Left to right: Diego Lages, JBT Marel Director Sales and Marketing of Fish; Nathan Pyne-Carter, Ace Aquatec CEO; Skuli Sigurdsson, JBT Marel Vice President of Fish; Tara McGregor-Woodhams, Ace Aquatec Chief Sales and Marketing Officer.
JBT Marel
Food processing solutions provider JBT Marel has partnered with the aquaculture technology company Ace Aquatec to develop fish harvesting solutions.
In this way, both companies will be able to offer their customers an integrated product line for the entire seafood value chain, including harvesting and processing solutions, along with data analytics software.
Ace Aquatec's Humane Stunner Universal (A-HSU®) technology, which has been used at Piszolla's trout farm site in Alba de Tormes, Salamanca, Spain, prioritizes the welfare of the fish by avoiding stress during harvest. By adopting this system into its services, JBT Marel is committed to a more sustainable fishing industry.
Regarding this initiative, Nathan Pyne-Carter, CEO of Ace Aquatec, said: "Kicking off 2025 as a strategic partner with a global company like JBT Marel is a great boost for everyone at Ace Aquatec and for those striving to improve fish welfare standards globally. Together, we’re ready to set new standards in welfare first innovation, efficiency, and sustainability."
According to JBT Marel, 85% of consumers in the UK believe that farmed fish should receive higher welfare protection. Therefore, this partnership gives consumers confidence when deciding which products to purchase.
"Together, we can drive positive change, offering customers cost-effective, sustainable solutions while delivering high-quality seafood with a focus on ethics and care," commented Skuli Sigurdsson, Vice President of Fish at JBT Marel.
Just a month ago, Ace Aquatec completed the installation of its bespoke humane stunning device A-HSU® with the help of Japanese trout producer, FRD Japan.
The process completion was possible thanks to FRD Japan's A-HSU® technology adaptation. This technology, which will be fully operational in 2027, works for all commercial fish species including trout, salmon, tilapia, prawn, bass, and bream.
"Developing a device that balances biosecurity and operational efficiency with the highest welfare standards has been a rewarding challenge, and we’re excited to see our technology making a positive impact in aquaculture in Asia and around the world," explained Tara McGregor-Woodhams, CSMO at Ace Aquatec.
