Updated Wednesday July 28th 2010
Rearing Cod & other
Species in Freshwater.
The
OROBORUS System
Our new 2.8 million
litre installation in
Singapore
( Our MD and his team have just returned
from Singapore with some exciting developments and will be issuing
a press release shortly )
In order to try and reduce the
number of enquiries we are receiving regarding our groundbreaking Cod research
we hope this page will help clarify a few points. The huge interest in our
program is much appreciated but if you have made a request for further
information please be patient, we will get to you as soon as we can.
Q : Can Cod be reared in a
freshwater lake ?
A : The simple answer is NO. Diobas
would never be involved in a long term program to modify the genetic qualities
of the species which is what would be required if these fish were to ever
flourish in a normal lake. Genetic engineering would be totally against what we
are trying to do as what you would end up with is a fish that looked like a Cod
but would actually be nothing of the sort.
Q : What kind of set up is required
?
A : Obviously it would not be in our
interest to go into great a detail at this point, we do after all have to
protect our investment, but whilst the whole process is quite complex the basics
required to operate a viable unit are readily available. If you have an existing
building or have space to erect one you will need a large tank that can hold at
least 50,000 gallons ( there is virtually no limit as to how large you can go
and tanks are already available to hold as much as 5m gallons ), a secondary
tank around 1/3rd the size, a series of vortex pumps, UV
filtration, protein skimmers and a variety of subsidiary equipment, computers,
valves etc. It is these pumps, UV's and protein skimmers, of our own design,
that are crucial especially as until now effective operation of some of this
technology in freshwater has not been available. The set up
itself is somewhat complicated but once installed is virtually self sufficient,
should require very little maintenance and can operate almost anywhere in the
world. The site must be as sterile as possible however as Cod have no resistance
to freshwater diseases.
Q : Could Cod reared in these tanks
ever be released into the sea ?
A : Most definitely. It may sound
astonishing but this system will actually cope with Cod without any
acclimatisation and in the same way the Cod can be introduced back into the sea
without, as far as we can tell, any ill effects. One of the most important
factors of this research and the main point that has driven us over the years is
that there is a real possibility that apart from the obvious financial gain we
can actually contribute towards restocking our oceans and reversing the damage
that has been done. Another important point is that the vast majority of
fingerlings in the wild fail to survive whereas, under the controlled conditions
of a tank, the survival rate is incredible by comparison and it would not take
long to have a very real impact on our fast diminishing stocks.
Q : How would it affect our trawler
industry ?
A : There will not be a trawler
industry unless something is done soon. As for the long term effects of our
program who knows ? To be frank, even if fish stocks recovered, we doubt that
conventional fishing and all the transportation etc that's involved could ever
compete with our tank system in terms of cost let alone damage to the
environment. Whole fleets of lorries involved in moving the captured fish around
would also be obsolete as one would assume that any large concern adopting our
approach would site the facility near processing plants etc. The savings would
be huge. Perhaps, like other industries such as tin and coal mining the trawler
and all it entails is coming to an end. Sad but there it is. There is also a
very good chance that, given the choice, the consumer will tend to lean towards
tank reared fish as opposed to further damaging existing stocks especially once
everyone sees how well the fish are cared for and the humane way in which they
are reared. Another important point is that Cod reared in tanks will be a
fraction of the price currently charged.
Q : Will your system work with other
sea fish ?
A : The simple answer is that we
just do not know. There are some species which we know for certain could not
survive due to a number of behavioural and biological factors but there are many
others which could conceivably flourish. It will need more research to find out
and perhaps one day we will have the resources to see what is possible. Until
then we have had to concentrate on one species, this research has been extremely
expensive as it is and would not have been possible at all if we had included
other species.
Q : How has your research been
funded ?
A : Entirely from our own profits.
Annoyingly we have not received any help of any sort despite having a program of
international significance. In fact we will almost certainly end up moving the
whole project abroad as funding is readily available on a commercial basis
overseas. The UK is as always far too slow to react to new technology and ideas
especially if they are outside entrenched 'expert' opinion.
It may not even be long before you are eating Cod farmed in other European
countries when our own agricultural industry for example is struggling to
survive. Ludicrous but there it is.
Q : Does this system
require a constant supply of fresh water ?
A : No. Once the tanks are filled
they are pretty much self sufficient with almost no topping up required.
Q : Why are
computers required ?
A : The system is time and season
sensitive which requires constant attention. It could be done manually but would
be very labour intensive. By using computer controlled environmental adjustment
the system is always at its maximum efficiency eliminating human error as well
as being much less complicated to operate. A second computer is installed purely
as backup. We can supply the software etc which at the time of writing is almost
through it's development/debugging stage.
Q : How much would a
viable tank system cost and can you install it for us ?
A : The cost is obviously dependant
on just how large you want your unit to be. To be viable in terms of both
habitat and financial return you will need at least 50,000 galls capacity, the
larger the system the more profitable it becomes. We can advise on installation
anywhere in the world but you will need to contact us to get an accurate
individual estimate as there are many factors to take into consideration. Each
system is tailor made to suite the outside environment in terms of temperature,
latitudinal location etc. The contact form below will put you in touch with our
managing director direct and he will get back to you as soon as possible to
discuss the matter further.
Q : What would be
the cost of producing each Cod ?
A : Not easy to answer such a
sweeping question but on average we anticipate that a 100,000 gallon system
would produce Cod for sale at a unit cost of around £1,400 per tonne. There are
many factors that can influence this figure depending on location, energy
requirement and so on so the figure quoted is a realistic average assuming there
are no extreme factors to take into account.
Q : Could this
system operate anywhere in the world ?
A : In theory yes.
Q : Do you have any
plans to breed other species ?
A : We'd love to try but at present
we have no immediate plans to carry out further programs. It costs a great deal
of money and until we capitalise on the current research we just do not have the
resources. There comes a point where the research has to stop. This system is
revolutionary and blows apart many inaccurate and preconceived ideals about Cod
as a species. A great deal of very worthwhile but conventional research has been
done over many years by a whole host of reputable organisations, none of whom
have any criticism from us,................ we have just gone down an entirely
different route.
Q : If my company
wanted to install one of your units how long would it take and what is the
procedure ?
A : At present it will be around 3
months before we will be ready to offer a 'packaged' system. We are a small
company with limited resources and at present only have a small pilot unit used
for research. We need to scale up the system dramatically which takes more
capital investment than we have at this current time. Once we have found a
partner to help us develop a full scale system the whole process will accelerate
quickly as all the theoretical work has been done. Whoever this partner is they
will benefit from having the very first freshwater Cod rearing system in the
world and as such will have an enormous advantage over their competition.
Enquiries are coming in daily now that we have gone public but we need to choose
our partner very carefully for obvious reasons and negotiations can be
painstakingly slow. Frustrating but none the less necessary. Once we have a deal
we can create the first large scale system in a matter on months and hope to
offer systems to anyone that wants one in about 3 months time on a first come
first served basis. We are already beginning to compile a waiting list so the
sooner you make contact the sooner you are likely to have your own unit.
Unfortunately the time scale is further influenced by the fact that all
negotiations so far regarding investment have been with countries outside the UK
which is delaying the process, meetings take longer etc and the legal
requirements of offering our shares in return for joint development of the
system and all it's peripherals can be a lot more complex than having a UK
partner. The British market is waking up to the fact that they will be left
behind but we do not want to waste more time than is necessary, everything is so
slow over here and we are anxious to push forward. We suggest you contact us for
a discussion on your company's needs, location etc and we will do all we can to
sort out some kind of time scale for you as well as give you an approximate idea
of the cost. Unfortunately our diary is filling up rapidly but we will do all we
possibly can to see you as quickly as can be arranged. Apart from the urgent
need to get this technology underway to help protect our wild Cod we realise the
distinct advantage any company will have over their competition if they get in
first as it were so we will arrange a meeting with you as soon as we can. We
must however do this on pro rata basis to be fair to all interested parties.
Q : What kind of
commercial partner are you looking for, do they have to be established in any
particular sector and how much investment is required ?
A : We are not prepared to discuss
figures on the net as the permutations are endless. Obviously if you are already
in the fish processing business then you will have a good idea of what you could
achieve from a joint venture but we will talk to anyone who is interested from
those that are involved in the peripheral technology, pump and tank
manufacturers etc, as well as financial organisations who have a more global
interest in establishing the systems worldwide. At present offers of funding are
not the problem as the huge potential and diversity of the project offers a vast
return on any investment but whilst the financial aspects are vitally important
to all concerned, and the potential should be obvious to anyone, there is also
an ethical side that needs to be carefully addressed as it is important to
ensure that any partner allows a percentage of the profits to go towards a
restocking program at some point in the future and further research into other
species. As we have already said. we need to choose our partner very carefully
whilst moving as quickly as we can.
Q : Any news on whether your Cod program will
stay in the UK ? I for one think it's ridiculous that the government aren't
snapping it up especially with the farming industry in such a mess, the natural
fish stocks nearing extinction and the fact that they can throw so much money at
the banks who end up keeping it anyway !!!!!!!!!
A: Government policy is all about being
re-elected not actually making a difference . . . the whole 'green' issue is
just another way of getting more taxes with more money spent on quango's and
pointless committee studies than will ever be spent on anything worthwhile.
However, in answer to your question the project will almost certainly go
overseas, sad but there it is.
Q : I have been in the fishing industry all my
working life and am now a skipper working out of a Scottish port. Life is hard
enough and earning a living is even harder. I risk my life on the sea to pay
bills and put food on the table and you could make my life impossible if you
raise Cod on land. Have you thought about the damage to the trawler industry and
all the people dependant on it ? You are just another dam businessman looking
for profit with no thought about the damage you do to others !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A : Firstly I am fish behavioural specialist, not
the head of a corporate company. Secondly you made your career choice , no-one
made it for you and thirdly the fishing industry has lived off the sea for many
years without caring much about fish stocks until there are no more to catch. If
anyone is guilty of the ruthless drive for cash without caring about the
consequences its the trawler fleets. There is no need to risk your life at sea
when the tank system can provide a safe income on land and to set it up costs
about 1/3rd less than a new trawler. There is none of the idiocy that surrounds
quota's, no waste and a guaranteed return without having to deplete what stocks
are left, in fact we are earmarking a percentage of fingerlings to one day begin
a restocking program to help repair the damage done.
I sympathise with everyone involved in the
fishing industry, it's a way of life that follows many others, from coal miners
to blacksmiths . . . but the time has come to take a responsible attitude
towards the needs of an ever growing population, all of whom need food and if
that demand can be met in a rational non-damaging way then it has to be the
logical path forward. This planet is in enough trouble already and any new
technology that helps alleviate the problems we will all face in the future is
surely more important than any individual trade or lifestyle, in fact it's every
industry's duty to embrace new ideas that benefit everyone else, however painful
those decisions may be.
Press
Release
