15 patterns we see repeatedly across RAS, shrimp and cage projects — grouped by phase, with the specific fix that would have prevented each one.
Choosing between RAS, pond and cage before locking annual tonnage, species and market window leads to over- or under-sized systems and unrecoverable CAPEX waste.
FixFix the species, tonnage and off-take window first. Only then filter technologies against those constraints.
Compare technologiesPeak-load oxygen and nitrification demand are commonly modelled on average biomass rather than peak-day biomass, causing crashes during ramp-up.
FixSize biofilter and O₂ delivery for peak biomass + a safety margin, not for annual average.
Oxygen demand calculatorCommitting to a site before completing multi-season flow, temperature and quality tests is the single biggest cause of project failure.
FixRun at least 6–12 months of source water data before signing land or civil contracts.
Bundling civil, mechanical, water treatment, oxygen and automation into a single RFQ eliminates specialist bidders and inflates prices.
FixSplit into 5–8 discipline packages so specialists compete on their strongest scope.
Build an RFQ packageTwo RAS quotes with identical CAPEX can differ by 30% in 10-year TCO once energy, spares and mortality risk are included.
FixNormalise every bid on a 10-year Total Cost of Ownership basis.
TCO comparison frameworkContracts that omit measurable KPIs (survival, FCR, energy per kg produced) leave the buyer with no legal recourse if the system underperforms.
FixEvery equipment contract should include measurable performance KPIs and clear remedy language.
Waiting to test critical skids on site instead of in the factory turns punch-list items into 3-week delays and freight round-trips.
FixInclude FAT clauses for every skid over ~USD 100K in value.
FAT vs SAT decision guideBankers reject models built on desktop-research pricing; real quoted CAPEX often lands 15–30% higher.
FixRefresh the CAPEX line with quoted RFQ numbers before finalising the financing pack.
Bankability checklistDevelopment banks and commercial lenders will not underwrite production capacity without at least an LOI from a credible buyer.
FixSecure at least one LOI covering ≥50% of forecast production before the first bank meeting.
Financing hubSalmon, sea bass and shrimp all require 12–24 months of feed and labour before first harvest. Under-funded working capital sinks otherwise viable projects.
FixModel working capital through two full production cycles, not just the first harvest.
A weak Environmental Impact Assessment triggers appeals and licence conditions that can reshape the design after CAPEX is already committed.
FixEngage an experienced local EIA consultant during concept design, not after.
Regulators in most jurisdictions now require documented biosecurity SOPs — projects without one lose months in the licensing queue.
FixDraft biosecurity SOPs during basis-of-design and include them in the licence submission.
Fish are commonly stocked before the nitrifying bacteria are fully seeded, causing ammonia spikes and preventable mortality in the first cohort.
FixMature the biofilter for 4–8 weeks with a controlled ammonia source before first live stocking.
Suppliers hand the plant over — but if operators have not been shadow-trained through commissioning, quality collapses in the first cycle.
FixContract for operator training that overlaps with commissioning, not after handover.
Critical spares (drum-filter cloth, pump seals, O₂ probes, dosing pumps) take 6–12 weeks to reach remote sites. A single failure without spares can cost an entire cohort.
FixNegotiate a 12-month critical-spares kit into every major equipment contract.
FishMatch Group reviews your specs, RFQ packages and financial model before you commit CAPEX — so these mistakes stay off your project.