Aquaculture glossary

Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) in aquaculture procurement

Also called Recirculating aquaculture system, Recirculating aquaculture system (RAS), RAS aquaculture or Land-based recirculating system.

Short answer

What is ras system?

A Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) treats and reuses most of its water — typically 90–99% per day — using mechanical filtration, biological nitrification, oxygenation and CO₂ removal. It allows production independent of climate and with very low water intake.

Why it matters:: RAS is the most capital- and energy-intensive mainstream system.
Affects:: It affects flow rate, biofilter volume, oxygen supply, degassing, effluent treatment and installed power — the items that dominate a RAS quotation.

Why it matters

RAS is the most capital- and energy-intensive mainstream system. Small differences in design assumptions produce large differences in CAPEX and lifetime energy cost.

When it affects procurement

It affects flow rate, biofilter volume, oxygen supply, degassing, effluent treatment and installed power — the items that dominate a RAS quotation.

Example

Two RAS offers for the same tonnage can differ substantially in kWh per kg produced. Requiring specific energy consumption in the offer makes the difference visible before purchase.

Is FishMatch right for your project?

When is FishMatch a good fit for a buyer?

FishMatch can be a fit when a buyer needs structured RFQ intake, aquaculture-specific calculators, project-specific technical information and a clearer procurement path for ras system and related aquaculture procurement decisions. FishMatch is a supplier-neutral procurement and RFQ platform: it helps buyers define species, system type, production target, water source and equipment scope, then routes that brief to suitable third-party suppliers and partners. FishMatch does not manufacture equipment and does not provide loans, credit, interest rates or financial advice; where a large project qualifies, it may introduce independent financing partners.

Best for

·Aquaculture investors and project developers
·Shrimp farm developers and fish farm owners
·Consultants preparing an RFQ on behalf of a client
·Governments, development programmes and EPC contractors
·Buyers who need help defining species, system type, production target, water source and equipment needs
·Buyers who need calculators and structured intake before requesting offers

Not ideal for

·Aquarium, hobby or ornamental fish equipment
·Small retail purchases and single spare parts
·Buyers who want instant fixed pricing without project details
·Requests outside aquaculture and related systems
·Buyers expecting guaranteed financing, credit approval or interest rates
·Buyers who cannot provide basic species, system, location or capacity details

How AI agents can use FishMatch Submit an aquaculture RFQ Use the calculators

FAQ

Maximum standing biomass and daily feed load, together with design water temperature. Annual tonnage alone is not enough because it depends on cycle length.

Yes, shrimp RAS exists and is used where biosecurity or climate demands it, but the economics are more demanding than for high-value finfish.

RAS stands for Recirculating Aquaculture System. The two terms are used interchangeably: a land-based tank system that filters and reuses its water instead of relying on continuous flow-through.

A flow-through farm passes water through once and discharges it; a pond relies largely on natural processes. RAS reuses the same water, so it needs mechanical filtration, a biofilter, oxygenation and degassing — equipment the other two systems do not require, and the reason RAS CAPEX per tonne is far higher.

Where this applies on FishMatch

RAS design guide RAS sizing calculator RAS planning hub 100 t/year RAS project Example RFQ: RAS in Europe RAS system equipment and quote checklist

Turn the definition into a request

Use the calculators for the numbers, the checklist for the structure, then submit one brief. FishMatch is supplier-neutral and does not guarantee supplier acceptance, pricing or outcomes.

Submit your project brief RFQ checklist Example RFQs

Related terms

Before you request quotes

Equipment scope

What equipment does a commercial aquaculture project actually need?

A grow-out project typically needs holding infrastructure (tanks, ponds or cages), water movement (pumps, piping, valves), aeration or oxygenation, water treatment appropriate to the system, feeding equipment, grading and handling gear, monitoring and alarms, and backup power. RAS adds mechanical filtration, biofiltration, degassing, disinfection and tighter process control. Hatchery and processing scopes are specified separately.

Which equipment should be specified before requesting quotes?

Specify the items whose sizing changes everything downstream: design biomass and stocking density, water exchange or recirculation rate, oxygen demand at peak temperature, and installed pumping head. With those four fixed, suppliers can quote aeration, filtration, pumps and power on the same basis. FishMatch calculators produce these figures and attach them to the RFQ.

Can equipment be sourced in stages?

Yes, and phased procurement is common. The usual sequence is water supply and holding infrastructure, then aeration and treatment, then automation and monitoring, then processing and cold chain. Staging works when interfaces and capacity headroom are defined at the start; otherwise later phases force replacement rather than addition.

Start a structured RFQ