Zaključci projekta na kraju 2024 godine

 

PROJECT SUMMARY / AIM OF PROJECT

Through the innovative process of feeding, the goals in the area of organic production are achieved through avoidance of all substances in fish food that have adverse effects on human health as well as fish health.
Innovation is the process of raising larvae with natural live food to ensure that the categories of young fish intended for stocking develop feeding habits adapted to the environment in which stocking will take place.

The return of the native brown trout species (Salmo Trutta Labrak) to its natural habitat Environmental protection Preservation of biodiversity, preservation indigenous species, promoting human health and animal welfare.

By comparative cultivation of natural food (zooplankton) in special pools (Cyclopsis, Daphnya magna, Daphnya pulex, Artemia salina) for feeding young fish larvae, an advantage in the survival rate of fish larvae is achieved because feeding on live prey has multiple advantages.

Brook trout is a predator; it gets live food and has the urge to hunt on its own; therefore, we have much greater survival and easier adaptation in natural conditions. What is being achieved? More individuals grown, better growth, better health and vitality, better food conversion, as well as lower cost.

Challenge and innovation solution

  • Brook Trout (lat. Salmo Trutta Labrax) face a critical issue in their reproductive cycle due to the damming of rivers within the Danube Basin by hydroelectric plants. These dams prevent Brook Trout from accessing their natural spawning grounds, leading to a significant challenge in their reproduction.
  • The absence of Eco Corridors or fish passages compounds this problem, as it restricts their ability to migrate to suitable rivers for spawning. This limitation poses a serious threat to the population of Brook Trout and the ecological balance of the region.
  • Producing an organic product rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and reducing environmental pollution by using zooplankton to purify and return water to nature.

Examples of hydroelectric plants

Vrbnica River, Plužine

Hydroelectric plant

Hydroelectric plant

Innovative technology

By comparative cultivation zooplankton in special pools (Cyclopsis, Daphnya magna, Daphnya pulex, Artemia salina) for feeding young fish larvae, an advantage in the survival rate of fish larvae is achieved because feeding on live prey.
In previous practice, 90% of the food was of artificial origin. Through the solution presented within this action, 90% of fish fodder is aimed to be of natural origin. Zooplankton would be grown next to the sluce gate water overflow where biological detritus is accumulated. Detritus comes from fish metabolic waste and algae.
Zooplankton purifies the water because it uses effluents in its diet from fish metabolism as well as the remains of unused food, some larger bacteria and viruses, and a large number of algaes species. In the hatchery for Brook Trout in Stabna village near Pluzine, is a fish fingerling production that is adapted to natural food is envisaged and will be used for stocking open waters because the brown trout is very difficult to adapt to artificial nutrition. Due to the large proportion of digestible proteins, better health and better growth is achieved in comparison to conventional feeding techniques thereby shortening the process of producing juvenile fish.

Technological readiness level at the end of the project

  • Building upon its success in laboratory settings, the technology has been validated through practical trials involving the cultivation of carp.
  • By validating the technology in a broader range of fish species, the foundation has been set to confidently adapt and apply the technology to brook trout cultivation.
  • Having achieved successful validation through field trials, the innovative feeding process stands as a reliable solution for enhancing fish health and growth. Data collected from the practical trials informs optimization efforts for various operational conditions and environments specific to different fish species, including brook trout.
  • Successful innovation that addresses challenges in the aquaculture industry, contributing to the sustainable production of Brook Trout.

Target markets

  • Montenegro
  • Region (Bosnia and Herzegovina, N.R.of Macedonia, Republic of Serbia)
  • Black sea basin countries
  • EU

Efficiency

  • Fish stocking
  • Development of sport fishing and tourism
  • Organization of European competitions in sport fishing

Additional benefits of feeding with live food

  • Natural food contains all the necessary nutrients.
  • Feeding with live food results in:
    • a higher survival rate, improved overall health, and
    • better growth of fish.

Daphnia magna characteristics

  • Daphnia magna feeds on green algae, fish excrement, detritus, food remains, bacteria, and even some larger viruses. The primary requirement for cultivating Daphnia magna is chemically pure water.
  • Daphnia m. reproduces both sexually and asexually. Young individuals become sexually mature in 7-10 days.
  • In favorable living conditions with an adequate food supply, oxygen, and optimal temperature, they can produce 20-200 live offspring every day. In less favorable conditions, they produce winter eggs encased in a thick chitinous shell, protecting them from adverse environmental conditions.
  • Their lifespan can reach up to 2 months, and some authors suggest even up to 3 months.
  • Daphnia m. in its dry form contains over 60% highly digestible proteins.

Daphnia magna

Daphnia m. will be cultivated in dedicated pools with chemically pure water, where they will be regularly fed with detritus from the bottom of the pools, along with yeast, while cohabiting with trout.

The breeding facility includes a genetic-verified broodstock of Brook Trout (Salmo trutta labrax).
The spawning process commences in incubators with water temperature regulation, where larvae remain in containers until the onset of feeding. They are then transferred to concrete pools where the feeding and further growth process begins.
Maximum attention will be dedicated to hygiene and health in the pools. Additionally, efforts will be made to minimize stress factors.

Business model

Utilizing the Business Canvas Model, pre-contracted sales of indigenous fish fry, meeting both domestic and international demand.
Fish spawning occurs once a year (December–January), with fry delivery between May and October based on size. Forming a Selective Parent Stock is crucial and takes three years.
Patenting the feeding process along with forming the Selective Parent Stock would ensure consistent contracted production with buyers.
Expected Annual Product/Service Revenue:
€ 150.000,00 in first year
€ 200.000,00 in second year
€ 250.000,00 in every year after

Sustainability of the project:

  • financial (revenues)
  • institutional (contracts with electricity distribution and national parks)
  • ecological (autochthonous species)

Revenue forecast

 

Potential risks and alternative approaches if the proposed methods do not provide expected results

Extremely low temperatures

This can be mitigated by additional heating of the production facilities.

Extreme water pollution

This can be addressed by using untreated, non-chlorinated water from the city water supply since the breeding facility is located between the water source and the city reservoir where water is chlorinated, thus providing access to chemically pure water.

Other risk factorS

Other risks include environmental degradation, insufficient funding, and rising production costs.
Actions to mitigate these risks involve regularly reviewing and optimizing production processes, as well as exploring cost-effective alternatives, participating in environmental conservation seminars, applying marketing pressure to raise public awareness about the importance of preserving water resources and indigenous fish populations, and promoting this project’s solution to make the product more attractive and competitive in the market.

Customers for Brook Trout who have contacted us for the purchase of Young Brook Trout:

  • ELECTRICITY COMPANY OF MONTENEGRO has a contracted placement of 280,000 pieces of YBT annually
  • Electricity Company of BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA is also interested in Young BT
  • Durmitor National Park with 18 glacial lakes
  • Biogradska Gora National Park with six glacial lakes
  • Tara River Biosphere Reserve – sports fishing clubs (SRK Ravnjak, SRK Tara)
  • Lim River and Plavsko Lake – SRK Plavsko Lake, SRK Lim, SRK Sinjavac