Scotland company's first shrimp stunner deployed in Thailand

Sea Farms, a shrimp farm based in Thailand, has become the first to install Scotland-based Ace Aquatec’s in-water stunning system through a partnership with non-profit organisation, the Shrimp Welfare Project. The collaboration is part of an ongoing programme aimed at enhancing access to humane stunning solutions for shrimp producers globally.

Aquaculture technology innovator Ace Aquatec’s new A-HSU for Shrimp is a self- contained, transportable system for humanely stunning crustaceans prior to slaughter. The first of its kind for the region, the system is the result of close liaison and consultation with the shrimp farming industry. 

The unit comprises an entrance chute; stun tube; de-waterer; water collection tank; pump; power unit, and touch screen control system and is mounted on a small trailer, which allows the unit to be moved easily from factory to pond-side. The unit has been designed to withstand robust biosecurity measures and protocols and can process at a rate up to eight tonnes per hour.

Reduced stress

Dundee-headquartered Ace Aquatec said the unit provides effective, safe and rapid in-water stunning in less than a second, reducing handling and therefore stress. 

Through the partnership, Sea Farms is the first to deploy the new portable system in its factory and pond-side. The Shrimp Welfare Project continues to engage with leading supermarkets, seafood suppliers and producers to explore opportunities for further installations of humane stunning systems, with Ace Aquatec’s technology as one of the available solutions.

'A unique product'

Tara McGregor-Woodhams, chief sales and marketing officer from Ace Aquatec, said: “Shrimp producers globally have been calling for a versatile, easy-to-deploy system which can simultaneously make the harvesting process more sustainable and efficient, while also improving quality and streamlining logistics. Working closely with the industry to further understand their needs, we have created a unique product that can be used both in factories and pond-side, and we expect to see it enhance operations for shrimp farmers, both in Thailand and at further installation sites in the future”. 

Krzysztof Wojtas, chief programmes officer at the Shrimp Welfare Project said: “Our partnership with Ace Aquatec is part of our broader mission to support shrimp farmers in adopting humane harvesting methods. By introducing technology like this stunning system, we are helping producers not only improve shrimp welfare but also streamline their operations in ways that can benefit the entire industry.”