Economic Considerations for Growing Hybrid Striped Bass in Recirculating Systems at commercial scale; Planning Input / Output, Growth, Financial, Operational and Investor Implications

Planning and developing an accurate account of cost inputs and sales assumptions when planning a farm are critical to the success of the project.  Investors and operators need to understand and insure assumptions associated with the sales and operations are accurate. The information presented here considers the planning and design stage, equipment, and operational costs as well as sales prices for hybrid striped bass in a 150 ton recirculating aquaculture farm. Major expenses, various system and production attributes are identified, discussed and their interplay considered.

Ball park development costs, rules of thumb in estimating these costs as well as other factors that can enhance or detract from yield and returns are discussed. Production yield and increasing profit margins are explored as they relate to buyer needs and investor returns.

Hybrid striped bass grow out, sourcing of fingerlings, and other challenges to consider in planning, which are often missed, are discussed.

Basic investor economic metrics that should be considered in developing the project are often not properly built into the financial planning and operation of the farm; the presentation also identifies these aspects for those seeking outside investment.