Ace Aquatec expands reach with Greek distribution deal
Stamatiou will offer Dundee company’s in-water electric stunner to sea bass and bream farmers
Dundee-based aquaculture technology innovator Ace Aquatec has appointed industry supplier Stamatiou Aquaculture as the distributor of its in-water electric stunners in Greece, the European Union’s largest producer of farmed sea bass and gilthead sea bream.
The stunner, which won the prestigious Nor-Fishing Foundation innovation award at the Aqua Nor aquaculture trade show in 2017, has a 100% stun rate and an impressive record of reducing stress at harvest, Ace Aquatec said in a press release.
Stamatiou Aquaculture has more than 30 years’ experience in the aquaculture industry and an established client network and is well-placed to share expertise with fish farmers interested in improving welfare standards and quality control at harvest, added the Dundee company.
The company offers a wide range of products and services line from cage brackets and pipes to nets, all types of mooring equipment, work boats and platforms, to software development, mooring design and site selection.
Demand has tripled
“Demand has increased three-fold for our in-water stunners this year as supermarkets, consumers and regulators demand clearer efficacy around the slaughter of seabass and bream,” said Ace Aquatec sales boss Tara McGregor-Woodhams.
“Establishing a partnership with Stamatiou, who build state-of-the-art vessels for over 70% of the industry in the Mediterranean, means we can work together to equip these amazing boats at the outset with the best technology to improve welfare without compromising efficiency.”
Sensitive fish
Stamatiou Aquaculture’s chief executive, Kyriakos Stamatiou, said: “Sea bass and sea bream are known for being particularly sensitive to suboptimal farming and harvesting conditions. We have always championed technology that will allow seafood to be harvested more humanely, so it’s great to be working with Ace Aquatec to incorporate their innovative solution in our designs.
“This partnership heralds a significant advancement in harvesting standards in the region.”
Last month, Ace Aquatec appointed Pisces as its key distributor in North, Central and South America, and earlier this year it appointed Australian equipment supplier Fresh by Design as its first distributor in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. The partnership supplies the in-water electrical stunner to customers across Australia and New Zealand.
