Local food security.
Regal Springs farming sites are located in countries that are undergoing significant growth and change, and whose populations are demanding food security. We are the world’s largest independent producer of tilapia. But our very first responsibility is to provide food security in our imediate farming communities. If we do not provide for them, or if we were to strip their ecosystems of renewable resources, we would be unable to operate.
We see our farms impacting the communities’ food security in two direct ways:
- We are using natural resources to produce a food resource (fish) for the population, though we export most of what we farm in Indonesia and Honduras.
- We provide well-paying, stable incomes to thousands of families who therefore have greater food security than before they were employed.
In all its use of natural resources, Regal Springs has operated along frugal, careful stewardship principles. In areas (such as Central Java) where we have channelled water as mentioned, we export most of the fish fillets produced in Indonesia and Honduras.
Remaining fish meat is sold in local markets, adding to the food availability in the area. The stable incomes to families are probably the more direct way in which we provide for local food security. Honduras, Mexico and Indonesia are rich in food products, but people may still be limited by their income to purchase sufficient foods.
Naturally occurring species.
One significant concern in any farming practice is the establishment of the farmed species amongst the native species. Tilapia is only native to waters in Africa, but has been introduces in warm waters around the world over the past century. In every country where we farm, tilapia had been introduced long before we arrived. In fact, in Indonesia, Mexico and Honduras, tilapia is an important food source and is found in the wild.
Though we have not introduced any “new” species into the local waters, we are nevertheless careful that escaped fish do not stress the existing ecology around us. Various precautions are employed to prevent escape; for example: we use double netting on our cages to prevent escape.
Transporting tilapia.
We only transport our fish in sealed containers, so that no fish escape, are lost, or harmed. Our fish are transported alive, in oxygenated carriers on trucks.
Land conversion.
As land is increasingly “consumed” by industry and housing developments, it becomes critical to protect what unspoiled land remains, and – where possible—to initiate the return and growth of local biodiversity. Together with the WWF, Regal Springs holds that no wetlands be converted into new farming complexes. We farm primarily in exceptionally large lakes in rural areas, using floating cages. This leaves local lands intact. Our hatcheries and processing plants take up minimal land space, and we seek to be wise stewards of the areas we utilize. In addition, we actively work to save land we do not even operate on. Our Fish For Trees system has slowed deforestation in Honduran forests.
Water Quality: Oxygen and Nutrient Levels.
The sustainability of a fish farm depends largely on the existing water quality, and on how the fish farm affects the status of that body of water. Two major factors in the overall health of a boy of water are the oxygen and nutrient levels. Oxygen levels in water fluctuate across a twenty-four hour cycle in relationship to levels of photosynthesis and respiration. As nutrients are added to the water, primary productivity increases. In daylight, oxygen is released into the waters as a product of photosynthesis, and oxygen is also consumed by the various organisms. But when darkness falls, photosynthesis ceases and respiration continues, resulting in a marked decrease of dissolves oxygen. Minimizing the fluctuations of the oxygen levels in key to maintaining fishing health and productivity. We guard closely against excessive nutrient loading trying to maintain the lakes at their naturally occurring rates of eutrophication.
Many theoretic models exist to calculate the carrying capacity of these ecosystems. Calculations have been done by both Regal Springs Aquafinca and independent third parties, which have routinely concluded that the current production levels are within that capacity. In practice, we apply continual, intensive monitoring of control sites and non-point pollution through main tributaries to lakes and watershed. We constantly evaluate all historic data and tendencies to date, in order to pinpoint any actual change.
Any deterioration in the coming years is most likely to come from activities outside of our fish farms. The greatest immediate danger to the environment is the deforestation. Deforestation, by permitting rampant erosion, is the main contributor of organic matter and the primary cause of volume loss in both lakes. And, since we cannot prevent the natural waste that comes from farming fish, we aggressively seek to balance our negative impact with positive impact on the environment around us.
Reviving rice culture.
In Indonesia, our state of the art laboratories are assessing water quality and Regal Springs’ impact on the available water, year-round. Water from the processing plants in Indonesia have fulfilled all requirements for discharge (the waste water has 5 days’ retention time in water treatment basins). The water is high in P and N nutrients (7-10 mg/l and 40-60 mg/l respectively), which has revived rice culture in the surrounding areas. These areas previously had non-irrigates paddies, which could only be harvested once a year. Now with the nutrient rich water from the Regal Springs’ plants, our neighbours are able to increase their income in a reliable manner. Furthermore, some of the waste water is also used in local fish farming of Tilapia and catfish, which has also been a very successful undertaking.
Farming Practices
Conserving water resources.
Our processing plant waste water undergoes five days in our waste water treatment basins. This fulfils government standards for discharge and is high on P and N nutrients (7-10 mg/l and 40/60 mg/l respectively). This has revived rice culture in the surrounding areas, which were previously non irrigated rice paddies, and hence only allowed one harvest per year. Today, our neighbours are supplied with continuous nutrient-rich waters, and are thus generating a steady and higher income. Beyond providing rice farming opportunities, we have diverted our effluent waters for use in local fish farming projects, with successful outcomes.
Genetic modifications.
We do not use any transgenic fish. Transgenic fish is a radical departure from nature; furthermore, we cannot imagine a need for any transgenic manipulation of tilapia. Tilapia are exceptionally hardy and are naturally fast growing. We firmly believe that there are natural methods of selecting the fittest fish to yield a strong breed. We keep our fish stock robust by selecting the strongest fish to reproduce.
Use of fish meal and fish oil.
Our constant push for more efficient use of resources is evident in our production of fish meal and fish oil. Our site in Honduras has more “fish out” than “fish in,” a fantastic feat, and one that decreases our dependence on capture fisheries. This is not the case in our Indonesian production, where we place a greater emphasis on providing quality protein to local communities and generating local businesses with our waste.
Antibiotics.
We do not use antibiotic in our operations. Globally, the widespread use of antibiotics for therapeutic, prophylactic and growth promotion purposes in farming has intensified the risk for the emergence and spread of resistant micro organisms. This raises particular concern since the same classes of antibiotics are used both in humans and animals. The emergence and spread of resistance in bacteria poses a threat to human health and presents a major financial burden.
Consumers are also concerned that ingesting the antibiotics used in food production will adversely affect their health. We have found that limiting our fish stocking densities, appropriately sitting our cages and meeting the nutritional requirement of our tilapia prevent the incidence and spread of disease.
Additional use of waste.
We may be known for fish fillets, but fish fillets are only 35% of the biomass that we raise. Frames and guts, skins and scales make up the remaining 65%, and we are using it!
Scales are sun dried and sold for production of cosmetics. Skins are frozen in blocks and sold for gelatine production in pharmaceuticals. Fish skins are also used in fashion applications, ranging from shoes to bikinis. Bones (with remaining meat) are sold at local markets for cooking use (e.g. soups). Frames and guts are processed in fish meals plant through a process of cooking, pressing, dewatering, drying, after which a fish meal is packed and sold for use in other animal feed. Liquid phase obtained is separated into layers of oil solids and water. Oil is commercialized for animals feed or used for Biodiesel production. Solids are recovered and dried with fish meal, water is treated in wastewater treatment system. Moreover, freshly dead fish are also extracted and used in the production of fish meal and fish oil. We also use a simple, effective composting system, utilizing bamboo structures and rice hull.
Feed.
Where possible and financially feasible, we prefer to source our feed products from feed manufacturers that have sustainable production policies, though we are not satisfied with the status quo. Sustainable guidelines for feed are still being developed, and as the demand for wisely sourced feed grows, we are confident that producers will improve their ingredients.
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