Flake Ice for Aquaculture
Aquaculture is a method of farming fish and shellfish in commercial fisheries and hatcheries. In the United States, there are two types of aquaculture: marine and freshwater. Marine and freshwater aquaculture produce numerous species of fish and seafood in a safe and controlled environment including oysters, clams, mussels, shrimp, and a wide assortment of fish. It occurs all over the world in freshwater commercial ponds and rivers, in coastal ocean waters, and even in tanks. In 2014, the production of farm-raised fish and shellfish was 608 million pounds and was worth $1.33 billion.
In general, there are four stages of the aquaculture production chain and many of these stages rely on flake ice to delay the spoilage process and keep the seafood fresh longer:
- Hatcheries - this is where the breeding of the fish and the hatching of eggs occurs. Fish that are hatched are reared here during the early stages of their lives.
- Commercial fishing farms - once the fish has matured enough, they’re transferred to a fishing farm where they are grown to an adequate size and harvested.
- Processing facility - once the fish are harvested, they’re sent to a processing plant to be packaged for transportation.
- Transportation - the fish are then loaded onto trucks and transported across the country to be sold in grocery stores and fish markets.
Commercial fishing farms use flake ice to preserve their harvest en route to the processing facility. Fish must be kept at specific temperatures to prevent spoilage and flake ice offers superior long-lasting cooling due to its greater cooling surface area.
Why is Aquaculture Important?
Our oceans and rivers are overfished, and our planet’s natural resources are in danger. Human needs for food will only grow in the coming decades, due to population increases. With an anticipated 10 billion people inhabiting the planet by 2050, the demand for an eco-friendly and sustainable source of seafood will be greater than ever before. Aquaculture is a sustainable option for consumers because it offers a way to increase seafood supply without harming our natural resources. It also produces lower greenhouse gas emissions than other types of farming.
Farm-raised fish and shellfish are found in virtually every grocery store across the United States. Today, 50% of all our seafood comes from aquaculture. By 2030, it is estimated that 62% of all our seafood will come from aquaculture. In 2015, 55% of all seafood consumed in the United States came from three sources: shrimp, salmon, and canned tuna.
Why Choose Howe?
Howe Corporation flake ice machines offer superior cooling for seafood products. Whether you’re using our marine ice maker onboard a fishing vessel or a land based ice maker in a processing plant, we offer a ice maker producing flake ice that is designed for your needs. Our flake ice machines can handle the rigorous demands in the seafood industry and our marine ice makers can produce up to 4,000 pounds of seawater ice, or perfectly flaked freshwater ice every single day.
At Howe Corporation, we are committed to helping fishing farms, processing plants, and seafood transportation companies keep their products cold, fresh, and ready for the consumer – from the farm to the table. Our flake ice machines are the best in the industry and are designed to keep seafood colder longer, meaning more profits and less waste for our clients. For any questions regarding commercial ice flaker or marine ice maker, or any of our products, please contact us.
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