An Australian Shrimp Farm Relies on Reliable Aeration as the Foundation for Its Expansion and Long-Term Sustainability.

SUMMARY

Since 2003, the shrimp farm Pacific Reef Fisheries (PRF) has been a valued customer of Aeration Industries International (AII). PRF’s General Manager and Vice President of the Australian Prawn Farmers Association, John Moloney, began working with PRF in 1994 and has remained focused on the sustainable growth of aquaculture ever since.

PRF was established in 1994. In 2016, the farm was granted approval to expand its shrimp operation to 259 hectares. PRF has relied on consistent, low-maintenance aeration to ensure healthy shrimp growth, which in turn enabled the farm to focus resources and opportunities on sustainable expansion.

Due to Australia’s strict environmental regulations, expansion approvals are not easily obtained. PRF was able to meet and exceed effluent discharge requirements through careful attention to water quality and the use of sustainably sourced feed. Water quality was further improved through sand filtration and macroalgae production. These environmentally responsible initiatives were critical to securing approval to expand shrimp farming along Australia’s pristine coastline.

CHALLENGE

To obtain expansion approval, farm managers and operators were required to invest significant time and resources into research and development, while still ensuring efficient day-to-day operations. One of the main challenges was maintaining adequate aeration at night, when it is more difficult to keep dissolved oxygen levels above 3–4 ppm. The margin for error is very small, if aerators fail during this critical period, ponds are at risk of stress or potential stock loss. Consistent aeration is essential for producing high-quality shrimp.

SOLUTION

Newterra provided an aspirated aerator with a simple design consisting of only seven components and no gearbox. Aside from a high-pressure water spray after each cycle, Newterra aerators are designed to deliver consistent performance at all times. Their simple, low-maintenance design allowed farm operators to easily perform required maintenance while research and development activities continued. Beyond the minimal maintenance benefits, John Moloney emphasized that reliability is the primary reason PRF uses Newterra aerators. No other aerator has proven more effective at maintaining safe nighttime oxygen levels, without breakdowns or failures. Even issues with one or two aerators, particularly during harvest periods, can place tons of shrimp at risk.

RESULTS

Providing simple, reliable aeration has been critical to PRF’s success and growth. It has reduced maintenance demands while ensuring healthy shrimp production, especially during the most critical operating periods. As a result, PRF has decided to install additional Newterra aerators in its ponds and include them in future expansion plans.