The most efficient way to farm seafood? How RAS, AI & bluetech are reinventing aquaculture.
- Marilou SUC
- 29 mars
- 4 min de lecture
With more than 50% of the seafood we consume now coming from aquaculture, this sector has become central to our global food security. And its role is only set to grow.
By 2050, we’ll need to feed nearly 10 billion people, and traditional protein sources alone won't be enough.
Enter aquaculture, a food production system that offers one of the lowest carbon footprints per gram of protein. Among its many forms, Recirculated Aquaculture Systems (RAS) are attracting increasing attention due to their potential to make aquaculture climate-resilient, efficient, and scalable, anywhere in the world.
To explore this topic in depth, I invited a very special guest to the podcast: Cristobal Aguilera, a visionary in the field of aquaculture innovation.
Cristobal has been a leader in the aquaculture world for over three decades, working across both the public and private sectors. He is currently Aquaculture Innovation Manager at IRTA (Catalan Institute for Research and Technology in Agrifood), based in Spain, where he develops cutting-edge RAS platforms, including IRTAmar®.
In addition to his work at IRTA, Cristobal has served as Cluster Manager of ACUIPLUS, where he facilitated collaboration between companies, universities, and research institutions to accelerate aquaculture innovation.
He is also the author of the book Historias Acuícolas and writes for the blog ACUITOPIA, where he shares insights and ideas on the evolution of the industry.
“Innovation is not magic. It’s a discipline, and it starts with the desire to change.” – Cristobal Aguilera
What is RAS and how does it work?
Recirculated Aquaculture Systems (RAS) are land-based, closed-loop systems that allow for fish to be raised in controlled environments with minimal water usage and waste.
Water is continuously filtered, treated, and reused, maintaining optimal living conditions for the fish.
Cristobal offers a simple analogy:
“It’s like a home aquarium—but instead of a few goldfish, we’re managing high-density populations of sea bass or salmon. And we must keep the water pristine at all times.”
A well-designed RAS allows:
Precise control of environmental variables
Isolation from external contaminants and diseases
Reduced pressure on coastal ecosystems
Proximity to urban markets, lowering carbon emissions from transport
Key parameters monitored in RAS systems
To ensure fish welfare and productivity, RAS operators must track and manage a wide array of physico-chemical and biological parameters.
These include:
Water temperature – Affects fish metabolism, growth, and immunity. Fish are poikilothermic and need stable thermal conditions.
Dissolved oxygen (DO) – Essential for respiration; managed through oxygenation systems.
pH levels – Impacts ammonia toxicity and biofilter performance.
Ammonia (NH₃) – Generated from fish waste and uneaten feed; must be broken down by biofilters.
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) – Excess CO₂ can reduce oxygen uptake and cause stress.
Water flow rate and turnover – Ensures waste removal and even distribution of oxygen.
Feeding rates and waste levels – Directly impact water quality and fish health.
“Fish only thrive when their environment is stable. The less energy they spend fighting stress, the more they grow.” – Cristobal Aguilera
The rise of smart aquaculture: from real-time monitoring to AI-driven prediction
Modern RAS systems are no longer just mechanical, they’re becoming fully digital ecosystems.
At IRTA, Cristobal is piloting a new generation of neuromorphic sensors, which include multiple microchips within a single probe. Each chip monitors a specific parameter, allowing for high-resolution, real-time water quality monitoring.
These sensors feed into AI-enabled platforms that don’t just observe, they learn and predict.
“If ammonia starts to climb, the system knows a problem is coming. It tells you: reduce feeding now, before it’s too late.”
This shift toward anticipatory systems is revolutionizing aquaculture by:
Reducing the risk of disease outbreaks
Improving feeding strategies
Optimizing energy and resource use
Supporting better decision-making at the farm level
Cristobal’s team is working on an intelligent version of their RAS platform, IRTAmar AI, which will be unveiled at Aquafuture 2025 in Vigo, Spain.
Teaching the next generation of ocean stewards
Public perception of aquaculture, and especially RAS, still suffers from misconceptions. Most consumers can’t distinguish between cage farming, land-based farming, or even wild-caught seafood. That’s why education is key, starting with the youngest among us.
Cristobal participated in the EU-funded NewTechAqua project, which developed:
Toolkits for schoolteachers
Hands-on activities
Mini-aquaponic systems for classrooms
“We built small RAS units for schools, with fish, plants, filters, to show kids how food is produced sustainably. They loved it.”
Children are not only future consumers, they are future advocates. Teaching them about sustainable seafood and climate-resilient farming is an investment in the future of our oceans and food systems.
Challenges and opportunities: making RAS accessible
Despite its benefits, RAS isn’t a silver bullet. It requires:
High initial investment
Skilled workforce
Reliable infrastructure and energy
Cristobal believes that to broaden adoption, we must simplify technology:
“Farmers don’t want complicated graphs. They want to know: Are my fish okay? Are they eating? Is the system running well?”
To scale RAS globally, solutions must be:
Modular and adaptable to different species and environments
Cost-effective, especially in areas where water is scarce
Combined with training and support for local producers
Building a culture of innovation in aquaculture
Innovation, Cristobal says, is not about waiting for a "eureka" moment, it’s about creating the right conditions for change. This means training people, sharing knowledge, and building multidisciplinary teams.
“Sometimes, the best ideas come from the technicians on the ground, who see problems before anyone else.”
IRTA’s approach includes:
Training programs in innovation management
Cross-collaboration between researchers and producers
Experimentation with AI, IoT, and bio-circularity
The future of RAS: smarter, simpler, and more sustainable
Cristobal envisions a RAS system that is:
Easy to deploy in any setting, even resource-scarce regions
Fully integrated into circular systems like IMTA (Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture)
Capable of turning waste into new resources (e.g. sludge into insect feed)
A catalyst for local job creation and food sovereignty
“RAS must be scalable, circular, and empowering. It’s not just a technology, it’s a tool for building climate resilience and social equity.”
Listen to the full episode
This episode is a must-listen for anyone working in sustainable aquaculture, ocean innovation, blue tech, or food system transformation. Whether you’re a startup founder, a seafood buyer, a policymaker, or just a curious ocean lover—there’s something for everyone.
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Stay connected with Cristobal Aguilera
IRTAmar: https://irtamar.irta.cat/
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