Turbot is a much appreciated, relative high value fish specie. Often called the "pheasant of the sea"

It is a true marine species, and the fry is considered relative difficult to produce. Whereas once the fry has reached a size of approx 5 gram, it becomes a very rough fish and very suitable for Aquaculture.

Maximus A/S was back in 1990 the first company to crack the code to produce juveniles of turbot, without deformities and malpigmentation, and with uniform growth, and with a solid immune response system.

Still of today the copepod technology which was initially developed at Maximus, is the superior technology for production of this specie, even though the majority of turbot now are produced by alternative technologies.

Above turbut fry, at the stage where they are weaned on a pellet diet, from a live feed diet. The fry have then a wet weight of approx 50 mg wet weight.

Photo of adult copepod, the copepods have 12 development stages, typical in size from 50-900 micron, and the fish larvae will initially feed on the smaller naupli stages of 100-200 micron, then on bigger stages as they grow.

 Turbot are produced most economically in RAS systems where the water temperatures can be controlled through out the year. Using RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture systems) will reduce the footprint of the facility as a reduced biomass standing stock will produce the same annual production if the temperature can be maintained at around 17 degrees all the year, when the fish will grow faster..

Then both capital investments and operation costs will be reduced.

Picture C-turbot-3

Next, water treatment system from Maximus, build for Seawater. 1998, design by Aqua-Partners ApS.

 One of the very first true RAS systems designed for seawater, at a stage when RAS was only applied for production of fresh water fish species. The concept includes an active CO2 stripper, with efficient CO2 stripping.

This design concept was later adopted by UNI-Aqua/ AKVAgroup, and has been installed in many RAS systems now for both marine and freshwater production. And actually still used, as for production of Salmon at the new Danish Salmon facility in Hirtshals, even the technology is now almost 20 years of age.

For the new grow out facilities in Hanstholm, Denmark, Sashimi Royal will use the latest generation of RAS technology, with the new RAS2020 concept configurated with Kruger Kaldnes water treatment technology, which includes the most efficient CO2 stripper in the market, which is essential for the growth performance and welfare of the fish in the RAS systems..

Fish produced with the copepod technology for fry production, developed at Maximus, will cost less to grow to harvest size.  Labour costs are reduced in the growout facility, due to a reduced grading frequence, as the turbot fry which have been fed on copepods during the early life stages will have a more uniform growth onwards in life. They will grow faster, and have an improved immune response system.

Billed C-turbot-6

Picture of 5 gram turbots from Maximus A/S ready for transfer to grow out.     

In short:

a) Brood-stock can be manipulated for all year production of eggs.  -  4 photo/temperature manipulated brood stocks   required.