Into Africa: Ace Aquatec sells humane stunner to Lesotho trout farmer
Dundee fish farming technology innovator Ace Aquatec is to deliver its first-ever installation in Africa. The continent’s largest trout producer, Sanlei, located in the landlocked Kingdom of Lesotho, is adopting Ace Aquatec’s in-water stunning system, the Humane Stunner Universal (A-HSU).
The pre-slaughter technology renders fish unconscious within one second and will enable Sanlei to humanely process 10-15 tonnes of fish per hour, providing precise stunning, improved welfare compliance, reduced labour demands, and more consistent product quality.
Sanlei produces around 1,000 tonnes of rainbow trout annually in a reservoir created by the Katse dam that holds back the Malibamatšo River in the Lesotho highlands. The dam is 1,993 metres (6,539 feet) above sea level, the highest elevation for a dam in Africa.
In a region where brailing – the use of a landing net to lift fish from a pen for harvesting - remains common practice, these benefits mark a transformative advancement for both Senlai and the broader aquaculture sector, said Ace Aquatec.
It added that it has worked closely with Sanlei to ensure the A-HSU complements this way of working, rather than replacing it. By working alongside more traditional methods, the system will help the producer increase welfare and improve operations by reducing fish handling by the company’s 110 employees.
The introduction of the stunner will also reduce the onset of rigour in the fish, increasing the quality of the product and reducing stress.
The adoption of the A-HSU comes at a time when greater demand for fish from certified farms in the region is anticipated, driven in part by the imminent arrival of retail giants like Walmart in neighbouring South Africa.
Sanlei is currently the only BAP (Best Aquaculture Practices) certified producer in the region, and the stunning system will position it alongside leading producers globally in meeting rising consumer demands.
Sanlei chief executive Dewald Fourie said: “Working with Ace Aquatec has been an overwhelmingly positive experience. Their flexibility and attention to detail with regards to our specific operating conditions and need to accommodate hand netting has meant the design of this game-changing technology has been as smooth as possible.
Considering a second stunner
“The system being installed by Ace Aquatec will support our growth and strengthen our ambitions to further enhance our welfare and certification standards. We are already considering the system for a second site.”
Ace Aquatec chief executive Nathan Pyne-Carter said: “Southern Africa’s aquaculture industry is undergoing rapid growth, and Ace Aquatec is uniquely equipped to support producers with the high-welfare technologies global markets now expect.
“Our collaboration with Sanlei, developing a tailored solution that boosts both welfare standards and processing performance, showcases innovation at its best.”
