Who we are

In 1985, ZIMMERMANN AQUA SOLUTIONS (ZAS) starts in Southern Brazil as HYDROLOGICA AQUACULTURA LTDA. During the 80’s and 90’s we focused in technical support of existing projects of freshwater shrimps and tilapias, in the American Continent (Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, USA, Jamaica, and Mexico).

By the turn of this Century, our base was moved to Norway, Sergio Zimmermann was working initially for six major local companies involved in Aquaculture (Orkla Finans, AquaOptima, EWOS, Inocap, Akvaplan Niva, and GenoMar) and from 2007 to 2011, Sergio Zimmermann worked with Akvaforsk Genetics Center. By October 1st, 2011 he registered ZAS in Sunndalsøra as a Norwegian Company dedicated to provide consultancy and technical support to the global aquaculture industry.

Today, ZAS is one of the five leading global aquaculture consultancies for tilapia/shrimp, with 115 projects across all continents: 59 in the Americas; 24 in Europe; 18 in Asia; 12 in Africa; and 2 in Oceania.
 
 

Projects/Consultancies/Trainings/Technical Assistance (On-site and Remote) in:

 

ZAS IN A NUTSHELL (A TIMELINE OF INNOVATIONS)

1985
Start in Southern Brazil

Pioneering the commercial production of freshwater shrimp in excavated ponds in Southern Brazil and tilapia in small-scale cage systems (net tanks) in South America.

1987
Total reuse of water from farming ponds

First 'Zero Effluent' aquaculture system with the demonstration of the balance between water minerals/feed in aquaculture, creating the concept of 'Element Biomanipulation' (macro/micro minerals), which later enabled 100% water reuse in Recirculating Systems (such as RAS and Bio-RAS).

1989
Monosex farming (100% males or females) of shrimp

Participated in the first experiments of Dr. Amir Sagi’s group at HUJ/Israel on androgenic gland ablation (sex reversal of shrimp) for the intensive farming of freshwater and marine shrimp, and later, in 1993, with the Australian red-claw crayfish (University of Queensland), which gave rise to the innovative biotechnology company EnZootic.com.

1990
Tilapia Farming Training in Western Paraná (EMATER/PR, UFRGS, Regional Municipalities, and Producers' Associations)

Conducted more than 30 theoretical-practical training courses on tilapia farming in the Western Paraná region, an initiative by EMATER/PR with support from UFRGS. During this period, demonstrated to Paraná and Brazilian authorities the issue of inbreeding (endogamous stocks) in all tilapia stocks available in Brazil, and the need to import improved genetic material for the development of Brazilian tilapia farming, leading to the creation of Alevinopar, the Paraná Association of Fingerling Producers, to facilitate what would become the first importation of genetically improved tilapia in the Americas (1986).

1995
First Brazilian line of aquatic feeds

Created Brazil’s first commercial line of multi-species aquatic feeds (AcquaLine), innovating with just 12 formulations to meet, in combinations, about 30 complete feeding programs (introduced for the first time the concept of temperature adjustment tables - 1998), with polyphasic solutions for farming various fish (tilapia, native round/carnivorous fish, catfish, salmonids, etc.) and freshwater and marine shrimp at Alisul Alimentos S.A., Supra Feeds. This innovative line remains current and is practically the same to this day, three decades later.

1996
First importation of genetically improved tilapia in the Americas

Organized and led the first importation process of genetically improved tilapia (Chitralada) from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT, Thailand), generating one million jobs in Brazil and another million in other American countries over the next three decades; initiated the first Family-Based Tilapia Breeding Program in the Americas, Veggie-Fish (currently in its 30th generation), the only one entirely in bioflocs (since 2002) and one of the longest-running globally (uninterrupted).

1997
Artificial incubation technique

Introduced the Artificial Incubation (AI) technique in the Americas for tilapia egg production, resulting in hatcheries up to 18 times more efficient than the previous fingerling collection method, a key factor in the initial success of Arabel, a company co-founded by Sergio Zimmermann and renamed Aquabel after a year, which became one of Brazil’s leading hatcheries (recently acquired by AquaGen/GenoMar/EW Group).

1998
First bioflocs in Brazil (BFT)

Pioneer of the technique in Brazil, initially with tilapia, and four years later with vannamei shrimp (2002); developed the first commercial biofloc prototypes for juvenile tilapia production in 2001 and vannamei shrimp in polyculture with tilapia in 2004.

2000
Planned the largest tilapia hatcheries

Designed/supervised the construction of the world’s largest tilapia hatcheries: ProGift (Haikou, China - 2000), Gifu-GenoMar (SangGiang, China - 2002), and Manit (Pechaburi, Thailand - 2003), serving as the supervisor of initial training and currently acting as the technical manager of the latter; these hatcheries collectively produce over 1.3 billion fingerlings annually.

2002
'Noise-free' genetic improvement

Pioneer in the use of bioflocs to minimize environmental impacts in tilapia genetic improvement (Veggie-Fish), quadrupling heritability rates (from 0.15 to an average of 0.60) in zero-effluent systems (recirculation with full water reuse = Bio-RAS).

2004
First Colombian line of aquatic feeds

Created the first complete commercial line of aquatic feeds (Solla) in Colombia, totaling 8 polyphasic formulations for fish and shrimp; in the same year, developed the commercial aquatic feed line for Manit Farm Feeds (Thailand).

2005
'Zero Effluents' in intensive commercial Bio-RAS ponds

After three years of evaluations at a hatchery in Thailand (Manit Farm), initiated the propagation of the biofloc recirculation system (Bio-RAS) for the production of tilapia and vannamei shrimp in excavated ponds and lined tanks in Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, and Thailand; this simple and revolutionary method of 100% water reuse became the foundation of today’s intensive commercial Biofloc/Bio-RAS systems, as well as some modalities of Aquamimicry/Symbiotic systems for marine shrimp and tilapia.

2006
Multi-species breeding program

Pioneer in the hybridization of four tilapia species in a genetic improvement program (Veggie-Fish) with Oreochromis niloticus, O. andersonii, O. angolensis, and O. mosambicus.

2008
Spring Genetics Nucleus

Planning, construction, and initial operation (until 2011) of the first tilapia genetic improvement nucleus in the United States for the Norwegian company Akvaforsk Genetics Center AS (later Benchmark Genetics and currently Spring Genetics) in Miami, Florida, USA.

2011
Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA) or Circular Bioeconomy

Co-founder of Sun Aquaponics (Miami, Florida), the first company to fully apply Circular Bioeconomy concepts, combining Aquaponics with Fertigation in a passion fruit orchard irrigated with effluents from tilapia, pirarucu, and shrimp—an innovative system now known as IMTA (Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture) or Aquicultura Multitrófica Integrada (AMTI). Today, Sun Aquaponics is owned by A&A Aquaponics.

2012
Bio-RAS in large-scale systems (20,000 m³)

The use of Bio-RAS was extended to large-scale fattening operations, incorporating nitrification/denitrification phases, microbial/planktonic recovery through baffles and fermented feeds; with this set of innovations, it was possible to rehabilitate several shrimp farms in Mexico, Thailand, and Brazil (e.g., Camanor/AquaScience, a concept acquired by CP of Thailand). This technique was later named and patented a decade later by the Swedish company Cresponix AS in 2022.

2015
Longevity of Veggie-Fish genetics

Veggie-Fish was recognized by the Inocap report (Norway, 2014) as one of the primary sources of tilapia genetics, with a penetration of 5.8% of the global total (400 million fingerlings sold annually in the Americas). The 63 hatcheries designed by ZAS across all continents totaled 1.25 billion fingerlings/juveniles sold in that year, accounting for about 20% of global production.

2016
Innovation in feeds, mineral requirements X environment

Development of the first line of commercial feeds based on water quality parameters and pre-digested ingredients for the NUTEC GROUP (Mexico), the current leader in that market.

2017
Fermentative Premix to generate pre-digested feeds (partial feed substitutes) that promote environmental bioremediation and supplemental planktonic food

Development of the concept and product FermentAqua (www.fermentaqua.com), the first commercial Premix that ferments when mixed with water and ingredients (low-cost bran/waste), partially replacing expensive feeds and improving water quality (bioremediation), while generating nutritionally rich live food; designed for any omnivorous fish and shrimp species at all farming stages, resulting in significant cost savings.

2021
FermentAqua breaks records in commercial fattening in Bio-RAS

Vannamei shrimp (9 grams in the first 30 days from PL14; and 4-5 grams/week from the fifth week onward) and (2) tilapia (12-13 grams per day) in the form of pre-digested/hydrolyzed feed in intensive Bio-RAS systems and extensive organic farming systems.

2022
Nutritional enhancement of waste-based ingredients

The positive 'in vivo' results of FermentAqua motivated 'in vitro' development aimed at obtaining ingredients based on nutritionally optimized microbial biomass for various terrestrial and aquatic farming operations at the Mexican companies NUTEC and AquaMol; the FermentAqua Premix becomes organic, with its composition and use approved by the Biodynamic Institute (IBD).

2023
Innovation in sludge/effluent fermentation

Opened a new avenue for the reuse of highly complex waste such as feces, slurry, and black water (preliminary and safety tests conducted in Thailand and Mexico); first commercial crops based on these pre-digested feeds derived from sludge with an FCA (Feed Conversion Ratio) below 0.5:1

2024
Studies on various pre-treatments for fibrous ingredients (low-cost)

Initiated an expansion of tests with a new range of low-cost, locally available fibrous waste, through the combination of physical, chemical, and biological pre-treatments for pre-digestion/hydrolysis with FermentAqua.

2025
Multiphase fermentation of waste

First studies on optimized commercial multiphase fermentations using pre-treated fibrous ingredients, with 'in vivo' tests in intensive commercial tilapia and shrimp farming.

OUR DNA

Vision

The vision of Zimmermann Aqua Solutions (ZAS) is to be market leader with the highest quality of services with good environmental and social practices, closing the economic and ecological loops of resources.

Mission

The mission of ZAS is to commercially develop a sustainable aquaculture within the concept of circular economy, with the full reuse of water (zero effluents) and aquatic nutrients through a range of innovative services.

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About Sergio zimmermann

Agronomist, B.Sc. (1985, UFRGS – Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil) and M.Sc. in Animal Sciences/Aquaculture (1988, UFRGS, Brazil); Specialization in Aquaculture (1988, The Live Sciences Institute, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel); with full financial support of the CNPq/CAPES; started his PhD Program of Aquaculture at Stirling University, Scotland (2002-2004) followed by the Agri-Doc Program at the Norwegian University of Live Sciences (UMB) at Ås, Norway (2006-2012), and presently engaged at the remote Post-Doc Program at the Microbiology Department at the Agriculture University of Sweden (LSU) at Uppsala, Sweden with emphasis in Circular Economy.

From 1989 to 1996 was Associated Professor I in the graduation courses of Aquaculture at the Agronomy and Veterinary Schools at UFRGS, the Oceanology and Carcinology at FURG and UFSC, all Federal Universities in Southern Brazil; during 19 years (1990 – 2009) was Adjunct Professor II and Research Coordinator at The Lutheran University of Brazil (ULBRA, Canoas, Brazil).

Designed and supervised the constructions of the main tilapia hatcheries in the World, ProGift (Haikou, China – 2000), Manit (Pechaburi, Thailand – 2002), and Gifu-GenoMar (SangGiang, China – 2003), being start-up supervisor and currently is the technical responsible for the first two projects; also responsible for the expansion of several large tilapia/shrimp/paiche hatchery/grow-out projects in África (LHA/ACF in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Uganda; Inocap in Uganda/Kenya) and in Latin America: Brazil (Veggie-Fish, Aquabel, GreenBiofloc, Geneseas, Netuno, and Camanor), Peru (Grupo Redondos/Acuahaura/Naltech), Ecuador (Modercorp-Garzal, Aquamar, and Produmar), Colombia (Aquaprimavera, Agriinco and Solla), and Mexico (AquaMol, Maroa, Armor/Nutec and Procumar).

From 2001 to 2006 was vice-president of the Norwegian company GenoMar ASA (today AquaGen/EW Group), and from 2007 to 2011 coordinated the Tilapia Division of Akvaforsk Genetics Center AS (recently Benchmark Genetics Norway AS), planning and operating several breeding nucleus in Asia and Americas.

Since 2011 to present, gives international consultancy from his own company Zimmermann Aqua Solutions located in Sunndalsøra, Norway, and is co-owner of the following tilapia/vannamei/paiches-arapaima business: Norway (Aura Biofloc), Brazil (Instafloc/FermentAqua, GreenBiofloc and Aquatica), Mexico (AquaMol, Maroa and Procumar), Jamaica (SunShine Acuaponics), USA (Florida Aquaculture Investment Group) and is giving technical support in aqua feed, low-cost fermented feeds and biofloc aquaculture in 20 countries.

During the last 33 years, presented papers in more than 100 scientific events, published more than 120 scientific articles, book chapters, and is consultant/editor of three scientific publications in Brazil and USA; Vice-president of the Latin American Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society (WAS) from 1999 – 2004 and president of the same Chapter in 2008 and 2009; secretary of the Brazilian Aquaculture Association (Abraq) in 1999 and 2000.

Has lived practicing aquaculture in Israel, Sweden, Singapore, China, USA and in Norway, and for short periods in Mexico, Thailand and The Philippines. 

Look also the CV official site of the Brazilian National Research Council (CNPq) at: http://lattes.cnpq.br/5048947055265778 and http://no.linkedin.com/in/sergiozimmermann/en.

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