Trout farmer reports increase in fillet yield after buying in-water stunner
Texture and shelf life also improved for English producer
A trout farmer in the southwest of England has reported a 5-6% improvement in fillet yield alongside marked improvements in texture and shelf life by using an in-water stunner supplied by Dundee-based Ace Aquatec.
Family-run Britford Trout Farm, situated just outside Salisbury, Wiltshire, now supplies upmarket retailer Waitrose and opted for the trout-specific version of Ace Aquatec’s A-HSU (Humane Stunner Universal) to meet increasing welfare and traceability demands.
The flow-through farm, which draws its water from the River Avon, was started in 1983 by Mark Heaven, and soon positioned itself as a provider of quality trout.
Higher standards
Jack Heaven, business partner at Britford Trout Farm, said: “We’ve been in the trout business for a long time, but our own methods of stunning were not sufficient for future demand so we needed a harvesting solution that reflected the high standards we set for our business and our customers.
“Since installing Ace Aquatec’s humane stunner, we've seen significant improvements in both efficiency and product quality. The harvesting process is smoother and more streamlined, and we've received extremely positive feedback from our processor, including reported fillet yield improvements of 5-6%, alongside excellent shelf life and firm texture.”
15 tonnes per hour
The A-HSU has the ability to process up to 15 tonnes per hour, presenting a significant uplift to the farm’s ability to meet demand in an efficient and humane manner.
The farm is now planning to scale tonnage from 200 to 350 tonnes annually and is in talks about upcoming commercial opportunities with other UK supermarkets.
Support from the British Trout Association and a £30,000 Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FAWSS) grant helped make the investment in the stunner viable.
Ace Aquatec sales and marketing boss Tara McGregor-Woodhams said: “Our award winning humane stunning technology has already delivered significant improvements in the volumes and quality of trout fillet supplied by the farm and will help Mark and Jack to continue to grow and supply some of the UK’s largest supermarkets while meeting strict welfare and traceability requirements.”