At LOCAL OCEAN, our sustainability vision is focused on local production, regional distribution, nutrient recycling and the use of water conservation and energy savings technologies. We believe that environmentally friendly and sustainable production practices have a dual benefit of supporting market demand for “Green” production while making economic sense and delivering the highest quality product to our customers.
Nutrients Recycling The recycling of nutrients is an important component of LOCAL OCEAN’s sustainable farming program. It is founded on the concept of integrated multi-tropic aquaculture where the waste product of one organism becomes the nutrients for another. For example, fish feces and carbon dioxide, normally considered waste products, become a source of nitrogen and carbon for our microbial biofilters as well as plants being grown hydroponically as part of the farm’s filtration process. The water is purified by this process and is returned back to the fish tanks.
Currently, in hydroponic units at Local Ocean we grow several plant species: Mangroves, Salicornia, and Gracilaria. The plants absorb the nitrogen, phosphorous and carbon in biological waste and convert them into plant material that may be harvested for human or animal feed as well as for pharmaceutical use.
Feed LOCAL OCEAN's commitment to growing the highest quality fish is reflected in our choice of feed. The quality of fish feed is a critical component in our ability to meet growing demand for healthy, ecologically-raised, fresh fish protein. To achieve this goal we have partnered with the best aquatic feed producers in the industry. These companies are recognized worldwide for the superb quality of their product and the excellence of their production practices.
- Skretting Global’s mission is the delivery of outstanding nutrition and services to fish farmers worldwide for the sustainable production of healthy and delicious fish and shrimp.
Here is a video which traces the feed production process all the way to the very source of the feed and exemplifies the practices that distinguish Skretting as a leader in the production and supply of feed for farmed fish.
- Zeigler® is well known for the development of new and innovative technologies for specialty aquatic feed markets. Utilizing core competencies in R&D, nutritional formulation, and process engineering, Zeigler® currently manufactures 300 products and exports to over 50 countries over the world. Zeigler® provides feeds that meet the nutrient requirements of the species being grown by LOCAL OCEAN and promotes their overall well-being. LOCAL OCEAN and Zeigler® share a commitment to the health of our customers and the communities where we operate. LOCAL OCEAN’s main goal is the production of high-quality, healthy, and fresh fish protein. Not only does Zeigler’s production process conform to strict quality guidelines but the company is guided by a vision of positive contribution to health and vitality which is aligned with and helps advance LOCAL OCEAN’s own goals and priorities.
Feed Conversion By raising fish in tanks we optimize our feed usage, delivering only what the fish require for healthy growth. While aquaculture of many marine species is in its early development phase, great strides are being made to understand fish growth patterns and their nutritional requirements. These research results are allowing us to reduce our food conversion ratios (FCR) over time. A common view of FCR is to measure food in relative to fish out. At LOCAL OCEAN, where our zero discharge system recycles nutrients and produces additional proteins such as plant and bacterial proteins, we have refined this FCR by measuring protein in and protein out. In summary, basing the LOCAL OCEAN FCR on feed in (protein) relative to protein out (fish, plants and potentially single cell proteins), LOCAL OCEAN is a complete model of sustainability.
Local Production = Reduced Carbon Footprint Rather than having one very large farm to supply and distribute LOCAL OCEAN -raised fish throughout North America, we are building a company that will place production units near major markets. This enables LOCAL OCEAN to supply the freshest fish possible and at the same time allows us to reduce our carbon footprint through local distribution. Supplying high quality fresh fish requires getting product to the customer very soon after harvest. For most fish producers, this requires using airfreight, which consumes a large amount of energy. With rising fuel prices, the strategy of local production and distribution will give LOCAL OCEAN an economic and quality control advantage in the supply of high quality fresh fish while significantly reducing our carbon footprint.
Water Conservation Our production system is a pioneering effort to produce marine fish species in 100% recirculating water systems. We have no discharge from our production units. We understand the need to conserve fresh water resources and preserve the health of our marine environments. One of the main inputs in raising animal protein is the amount of water required to raise one pound of protein. In general, Beef requires 500 gallons for a pound of protein; Pork requires 100 Gallons, and Chicken - 80 gallons. Fish grown at our facility using LOCAL OCEAN technology require 2 gallons of water for a pound of production. Water usage will become a main focus in the coming years and will increasingly highlight the environmental benefits of aquaculture.
Currently, in hydroponic units at Local Ocean we grow several plant species: Mangroves, Salicornia, and Gracilaria. The plants absorb the nitrogen, phosphorous and carbon in biological waste and convert them into plant material that may be harvested for human or animal feed as well as for pharmaceutical use. 
