Services

Luke's diverse research infrastructures are suitable frameworks for experimental research on renewable natural resources and are widely available throughout Finland.

Laukaa aquaculture research station (LARS) is composed of different sectons: a) the “RAS laboratory” with 10 individual small-scale systems (500 L fish tanks) with stage-of-art water quality sensors (spectrometer, O2, CO2, pH) and computer vision cameras where data can be accessed online; b) the “RAS pilot”, a 10 tn capacity system (four 5 m3 fish tanks) connected to an external passive water treatment f ield for zero-discharge aquaculture research; c) the “Hybrid RAS”, a versatile six tank system (500 L fish tanks), capable of switching from flow-through to partial-RAS and furthermore to full RAS enabling studies such as juvenile production and off-flavour management; d) a “Multi-tank RAS” with 20 x 400 L f ish tanks which has been used for feed trials and to produce e.g. juveniles with different backgrounds for marine farming experiments.

LARS is a service to study freshwater RAS technology for production and water cleaning, fish performance, off-flavours, product quality and feed development. Facilities have been used to by RAS industry, including start-ups, and in Nordic transnational co-operation.

Bioresources available

Rainbow trout and European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) are available at the farm. The species to be used is negotiable.

Support offered

The TA user will be supported by Luke’s extensive, well-established international research community in the fields of breeding, wild fish populations, aquaculture, genomics and computational genetics, to which the users join. Luke will train TA users to utilise the infrastructures and the associated analytical tools and data bases. Luke staff will aid in finding accommodation either within Luke’s own accommodations or via external services.

Modality of access

Combined cost, unit cost defined as user group/week in an installation. Typical access per installation is 8-12 weeks.