A vision for sustainable fish farming
In 2018, Simon Kaiblinger and his wife, Alina, built their first aquaponics pilot plant in the heart of Lower Austria. This symbiotic system allows African catfish and vegetables to thrive together in a sustainable water cycle that benefits both the fish and the plants. The fish provide valuable nutrients for the vegetables, while the plants help maintain high water quality.
In 2021, the Kaiblingers decided to invest into a larger facility. To achieve their project, Simon and Alina received financial support from the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) and from national sources.
From idea to reality
Simon first encountered the concept of aquaponics in an English class while attending an agricultural school in Lower Austria. Later, during his studies in livestock sciences in Vienna, he realised its potential. "Producing two products in one water cycle, efficiently and sustainably—I knew this was the right trend," Simon recalls.
Daily life on the farm
Simon starts his day early morning by tending to his fish, while his father looks after the pigs on the farm. In addition to traditional agriculture, the Kaiblingers decided to move into aquaculture and direct marketing. The farm specialises in African catfish (clarias gariepinus), chosen for their suitability to the system and their boneless meat. "I don’t like fish bones very much," Simon jokes.
Innovative and sustainable approach
In a greenhouse, Simon grows different types of lettuce on floating hard plastic plates, with their roots directly in the water. He also experiments with various other vegetables like tomatoes and peppers on expanded clay pellets. "I believed in this idea and just went for it," he says. Although his father was initially sceptical, he now sees the potential in the system, too.
Building a brand and community impact
In 2021, Simon’s wife Alina opened a self-service shop, selling their fish and vegetables alongside products from other local farmers. To further professionalise their agricultural business and marketing, Simon participated in the TV show Ab Hof, where industry experts helped him refine his brand and marketing. This led to the rebranding of "Kaiblinger Fisch und Gemüse" to "Wassergarten."
A top chef in the region has also developed a special product line featuring catfish and vegetables for the Kaiblingers. Due to high demand, however, nothing is currently being further processed, and everything is marketed fresh.
The fact that produces from the Wassergarten come directly from the region and meets the highest quality standards is also recognised elsewhere: Wassergarten is part of the brand “Gutes vom Bauernhof” (a quality program for farm direct marketers) and the AMA GENUSS REGION, a state-certified quality seal.
A model for the future
Through innovation and sustainability, the Kaiblingers are setting an example for modern aquaculture and secure their agricultural business. "We wanted a stable income and a good life," Simon explains. With dedication to direct marketing and sustainable practices, Wassergarten is making an important contribution to the innovative development of fish production in Lower Austria.