Sanlei Premium Trout is based in Lesotho.
Ace Aquatec
Ace Aquatec has confirmed that it will carry out its first installation in Africa, specifically in Lesotho, after aquaculture company Sanlei Premium Trout decided to adopt its state-of-the-art humane stunning system.
Sanlei Premium Trout, considered Africa’s largest trout producer, will improve operational efficiency across its production processes as well as animal welfare thanks to this groundbreaking system.
"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," indicated CEO of Sanlei Premium Trout Dewald Fourie.
More specifically, the in-water Humane Stunner Universal (A-HSU®) renders fish unconscious in less than one second and enables humane processing of between 10 and 15 tonnes of fish per hour. In addition, the A-HSU® system will reduce the onset of rigor mortis, thereby improving product quality and reducing stress in the fish.
According to Ace Aquatec, this agreement represents a "transformational advancement" for both the company and the aquaculture sector as a whole, in a region where the use of hand netting remains a common practice.
It is worth mentioning that Sanlei is the only producer in the region with BAP certification. In this context, demand for fish from certified farms in the region is expected to increase, driven by the arrival of Walmart in South Africa.
"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," concluded the CEO of Ace Aquatec, Nathan Pyne-Carter.
Furthermore, Ace Aquatec signed in October an agreement with smolt production company Lago Sofía to install its A-HCS® humane culling system for juvenile fish in Puerto Montt, Chile.
