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RASTECH 2023 Orlando takes deep dive into RAS industry

Whether it’s raising fish juveniles, smolt or full harvest size, the RASTech 2023 Conference and Trade Fair covers the latest developments, innovations, and research in land-based fish farming.

Scheduled to be held from April 20-23 at the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes, in Florida, this year’s event is made up of three tracks – Business, Operation and Research – that will allow attendees to delve deeper into the many facets of the recirculating aquaculture industry.

Top industry experts and executives of the world’s leading aquaculture companies will be on-hand to discuss and share their experiences and knowledge. Day Three of the conference will involve a tour of the Evans Fish Farm. The 100-acre fish farm located in Pierson, Flo., is one of the first complete sturgeon aquaculture operations in the United States.

Among those lined-up as event speakers are:  Sylvia Wulf, CEO and president of AquaBounty Technologies; Yonathan Zohar, project director of RAS-N & SAS2, and presidential professor and chair of marine biology at the University of Maryland; Siri Tømmerås, commercial director, land-based, at AKVA Group; Yoav Dagan, partner and vice president of business development  at AquaMaof Technologies; Karl Øystein Øyehaug, CFO of Atlantic Sapphire; Chris Good, director of research at the Freshwater Institute; Tracy Navarro, president and general manager of Trader Hills Farm; and more.

“The RASTech Conference and Trade Fair is a one-stop-shop for the RAS community. This unique RAS event is a place for people to learn about the business, operations, and innovative research while networking with experts from around the world,” said David Kuhn, event co-organizer and founding partner of Virginia Tech.

Day 1 Keynote will include insights on “Lessons learned” from speakers Per Heggelund, consultant and investor owner of Nordic Partners LLC; Justin Henry, consultant at Henry Aquaculture Consult Inc., and chief technology officer of West Coast Salmon; Karl Øystein Øyhaug; and Sylvia Wulf.

Other sessions for this day will feature RASTech editor Jean Ko Din, who will moderate a series of sessions on “Creating a RAS Business Model;” Marianne Naess of Xcelerate Aqua discusses “Recruitment and talent management;” and Yonathan Zohar, will lead the RAS-N and SAS2 sessions.

On Day 2 Martin Gardner, president of Blue Ridge Aquaculture; Geno Evans, CEO of Evans Fish Farms; Eric Pederson, president and founder of Ideal Fish, will provide the keynote and speak on “The case for vertical integration.” Other speakers for this day include: Jaime Stein, co-founder of Devonian Capital, who heads off the Investors’ Forum; Kathleen Hartman and Bill Keleher discuss Fish health and welfare; Dianne Fletcher, communications specialist for Kingfish Maine, speaks about How to Build a Brand; and Huy Tran, senior biologist and co-owner of Aquatic Equipment & Design, will talk about aquaponics.

“Our trade show has grown from fifty to eighty exhibitor booths this year reflecting a real appetite from industry suppliers wanting to play their part in this expanding segment of aquaculture. It’s a great opportunity for attendees to check out all the latest RAS products and equipment options for their RAS project or existing operations. It’s like a one-stop-shop for RAS,” according to Jeremy Thain, RASTech associate publisher.