Process
Aquaculture Resources Ltd operates a rendering plant for the processing of category III animal by-products (ABP) derived from the processing of Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) aboard processing vessels or from land-based processing plants. The ABP is rendered and further processed into fish meal and fish oil. Current yearly production of fish meal and fish oil stands at 600t each, and these are commercialised to animal feed producers within the EU and outside of the EU.
Statutory Approvals
Production Process
The ABP for the production of fishmeal and fish oil goes through a production process, which is simplified and consist of boiling, separation, drying and milling.
The raw material is homogenised and transferred to a render vessel so that the material is boiled in its own juice by an indirect supply of steam (i.e. there is no direct contact with steam). This rendering process results in the congealing of proteins and the separation of water and oil from within the fish cells.
A tricanter separates by centrifugation the cooked mass into oil, which is then transferred for storage in silos as a finished product, a solid fraction – the presscake / grax – and a water fraction – the stickwater.
The stick goes through an evaporator so that water is evaporated, leaving behind a concentrate that is added back to the grax within the dryer. In the dryer the grax and the concentrate are dried by means of indirect steam to obtain a fishmeal with a moisture content of less than 9.5%.
The fishmeal is dosed with an antioxidant (containing BHA and BHT), cooled in an air cooler and milled to form the product. After control and analysis the fishmeal is ready for packaging and delivery.
List of Procedures in the
ARL Quality Management System:
