ECO: Tell us how you came to work in aquaculture?
I have been working in commercial aquaculture for about 15 years now. My undergraduate degree is in marine biology and chemistry, and my graduate degree is in sustainable aquaculture—where I met my partner Tom Sorby, who is also in commercial aquaculture. Since then, we have worked together, focusing on the development of bringing new species to land-based aquaculture systems. I have worked in the US with barramundi and yellowtail, in British Columbia with sablefish, and now with redfish (also known as red drum) in Florida.
ECO: What is the vision behind Pine Island Redfish?
Pine Island Redfish has been a project I’ve been working on for the last four years. Popularized in the 1980s, redfish were commonly sought after for sportfishing and commercial harvest, but ultimately—because it was so loved—suffered a depleted population leading to a closed commercial fishery and federal species protections. When this happened, a void was created in the industry where the only way to source redfish was mainly through foreign imports. With PIR, we saw an opportunity to produce a fish that’s native to Florida shores and has a strong local market.
ECO: Why was Pine Island, Florida, chosen for the facility?
Pine Island really offered us an opportunity to maximize the benefits of a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). Due to Pine Islands’ location and Florida’s unique geology, we are able to capitalize on the ground being extremely porous and pull from the first layer in the water table, which is actually salt water. This means that the operation can stay in the upland areas of the property, and we don’t need the additional infrastructure to access sea water from the Gulf of Mexico and the associated risks that go along with that (e.g., algal blooms or pathogen introduction from effluent). Additionally, there are existing upland ponds on the property where we can trap nutrients and repurpose them but also to percolate our wastewater through the ground due to Florida’s porous geological profile.
ECO: Why aquaculture?
Land-based RAS allows us to produce a high-quality, high-value fish that we know and love and that the market—locally, regionally, and globally—still demands to this day. By leveraging RAS technology, we reduce imports and don’t have to compromise our environmental goals in the process of production.
ECO: What are some of the regulatory and policy requirements you’ve navigated?
The State of Florida has a really straightforward and easy-to-understand approach to permitting that is run through the Division of Aquaculture, which sits under the Division of Agriculture. At the end of the day, we are farmers. They do a really great job in terms of communicating their requirements and what they will and will not allow. Florida’s Best Aquaculture Practices Manual lists every type of farm, all the requirements you have to meet, and the biggest concerns that relate mainly to your water source and the contaminants associated with your animals. For example, they want to make sure there is no chance of escapees that could present biosecurity risks, and they will also evaluate the impacts associated with where you are bringing water in from and where you are sending water back out to. Outside of the regulatory and coding requirements, the most important portion to us was the public opinion piece. We are in a community that sees us as an added benefit and opportunity to diversify the economy to entice more tourists who are interested in their food production systems and, specifically, new and innovative ones.
Pine Island Redfish’s new property, located in Pine Island, Florida. (Image credit: Pine Island Redfish)
ECO: What advances do you think will accelerate the commercialization of aquaculture in the next few years?
I see the biggest sector of growth right now centered around waste. The industry is looking for innovative ways to reduce waste and recycle the nutrient-rich profile coming off these farms. On top of the high upfront costs associated with building a RAS facility, the processing of waste or effluent can be as much as 2–5% of your total upfront investment. If we can find wastewater solutions, like creating a more circular farming system, that can maybe pay for itself and, in the best-case scenario, produce additional revenue, we can ensure more economic sustainability. At PIR, we are looking into repurposing our waste and effluent to produce salt-tolerant plants, specifically red mangrove and sea purselane, that are sought after for shoreline stabilization and carbon sequestration purposes.
ECO: What are the next steps for Pine Island Redfish?
The next phase of growth for the business is hard—it’s long days and hard conversations that challenge you, like how we want to organize the day-to-day operations. We are currently in the pre-construction design phase and are operating with some strategic partners to enhance our biological prep work. Down the line, I am excited to get fish in the building and to prep our broodstock to be able to sustain and supply the level of production that we are planning for the facility.
Megan Sorby, CEO Pine Island Redfish.
To follow along with Pine Island Redfish’s progress and journey, visit: https://www.pineislandredfish.com
This feature appeared in Environment, Coastal & Offshore (ECO) Magazine’s 2023 Winter edition Fisheries & Aquaculture, to read more access the magazine here.
