Finland's first water-intensive partial Hybrid Flow-through system for Nilakkalohi Oy

Earlier this spring, Paras Aqua Oy launched its advanced Precision HFS technology, which significantly expands the application possibilities of Hybrid Flow-Through technology. Among other things, the system enables extremely economical water use, cost-effective water temperature control, and precise water quality management, which improves fish welfare.

The first farm based on the new technology will be delivered to the Finnish company Nilakkalohi Oy. Delivery is scheduled for the end of 2025.

Precision HFS meets the challenges of fish farming

Nilakkalohi Oy's Tervo facility has played an important role in the development of Finnish fish farming. The facility has been a significant national player and has served as an important hatchery supporting the production of marine fish farms. The facility was home to national rainbow trout and whitefish selection breeding programs from 1989 to 2017, when it was used by the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) and its predecessor organization, the Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute.

– Now, Nilakkalohi Oy's Tervo facility is once again leading the way by adopting new environmentally friendly technology. The investment in a temperature-controlled partial recirculation system is a means of improving risk management and adapting to climate change. High summer temperatures have been a common challenge for Finnish surface water facilities in recent years due to climate change, says Tapio Kiuru, founder of Paras Aqua Oy.

Paras Aqua technology was familiar to Pietari Puranen, CEO of Nilakkalohi Oy, from long experience. In addition to environmental friendliness, other factors also supported the decision to invest in a new technological solution.

– We see Paras Aqua technology as the best opportunity for us to develop our operations in an environmentally friendly way, while at the same time doing our part to ensure the security of Finnish food production. We have closely followed the development of Paras Aqua technology at Luke over the years and have every confidence in it. We have also processed fish farmed at Luke's facilities in Laukaa, which has allowed us to test and confirm that the Paras Aqua technology really works, says Puranen.

The investment will enable Nilakkalohi Oy to serve its customers in a more diverse manner while supporting the development of Finnish offshore farming. Offshore facilities, which are extremely important for the development of Finnish fish production, need larger post-smolts, and the new facility is ideal for producing them.

Nilakkalohi Oy has received investment support for the project from the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMKVR) and the Ministry of the Environment's nutrient recycling program. The European Investment Fund, which specializes in responsible investments by small and medium-sized enterprises, is also supporting the project's financing.

Paras Aqua is involved in reducing the environmental impacts of aquaculture

Paras Aqua is participating in the Ministry of the Environment's Rasi project (Nutrient Recycling in Inland Aquaculture), which is creating a groundbreaking new concept. The aim of the project is to transform fish farming in inland waters into a net nutrient remover from the perspective of the Baltic Sea.

This goal is being pursued through a set of measures in which nutrients contained in Baltic herring are removed from the Baltic Sea and used as fish feed in fish farms. The nutrient residues recovered from the fish farms are then used in agriculture. Paras Aqua technology enables the sludge recovery and concentration required by the concept without the use of chemicals.