How much does a shrimp farm cost?

Semi-intensive lined ponds: roughly $150K–$400K per hectare CAPEX, plus land, permits and working capital. Super-intensive and shrimp-RAS are 3–10× higher per hectare but produce 10–50× the yield. Use our Commercial CAPEX and Shrimp Yield calculators for a project-specific estimate.

How much does a commercial RAS cost?

$8,000–$25,000+ per tonne of annual capacity, depending on species, climate and specific energy target. A 500 t/year RAS typically ranges $4M–$12M. Use our RAS Sizing and Commercial CAPEX calculators.

How much land is required for a fish farm?

Pond systems: 1–5 hectares per 100 t/year (semi-intensive). RAS: 0.05–0.2 hectares per 100 t/year. Marine cages: minimal land, but coastline and permits are the constraint.

How much water is needed?

Pond flow-through: 3,000–10,000 L/kg produced. RAS: 300–1,500 L/kg. Ponds with reuse: 1,000–3,000 L/kg. Confirm with a mass-balance and a source-water analysis.

How much electricity is required?

RAS: 4–10 kWh/kg produced. Super-intensive shrimp: 2–5 kWh/kg. Pond systems with aeration: 0.3–1 kWh/kg. Use our Energy Cost calculator to translate into $/kg and $/year.

How do I prepare an RFQ?

Use the Project Builder to shape scope, then the RFQ Package Builder to generate a bank-ready procurement package. Provide species, life-stage, capacity, water analysis, energy envelope, permits and warranty expectations.

How do I choose suppliers?

Never rank — tender. Use Employer's Requirements (outcomes, not brands), invite 4–6 qualified vendors, compare bids in a common format (CAPEX + 10-year OPEX), and require performance guarantees.

Do I need financing before RFQ?

Not necessarily — start with pre-qualification (see our Financing Pre-Qualifier). Debt lenders typically want a signed EPC and bankable design; equity partners engage earlier.

Which certifications should I target?

ASC and BAP are the most widely accepted by global retailers. Design farms and processing plants for certification from day one — retrofitting is 3–10× more expensive.

How long does a commercial project take?

Feasibility to first harvest: 12–36 months typical, depending on scale, permits and construction complexity. Add 6–24 months for export approval.

FAQ

Commercial aquaculture FAQ

The questions commercial buyers, investors and governments actually ask before committing capital.

Frequently asked questions

Next steps

Turn this knowledge into a bankable project.

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Short answer

What do buyers need to know about FAQ?

FAQ affects both project cost and project risk, so it belongs in the specification stage rather than the purchasing stage. This page sets out what commercial buyers assess, what typically drives cost and lead time, and which questions to put to suppliers before signing. You can turn any of it into a confidential RFQ in a few minutes.

Who it is for:: Investors, operators and project developers specifying commercial systems
Cost drivers:: Capacity, water source, energy price, permitting and logistics
Next step:: Turn the requirement into a confidential RFQ
Cost to buyers:: No fee charged to the buyer