TCO Comparison Tool

10-year total cost of ownership — RAS vs Pond vs Cage vs Biofloc.

The metric that lenders, boards and family offices actually use. Adjust capacity, horizon, energy and feed prices — see CAPEX, OPEX, energy, feed and mortality stacked side-by-side for four production systems.

Inputs

Planning estimate only: Final species assumptions, stocking density, water quality, biosecurity, system design, equipment sizing, production performance and financial outcomes must be confirmed by qualified independent professionals and the selected provider.

Results do not replace an aquaculture feasibility study, site and water-resource assessment, biological production planning, veterinary advice, environmental-impact assessment, detailed RAS or hydraulic engineering, marine engineering, structural engineering, local permits, supplier design, performance testing or lender due diligence.

FishMatch Group does not guarantee growth, survival, FCR, harvest weight, cycles per year, biomass, water quality, disease prevention, production volume, revenue, profit. Outputs are not legal, financial, engineering, tax or veterinary advice. Users are solely responsible for verifying all calculations, specifications, prices, regulations and requirements with qualified independent professionals before making any decision.

Supplier and manufacturer listings are provided for research, transparency and discovery only. FishMatch Group does not provide automatic buyer-supplier introductions. Every aquaculture project request is reviewed manually by David / FishMatch Group, and supplier introductions are made only after internal approval.

Lowest 10-year TCO
Marine cage
$4k / tonne produced · $22.02M lifetime
Lifetime total
$22.02M
Marine cage
Moderate CAPEX. Feed and licensing dominate. Environmental and permit risk.
$22.02M
$4k / t
CAPEX
$4.00M
Energy
$420k
Feed
$10.00M
Fixed
$6.00M
Mortality
$1.60M
Earthen pond
Lowest CAPEX. Feed & mortality dominate. Sensitive to climate and disease events.
$23.15M
$5k / t
CAPEX
$2.25M
Energy
$630k
Feed
$13.60M
Fixed
$4.50M
Mortality
$2.17M
Biofloc / RAS-lite
Mid CAPEX, reduced water exchange. Popular for shrimp and tilapia.
$26.90M
$5k / t
CAPEX
$6.00M
Energy
$1.68M
Feed
$10.80M
Fixed
$7.00M
Mortality
$1.42M
RAS (indoor)
Highest CAPEX, lowest water use, tightest biosecurity. Energy is the swing variable.
$33.05M
$7k / t
CAPEX
$11.00M
Energy
$2.94M
Feed
$9.20M
Fixed
$9.00M
Mortality
$910k
Methodology

How the numbers are built

CAPEX is expressed per tonne/year of installed capacity — a common benchmark used in project finance. Defaults reflect mid-range greenfield builds in stable regulatory markets.

Energy is kWh per tonne produced, multiplied by your local electricity cost. RAS is the most sensitive to this input; ponds and cages are barely affected.

Feed uses feed conversion ratio (FCR) × capacity × feed price. FCR defaults: RAS 1.15, biofloc 1.35, cage 1.25, pond 1.70.

Fixed OPEX covers labour, maintenance, insurance baseline, licences and admin. Mortality writes off a fraction of feed + fixed opex based on typical loss rates.

Numbers are indicative benchmarks — not a substitute for a costed engineering study. Use the tool to shortlist systems; request a private RFQ for a project-specific quotation.

FAQ

TCO in aquaculture — answered

Short answer

What is the fastest way to get quotes for TCO Comparison?

Submit one structured request for TCO Comparison. FishMatch Group translates it into a technical RFQ, runs a confidential sourcing round with project-matched international suppliers, and returns comparable quotations. No fee is charged to the buyer, and your identity and project details stay private until you choose to proceed.

How it works:
One structured request, human-reviewed before any supplier outreach
Typical turnaround:
Depends on scope and site data; no turnaround is guaranteed
Confidentiality:
Supplier names are never exposed during evaluation
Cost to buyers:
No fee charged to the buyer
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