In the heart of the Westphalian countryside near Münster in Germany, sea bass swim along cows on a farm where tradition meets innovation.
Small-scale seawater-aquaculture on a farm
In 2023, Louise Niehues and her husband launched a seawater aquaculture project on her farm, aiming to secure a sustainable future for their family. "I want my grandchildren to be able to live from the farm´s income," Louise explains.
Daily operations
Louise starts her day by checking on the sea bass to ensure their well-being. She then refills the feed storage and cleans the sensors that monitor water quality. Beyond cleaning tasks, monitoring the automated system is a crucial part of her daily routine.
Every Wednesday is harvesting day: fish are caught and processed based on orders received by Monday, ensuring that only the necessary amount of sea bass is harvested, while the rest keep on swimming.
Sustainable and environmental impact
The small-scale recirculating aquaculture system, developed by SEAWATER Cubes GmbH, produces up to 350 fish weekly, meeting the demand within a 30 km radius. This proximity significantly cuts carbon emissions.
Powered by renewable energy, the system can integrate seamlessly into existing agricultural operations. With biofilters recycling up to 99% of the water, the process is highly efficient. The wastewater can also be used as a fertiliser, keeping nutrients in the cycle.
Community and social impact
Recognising challenges in product sales for farmers, Carl Niehues founded the cooperative "Die Geflossenschaft" with fish expert Johannes Wolf and SEAWATER Cubes GmbH. The cooperative assists small-scale fish farms in marketing their products. "We produce sea fish just in the neighbourhood of the consumer.", Carl notes. "Die Geflossenschaft" has received EU financial support through the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF).
This initiative highlights the goal of producing fish closer to consumers and at the same time providing farmers with viable business models.
Informing the public
A key mission of the “Die Geflossenschaft” is also to bring the public closer to innovative sustainable aquaculture practices, emphasising high standards of fish welfare.
More information
Website of the project: Die Geflossenschaft.