How Nordic Kingfish Hatchery transformed aquaculture with BactiQuant - an interview

30-04-2025

Ensuring water quality and microbial stability is one of the biggest challenges in aquaculture — especially for pioneering species like yellowtail kingfish. We had the pleasure of speaking with Yaser Zahedi, Hatchery Manager at Nordic Kingfish Hatchery, about how they are transforming operations by using BactiQuant’s near real-time bacterial monitoring technology.

Bacterial populations can be affected by a number of parameters, including water quality changes, biofilters, equipment, and even live feed. In the larval phase, even small changes of bacterial levels can quickly result into bigger problems, affecting fish health and survival. Traditional bacterial monitoring methods proved slow and imprecise, making it difficult to detect and respond quickly to risks. To address this, the hatchery turned to BactiQuant

“ Before BactiQuant, we struggled to control the microbiology of our system. Using plating techniques was time-consuming and less precise. BactiQuant gave us real-time data and a reliable tool to measure bacterial load. By addressing the bacterial load, we’ve reduced mortality and improved overall system stability. BactiQuant is one of the tools helping us achieve this success. ”Yaser Zahedi, Hatchery Manager, Nordic Kingfish Hatchery

This interview with Yaser Zahedi, Hatchery Manager at Nordic Kingfish, highlights how BactiQuants cutting-edge technology transformed their approach to bacterial management. We sincerely appreciate Nordic Kingfish Hatchery for sharing their valuable insights and experiences with us — helping highlight the critical role that proactive microbial monitoring plays in achieving operational excellence in aquaculture.

By combining experience with scientific precision, the hatchery has set a new standard in aquaculture and achieved:

Improved System Stability: BactiQuant enabled the hatchery to establish a bacterial threshold, ensuring stable conditions and reducing mortality rates.

Increased Efficiency: The tool eliminated the need for frequent external lab testing, saving time and resources. Near real-time data allowed for immediate action, greatly reducing the impact of bacterial issues.

Enhanced Production Capacity: Greater control over microbial stability allowed for scalability with reduced risks, with the hatchery doubling its production and planning to triple it in the coming years.

Read the full case story by clicking on the link below:

Read interview

If you are interested in knowing more about the case or discover how we can help your hatchery, feel free to reach out to Stavros Panoutsopoulos.

Nordic Kingfish Hatchery is part of Nordic Aquafarms. Nordic Aquafarms was established in 2015 with the aim to be a leading player in land-based aquaculture with production close to large markets. Nordic Aquafarms has companies in Norway, Denmark and the US. The company headquarter is in Fredrikstad, Norway.

Nordic Kingfish has 3 operational sites in the Nordics, with broodstock and a marine hatchery located by the Limfjord (Denmark) and grow-out facilities located in Hanstholm (Denmark) and Fredrikstad (Norway). They produce and sell fish on a weekly basis.