Where King Solomon Meets Aquaculture

One of the key values that Aqua Production Systems is built on is education.  My reasons for this are drawn from something written about 2900 years ago.

Around 950 B.C., King Solomon, the wisest man known to have lived, declared that "where no counsel is, the people fall: But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety" (Proverbs 11.14).

As a man of faith in God and His Word, this is a commission to operate on a solid footing of instruction, knowledge, and wisdom in my business, my home, and the church.  These areas must all align for me to sleep at night.  And, as one of my counsellors (a business mentor) says, "learn the principles first, the techniques will follow".

My aquaculture engineering degree was my first big step in learning this industry.  After graduating with an engineering degree, I took a job at a halibut farm in southwest Nova Scotia - Scotian Halibut.  The first day on the job, I was asked to get in a concrete water treatment tank that had been drained for cleaning and start scrubbing the walls.  The site manager and the GM standing on the deck over the tank looking down on me scrubbing the walls, were greatly amused at how I was putting my shiny new engineering degree to work.  That day, the maintenance man gave his notice and I was asked to step in "temporarily".  

The following 10 years (!) being responsible to keep over 100 pumps and motors running 24/7 in a damp, salty environment, was a deep dive into the practical side of everything to do with aquaculture, RAS, and the associated mechanical and electrical equipment.  There wasn't a single piece of equipment on those two sites that I didn't personally tear apart and see the insides of.  At the same time, the site manager frequently had me chipping in with handling the fish (in the tank with waders and a dipnet), feeding the fish, and always connecting the mechanical workings of the site to the welfare of the fish.  

Balancing mechanical and biological systems is a rare skill that many end up with experience on one side or the other.  Designs from those with only mechanical or biological experience, typically end up either cheaping out or over-designing.  Either way, the pocket book of the system owner suffers.     

Starting and running a business is a whole new education.  For this, I have had a number of mentors and coaches over the years.  This experience is so valuable not just in running my business, but in bringing value to my customers to grow their businesses.  Learning marketing and sales is key and I spend tens of thousands each year on this.  Building systems that deliver zero mortality claims, eliminate almost all mortality, and cut energy bills by 40-60% as compared to conventional systems is easy.  But people will only buy once they know we understand their problems and believe we can deliver it.  This means... education of the customer (both current and future customers).  Sales and marketing is educating the industry on the benefits of raising the bar to APS' level.  

Once we build a system, the customer's education continues.  In the past, I would commission a new system, train an operator for a couple hours and give them the necessary tools for successful operation.  Inevitably, 1-2 weeks later we would be back troubleshooting because only 20% of the training would stick the first time (because I fire-hosed them with info).  Now, every customer of ours gets at least three hands-on training sessions on their system, including regular visits by our water quality tech shortly after start-up and throughout the season.  Instead of a panicked call requesting emergency assistance after playing with too many valves, now you have to opt out and tell us to stop showing up! 

There are many brave and brilliant people in this industry (live seafood and RAS).  You teach me as much or more as I/we at APS can teach you.  Reach out to discuss any mechanical or biological issues your business is facing.  Let's get the fundamental principles right, whether it be business, mechanical, biological, or other things - the techniques will follow.