APPLICATION OF ICE SLURRY IN THE AQUACULTURE INDUSTRY

The rapid increase of world population in last decades puts added pressure on the aquaculture industry to improve fish production, quality and shelf life. One of the focuses is to implement advanced fish preservation means for all after harvest operations. Aquaculture species such as shrimp, yellowtail, cobia and salmon are high value and perishable products. They spoil fast at higher surrounding temperatures. Once quality is lost, no amount of manipulation can restore it. Proper cooling and preservation of these aquaculture products is therefore of great importance in maintaining its premium quality, especially during the harvesting and transportation process.

This presentation examines the physical characteristics, meltage rates, and cooling performance of various types of ice being used for the cold chain management. Special attention has been given to an advanced cooling and preservation technology - ice slurry, which has gained popularity in recent years in the aquaculture industry. Key features and benefits of ice slurry in both harvesting and processing operations are discussed in details. Installation examples given in the shrimp industry and in the salmon industry demonstrate that ice slurry is a rewarding technology. It provides three times faster cooling rate as compared to other ice technologies and maintains aqua products in low temperature levels, therefore improving quality and food safety. It improves yield and extends shelf life. It also saves operating costs in labor, energy and ice.