FishFrom Technologies Ltd has an agreement with an Italian University to develop and commercialise a proprietary technology known as Photocatalytic Ozonation. Our initial efforts will focus on the development of Photocatalytic Ozonation as a depuration technology to be used in RAS as well as the global aquaculture industry.
Geosmin and 2-MIB
These two molecules are attributed to causing off-flavour or muddy taste in the fish flesh. They are extremely detectable by humans, around a few nanograms per litre is enough to make the product unpalatable. They are produced by various bacteria within RAS systems; the molecules circulate around in the water where the fish absorb the molecules primarily through their gills. The molecules then end up primarily residing in the fatty parts of the fish and particularly in the fillet, the part normally consumed.
It is a major challenge for recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), resulting in up to 30% product rejection due the muddy taste caused by bioaccumulation by the fish of these naturally occurring compounds. FishFrom has developed an innovative solution using Photocatalytic Ozonation (PO) to degrade OFCs in the water column before they are absorbed by fish. We are carrying out trials, in partnership with the Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research (CSAR) based at Swansea University, to prove the efficacy of the technology. A successful trial will validate the technology for commercial scaling.
We are seeking an initial £150,000 of equity funding to carry out trials which will be supported by £128,000 of Scottish Enterprise grant funding. An additional £350,000 is then sought to match £350,000 Scottish Enterprise grants to take the project through commercialisation and to a first installed unit at scale.
The trials will take the technology currently rated at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 to TRL8 – proven and working at commercial scale.