Scotland firm's technology will make stunning difference to shrimp farmer
Indonesian producer expects improved welfare, huge increase in harvest volume, and better quality product by using Ace Aquatec machine
Indonesian shrimp farmer PT Brother has chosen Scotland-based Ace Aquatec’s portable in-water electric stunner system for its site in Cilacap as the company embarks on a programme of welfare and harvesting improvements.
Faced with long distances between pens and slaughter/processing facilities that could mean up to 12 hours in transit, PT Brother found that the longer it took to transport shrimp, the more stressed they would become and quality would be greatly reduced.
The solution was Ace Aquatec’s A-HSU (Humane Stunner Universal) for Shrimp. The mobility of the portable unit means it can be easily manoeuvred between locations on PT Brothers’ 3.5 hectare (8.6 acre) site, and was a key factor in the decision to install.
The A-HSU system offers a chemical free, in-water electric stunning solution and is an effective and humane way to harvest shrimp, rendering shrimp fully unconscious in less than one second before they are killed by being placed in ice slurry.
Ace Aquatec said the system will improve the welfare of shrimp during the harvesting process and help PT Brother to lead the way in raising welfare standards in the region.
Increased capacity
It will also greatly improve the shrimp farmer’s output both in terms of volume and the quality of its shrimp. Volume output is expected to increase from an estimated one tonne every 45 minutes by manual harvest to a potential capacity of eight tonnes per hour using the A-HSU system.
Riza Nugraha, president director at PT Brother, said: “We chose Ace Aquatec's portable stunner to support our ambition to become a market leader in shrimp welfare.
“The system will dramatically cut transit time between our pens and processing operations, and Ace Aquatec will be key to helping us scale. Once rolled out across all three of our main sites, we expect to grow harvest volumes from around 350 tonnes per year at our Cilacap site to almost 2,150 tonnes.”
Tara McGregor-Woodhams, chief sales and marketing officer at Ace Aquatec, said: “We're proud to be working with PT Brother as they take a leadership position on shrimp welfare. Shrimp is one of the world’s fastest-growing protein sources, and producers who prioritise welfare today are building a real competitive advantage as consumer and regulatory expectations continue to rise. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to welfare-first, sustainable aquaculture, and we look forward to seeing PT Brother lead the way.”
