and pathogenic bacteria, food safety for ready-to-eat plants, and common myths and mistakes for operating these innovative systems.

RAS PROJECTS

Moderator: Ron Hill, Velocity Aqua

Speakers:

  • Justin Henry, BSc MEng RPBio, West Coast Salmon
  • Erik Heim, Founder & President of Nordic Aquafarms Inc.
  • Jens Jensen, Business Development/Sales Manager at Graintec
  • Chris Kinasewich, VEK Environmental

The recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) sector is only continuing to grow, and there are a number of new and innovative RAS facility, feed mill, and operation projects on the go. Join us for updates and insights to some of the sector’s ongoing and recently-completed projects. Discover the new technologies and innovations being utilized, plans for day-to-day operations, challenges faced during the project processes and solutions and best practices used to mitigate them, as well as major takeaways and lessons learned.
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Networking Lunch
1:30 PM
 -
 3:30 PM

Early Afternoon Sessions

Click the title above to view our current morning sessions

RAS CURRENT APPLICATIONS & FUTURE CHALLENGES

Session Chair: Maddi Badiola, Project Leader & RAS Specialist at HTH full spectrum llc & President at Aquacultural Engineering Society

Speakers:

  • Marlon Greensword, Postdoctoral Research Associate at Texas Christian University and Member of Aquacultural Engineering Society’s Board of Directors
  • James Flaherty, President & CEO of Adsorptech
  • Emmanuel Briquet, Founder and CEO of SEAREN LLC; Developer of the Vacuum AirLift (VAL) Technology in North America
  • Dan Farkas, Project Leader and Co-Founder at HTH Full Spectrum Aquaculture LLC
  •  Mark Spelder, ISCO Industries
  • Jeffrey M. Hinshaw, Ph.D.  Professor and Aquaculture Specialist, Department of Applied Ecology, NC State University

The recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) industry is continually evolving due to technological innovations. Understanding current applications and main limitations are essential to identify better solutions and areas of improvement for managers and facing future challenges. The Aquacultural Engineering Society’s (AES) session is inviting company leaders, researchers, system suppliers, and consultants to meet some prominent technology leaders and developers to gain an overall understanding of system impediments and opportunities for improvement, and how these developments can assist in a positive way.

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Moderator: Jean Ko Din, RAStech Magazine

Join us for a fun rapid-fire round (7 minutes each) of product showcasing from some of our RASTECH exhibitors. Hear a snapshot about their latest recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) technologies, equipment, and products. Then follow up with them on the trade show floor for more information.

  • A New Angle in Aquaculture – Dustin Schulz, Optimal Aquafeed
  • Charlie Granfelt, Skretting
  • Facility design elements that enhance biosecurity – John Schook, Hansen-Rice
  • Huy Tran, Aquatic Equipment & Design
  • Joe Tordella, Morris & Associates, Inc.
  • Ryan Vasak, Merck Animal Health
  • Walter Renz, Linde
  • Paw Petersen, OxyGuard International

HIGH-PERFORMANCE IN RAS HATCHERIES

Session Chair: Carlos Lopez, Spring Genetics

Speakers:

  • Carlos Tudela, University of Miami
  • Adapted genetics for land-based salmon production – Andrew Preston, Benchmark Genetics

How do you achieve high-performing stock in a RAS hatchery? Be sure to join us for a discussion where salmon, marine fish, and feed specialists will focus on how good-performing genetics and RAS go hand-in-hand, growth rates and how they’re magnified in RAS hatcheries, and working with live feeds.
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Networking Break
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Late Afternoon Sessions

Click the title above to view our current morning sessions

RAS CURRENT APPLICATIONS & FUTURE CHALLENGES


Session Chair: Maddi Badiola, Project Leader & RAS Specialist at HTH full spectrum llc & President at Aquacultural Engineering Society

Speaker:

  • Carlos Lopez, Commercial and Operations Manager at Spring Genetics
  • Jonathan Smith, Sales Director for Balmoral Tanks, UK
  • Roundtable discussion – Carlos Lopez, Benchmark Genetics; Jonathan Smith, Balmoral Tanks; and Dan Farkas, Full Spectrum Aquaculture

The recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) industry is continually evolving due to technological innovations. Understanding current applications and main limitations are essential to identify better solutions and areas of improvement for managers and facing future challenges. The Aquacultural Engineering Society’s (AES) session is inviting company leaders, researchers, system suppliers, and consultants to meet some prominent technology leaders and developers to gain an overall understanding of system impediments and opportunities for improvement, and how these developments can assist in a positive way.

RAS FISH HEALTH

Session Chair: Kathleen Hartman, USDA APHIS & Bill Keleher, Kennebec River Biosciences

Speakers:

  • Bill Keleher, Kennebec River Biosciences
  • Kathleen Hartman, USDA APHIS
  • Chris Good, Freshwater Institute

The bottom-line in any recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facility is the health and welfare of the fish being farmed. Join the RAS Fish Health session to discuss mitigating disease in a RAS, understanding the impact of aquaculture health management, and national aquaculture health plan standards and its effects on RAS.

RAS START-UP, STRATEGIES, & RISK ASSESSMENT

Session Chair: Ole C. Norvik, AquaCon

Speaker:

  • Joe Cardenas, AQUACO
  • Yedod Snir, MirYam Aquaculture Projects

There are many challenges to overcome and important points to remember when looking to build a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) operation, but the whole process starts with regulatory requirements. What challenges do we face with regulatory requirements when looking to locate and start a RAS operation, and how can they become easier to mitigate, as the sector evolves and develops?
5 PM

Cocktail Reception/Evening Socials
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Registration/Trade Show Open/Networking Breakfast
9:30 AM -
 12:00 PM

Morning Sessions

Click the title above to view our current morning sessions

BIOSECURITY IN RAS HATCHERIES

Session Chair: Ron Hill, Velocity Aqua

Speakers:

  • Gary Myers, AquaMaof
  • Matthijs Metselaar, Aquatic Vets Ltd.
  • Dan Paynter, Hatchery Operations Manager at Atlantic Aqua Farms Ltd.

Biosecurity is important in any RAS facility and plays a big role in achieving optimal health and welfare for stock, but what extra measures need to be taken in RAS hatcheries? Experts will discuss the importance of design, best practices and safety protocols, live feeds, and fish nutrition.

 

ENGINEERING INNOVATIONS

Session Chair: Christopher Good, Freshwater Institute

Speakers:

  • Introduction to The Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute – Chris Good, Freshwater Institute
  • Effect of commercial diets on water quality, waste capture, and post-smolt Atlantic salmon performance in freshwater RAS – John Davidson, Freshwater Institute
  • Assessing peracetic acid application methodology and impact on fluidized sand biofilter performance – Christine Lepine, Research Associate, Freshwater Institute
  • Effect of image quality on convolutional neural network-aided machine learning model accuracy for in-tank fish detection in a RAS – Rakesh Rajan, Research Scientist, Freshwater Institute
  • The effects of two water temperature regimes on Atlantic salmon growth performance and maturation – Curtis Crouse, Freshwater Institute

Join the Conservation Fund Freshwater Institute’s experts in a session that will look into the current research and development (R&D) projects, studies, and discoveries being made at the Institute, to drive forward the recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) sector.

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Moderator: Jean Ko Din, RAStech Magazine

Join us for a fun rapid-fire round (7 minutes each) of product showcasing from some of our RASTECH exhibitors. Hear a snapshot about their latest recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) technologies, equipment, and products. Then follow up with them on the trade show floor for more information.

  • Humane Slaughter: Food for Thought – Sam Bowman, Ace Aquatec Inc.
  • EcoGenX Oxygen VPSA – Jim Flaherty, Adsorptech
    Vacuum Air Lift – Emmanuel Briquet, Searen
  • Artificial Intelligence Biomass and Feeding Technology for land-based fish farms – Matthew Zimola, ReelData
  • HDPE Piping – Mark Spelder, ISCO Industries
  • Generation 10 Spring Tilapia – Carlos Lopez, Benchmark Genetics
  • Jonathan Smith, Balmoral Tanks Ltd.
  • George Tenhagen, Asahi/America, Inc.
  • Ron Malone, Aquaculture Systems Technologies
  • Henning Gatz, Aquacare Environment Inc
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Networking Lunch
1:30 PM
 -
 3:30 PM

Early Afternoon Sessions

Click the title above to view our current morning sessions

RAS RESEARCH & FINDINGS

Session Chairs:

  • David Kuhn, Virginia Tech
  • Yonathan Zohar, University of Maryland Baltimore County

Speakers:

  • Yonathan Zohar, University of Maryland Baltimore County
  • Matt Craze, Spheric Research
  • Global University Support in the Industry – David Kuhn, Virginia Tech
  • USDA ARS

In 2021, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) received a US$10 million grant to carry out a set of aquaculture-focused projects. Led by Professor Yonathan Zohar, the Sustainable Aquaculture Systems Supporting Atlantic Salmon (SAS2) project, which is part of the Recirculating Aquaculture Salmon Network (RAS-N) project also led by Zohar, will address a range of challenges still hindering the success of emerging aquaculture platforms, and includes many academic and federal research institutes. Join Zohar, and Virginia Tech Professor David Kuhn, who will look into important areas of research currently being studied through the SAS2 project, as well as at various educational institutes, to further develop the sector’s knowledge and understanding of RAS.

TECHNOLOGIES FOR PRODUCTION ENHANCEMENT

Moderator: Ron Hill, Velocity Aqua

Speakers:

  • The implications of spectral sensitivity for UV disinfection in RAS operation, and UV and microbiota changes in RAS – Ytzhak Rozenberg, Atlantium Water Technologies
  • Reducing Excessive Calcium Concentration in Saline Well Water by Automated Monitoring, Control, and Alarm System (MCAS) for Use in Marine Fish Aquaculture – Kerry Mesner,
  • Effective Aquaculture, Trying to Do it the Right Way, the RASWay – John Holder, JLH Consulting

Recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) and related technologies are constantly being studied, redeveloped, and modified to achieve more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable operations. Join us as we look into the various technical applications of innovative equipment being utilized to enhance RAS production.

ENGINEERING INNOVATIONS

Session Chair: Christopher Good, Freshwater Institute

Speakers:

  • Effects of water temperature increases and winter signal photoperiod on early maturation in Atlantic salmon post-smolts – Chris Good, Freshwater Institute
  • Anaerobic digestion of waste sludge from two different fish diets in a recirculating aquaculture system – Abhinav Choudhury, Freshwater Institute
  • Performance characterization of a diffused aeration basin of carbon dioxide removal in RAS – Laura Bailey, Freshwater Institute
  • Off-flavour observations – Factors influencing accumulation in RAS, microbial characterization, and Atlantic salmon taste threshold – John Davidson, Freshwater Institute

Join the Conservation Fund Freshwater Institute’s experts in a session that will look into the current research and development (R&D) projects, studies, and discoveries being made at the Institute, to drive forward the recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) sector.
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Networking Break
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Late Afternoon Sessions/Trade Show close at 3.30pm

Click the title above to view our current morning sessions

ADDRESSING OFF-FLAVOUR

Moderator: David Kuhn, Virginia Tech

Off-flavour compounds (natural compounds such as geosmin and Methyl-Isoborneol [MIB]) can accumulate in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). These compounds can accumulate in the water column and into the aquatic species being cultured. This negatively contributes to off-flavours in the products being sold as seafood. Join us as we look at strategies to minimize off-flavor compounds in seafood cultured in RAS.

Speakers:

  • Chris Haughey, Exciton Clean
  • Guillaume Salze, KnipBio

RAS FISH HEALTH

Session Chair: Kathleen Hartman, USDA APHIS & Bill Keleher, Kennebec River Biosciences

Speakers:

  • U.S. importation of aquatic animals – Real world considerations – Bill Keleher, Kennebec River Biosciences
  • National aquaculture health plan and standards – What it means for RAS – Kathleen Hartman, USDA APHIS
  • Eric Pedersen, Ideal Fish

The bottom-line in any recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facility is the health and welfare of the fish being farmed. Join the RAS Fish Health session to discuss mitigating disease in a RAS, understanding the impact of aquaculture health management, and national aquaculture health plan standards and its effects on RAS.

RAS START-UP, STRATEGIES, & RISK-ASSESSMENT

Session Chair: Ron Hill, Velocity Aqua

Speaker:

  • Joe Cardenas, AQUACO
  • Joe Sweeney, Eagles Catch

Building your own recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) business and operations is no easy feat, and takes years of planning, research, team work, and industry knowledge. Join this session to hear experts discuss tips, strategies, and challenges to keep in mind, when developing your RAS business and operations.
5:15 PM - 5:30 PM

Closing Plenary

Venue

JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes, Florida

Sponsors

Founding Sponsor
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Breakfast Sponsor
Lunch Sponsor
Cocktail Reception Sponsor
Show Guide Sponsor
Lanyard Sponsor
Swag Bag Sponsor
Media Partners