Highest quality and freshness: The fish and seafood are farmed under optimal conditions. By controlling environmental factors such as water, feed and density, diseases and stress for the animals can be minimized. This results in a safe and healthy product for consumers. Controlled conditions with food for the perfect taste: The nutrient content of the food can be specifically controlled and adjusted, which has a positive effect on the taste. In addition, the animals are raised without the stress and exertion of life in the wild, which has a positive effect on texture and tenderness. Reducing risks to wild populations: Isolating farm fish in land-based systems reduces the risk of farm fish escaping into the wild. This is particularly important to protect the genetic integrity of wild populations, as escaped farm fish can impact the gene pool of wild fish.
Landbased farming
Why landbased farming is the future
Global overfishing is one of the most serious threats to the health of the oceans and the survival of their inhabitants. Destructive fishing methods, net bycatch, microplastics and global shipping are destroying complex ecosystems that are essential for healthy fish stocks.
Fortunately, there is an alternative: land-based aquaculture (LBA). This involves raising fish and seafood in systems that operate on land rather than in natural waters. Find out how this method works and what advantages it offers here.
What is landbased farming?
Landbased aquaculture refers to the rearing of aquatic organisms such as fish or crustaceans in systems that operate on land rather than in natural waters. The main aspects of landbased farming involve the use of fresh or sea water in closed systems such as tanks, ponds or canals that are above the high water mark. Farming systems vary from those that extract and discharge water from natural sources such as rivers and lakes (HFS systems) to recirculating systems that reuse water with minimal discharge (RAS systems).
The characteristics of landbased aquaculture
Optimal control
The closed loop within these systems allows environmental conditions to be precisely controlled and optimized to promote the growth and health of the cultured organisms.
Efficient water use and minimization of discharges
A key advantage of land-based aquaculture is the efficient use of water. By reducing water consumption and avoiding discharges into natural waters, the LBA contributes to protecting the environment.
Benefits for sustainability and food safety
Landbased aquaculture offers numerous benefits in terms of sustainability and food safety. The controlled environment allows diseases and pests to be effectively monitored and treated, reducing the use of chemicals and antibiotics. In addition, LBA enables year-round production, regardless of seasonal fluctuations or environmental conditions in natural waters.
Environmentally friendly alternative and protection of natural stocks: Landbased aquaculture plays a crucial role in protecting natural fish stocks and preserving marine ecosystems. The controlled breeding of fish and seafood can prevent overfishing of the oceans and at the same time ensure a sustainable supply of high-quality products. This method supports the preservation of biodiversity and reduces the pressure on wild populations.
Germany reached the "End of Fish Day" in March 2024, five alarming weeks earlier than in 2019. The "End of Fish Day" marks the calculated day on which the available German fish reserves from the North and Baltic Seas are used up for the entire year. With the founding of the company Crusta Nova, today divided into the companies HONEST CATCH and Oceanloop, a European source of supply for high-quality shrimp was created, which is to be expanded even further in the future.
Landbased Farming: Closed Systems
Hybrid flow-through systems (HFS) and recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) are two different approaches to using water in aquaculture systems.
Hybrid flow systems use a continuous supply of water from natural sources such as rivers or groundwater. The water flows through the system once and, after being cleaned, is discharged back into natural waters. In addition, around 65% of the water is reused. In contrast, recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) are closed systems with minimal water changes in which the water is continuously cleaned and reused.
Hybrid flow systems (HFS)
The technology, which is used in char farming, for example, ensures a continuous flow of fresh, filtered seawater while reducing energy consumption by reusing around 65 percent of this input. This means that all the water in the tanks is replaced with new, fresh water from the sea every four hours to ensure good water quality. The use of the HFS system minimizes the operational and biological risk of fish and seafood farming on land. It ensures controlled and optimal growth conditions, minimizes the risk of parasites and limits the risk of infection. One tank corresponds to a single bio-secure room.
Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS)
The Oceanloop farms are closed RAS-aquaculture facilities that not only minimize water consumption, but also do not use any chemicals, antibiotics or other additives. Excellent water quality, self-developed, high-quality feed and special habitats ensure an optimal and species-appropriate environment in which the shrimp can grow with enough space. Compared to HFS systems, 90-99 % of the water used in recirculating operations is treated and reused, which drastically reduces water consumption.
The advantages of landbased farming at a glance
How do I recognize landbased products?
At HONEST CATCH, you can recognize fish and seafood from landbased aquaculture by our seal, which you can find under the title on the respective product pages. The labeled products use either one method or the other to support the ecosystem in the best possible way.
As seafood innovators, we are always striving to expand our range to include these products and thus guarantee you a special taste experience. Our current selection of seafood from land-based aquaculture includes "placeholder text". Convince yourself of the special quality.
Landbased products at HONEST CATCH
As seafood innovators, we are always striving to expand our range to include these products and thus guarantee you a special taste experience. Our current selection of seafood from land-based aquaculture includes our flagship product, the Bavarian shrimp, salmon fillets from Salmon Evolution, whole salmon sides from Denmark and fillets of Arctic char from Iceland. Convince yourself of the special quality of these pioneering aquacultures.
Delicacies from landbased aquaculture
MEER-Rabatt
Salmon fillet portion, landbased
with skin
CHF 5.99*
CHF 47.92 /kg
Sold out
Bavarian shrimp, fresh
with head & shell
from CHF 24.99*
MEER-Rabatt
Char fillets
with skin
CHF 8.99*
CHF 56.19 /kg
MEER-Rabatt
Bavarian shrimp, easy peel
headless, deveined
from CHF 17.99*
Sold out
Land based salmon side
mit Haut
from CHF 59.99*
MEER-Rabatt
Bavarian shrimp, frozen
with head & shell
CHF 44.99*
CHF 89.98 /kg
MEER-Rabatt
Bavarian shrimp, ready to cook
without head & shell, deveined
from CHF 21.99*
MEER-Rabatt
Bavarian shrimp skewers
without head & shell, deveined
from CHF 22.99*
On sale
Carpaccio Bavarian shrimp
Ready to serve in no time
CHF 13.99*
CHF 16.99*
CHF 279.80 /kg
FAQs about landbased farming & the products
What are the positive impacts of landbased aquaculture?
Landbased aquaculture offers numerous advantages over traditional methods of fish farming. Closed water circulation systems significantly reduce water consumption and minimize the discharge of nutrients and pollutants into natural waters. Since the fish are kept in a controlled environment, no use of antibiotics is required, which further reduces environmental impact.
In addition, land-based aquaculture enables year-round production that is independent of weather conditions. Growth conditions can be optimally controlled, which leads to higher production efficiency.
What hurdles are there for the future?
The high investment costs in research and development to make landbased aquaculture economically viable and ecologically sustainable represent a major challenge.
Is seafood from landbased aquaculture more expensive than conventional products?
Seafood from landbased aquaculture is currently more expensive than conventional products due to the high investment and operating costs of the recirculating systems.