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 top-five global tilapia/shrimp aquaculture consultancies, with nearly 30 projects on every continent for over three decades:
Americas: USA, México, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil.
Africa: Angola, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, and Kenya.
Asia: Singapore, Bangladesh, Vietnam, China, the Philippines, Thailand, and Kurdistan.
Europe: Norway and Sweden, soon UK.
ZAS IN A NUTSHELL (A TIMELINE OF INNOVATIONS)
Starting in Southern Brazil
Pioneered commercial freshwater shrimps in ponds and tilapias in cages production in South America.
100% Water Reuse
First to demonstrate water/feed balance of elements in aquaculture, creating the aquaculture concept of “Elements (macro/micro) Biomanipulation” that allows 100% of water reuse in Recirculation Aquaculture Systems (RAS).
Monosex Shrimp Culture
Participated in Dr. Amir Sagi’s group at HUJ on the first androgenic gland ablation trials for the aquaculture of freshwater prawns and marine shrimps, and later in 1993 with the Australian crayfish red-claw (University of Queensland).
Importation of tilapia stocks to Brazil
Demonstrated to Brazilian authorities the need to import tilapia genetic materials to improve the performance of inbred depleted stocks available during the 90’s.
First Brazilian Aquatic Feed line
Created the first Brazilian commercial line of aquatic feeds (AcquaLine) at Alisul Alimentos S.A. (Supra feed), totaling 12 poly-phase formulations for fishes and shrimps.
Improved Tilapias to Americas
Organized and lead the first importation process of genetically improved Tilapias (Chitralada Strain), from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT, Thailand), generating thousands of Jobs and economic growth all over Americas in the coming decades; started the first tilapia Family Breeding Program in Americas, Veggie-Fish (currently 27th generation).
Artificial Incubation technique
Introduced in Americas the Artificial Incubation (AI) technique for tilapia egg production, resulting in hatcheries 12x more efficient compared to the previous scooping fry method, a key-factor for the initial success of Arabel, a company Sergio Zimmermann co-funded same year and named Aquabel later, that turned to be one of the largest in Brazil.
First Bioflocs in Brazil
Pioneered Bioflocs in Brazil, initially with tilapia and 5 years later with vannamei shrimps; development of the first commercial biofloc prototype for tilapia juvenile production in 2001 and vannamei shrimp in polyculture with tilapia in 2004.
The largest Tilapia hatcheries
From 2000 to 2003 designed/supervised constructions of the largest tilapia hatcheries in the World, ProGift (Haikou, China - 2000), Gifu-GenoMar (SangGiang, China - 2002), and Manit (Pechaburi, Thailand - 2003), being start-up supervisor and currently technical responsible for the later; those hatcheries produce together today more than 1 billion fries.
Breeding in Stable Environment
Pioneered Biofloc Technology in tilapia breeding (Veggie-Fish), quadrupling heritability values.
Zero Effluents in intensive ponds
First recirculation system for intensive earthen pond production in Mexico (AquaSur) and Thailand (Manit Farm); this simple revolutionary method of 100% water reuse is the base for recent commercial Biofloc/RAS and Aquamimicry systems for shrimps and tilapias.
Multi-species Breeding Program
Pioneer in the hybridization of four tilapia species in one breeding program (Veggie-Fish – with Oreochromis niloticus, O. andersonii, O. angolensis and O. mosambicus).
Circular Economy and Aquaponics
Circular Economy concept applied at Sun Aquaponics in Miami, Florida, a passion-fruit orchard drip-irrigated with water from a tilapia/paiche/shrimp production.
Camanor recovery
Applied the concept of Bioflocs and 100% recirculation with the nitrification/sediment compartment and microbe recovery using chicanes that started the recovery process of the company and the development of its AquaScience concept recently purchased by CP (Thailand).
Veggie-Fish longevity
Veggie-Fish (www.veggie-fish.com) became the second longest tilapia breeding program in continuous operation (since 1996) fully documented and (2019 on its 27th generation), considered by an Inocap report (Norway, 2014) as one of the main sources of tilapia genetics, with 5.8% of the global sector (400 million fry sold annually in Americas).
Fermented Partial Feed Substitute
Revolutionary development of FermentAqua, www.fermentaqua.com, the first commercial Premix that ferments when mixed with water and low-cost ingredientes, partially replacing expensive aquafeed; it is designed for any omnivorous species at all culture stages.
OUR DNA
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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.
What can we do for your Company?
Preliminary Stage
- First Meetings/Contacts for Developing the Concept of the Project.
- Site identification/selection/inspection visit and initial studies.
- Feasibility Study and Business Plan or Visit Report.
Construction Stage
- Environmental Impact Assessment.
- Engineering Project (basic and detailed drawings) of the first/second phases, quarantine area for broodstock importation/initial growth.
- Construction supervision/management, Equipment specifications and sourcing.
- Pre-training in our site, Operation Manual with adapted protocols.
- Start-up Operations with “on site” Training .
Operation Stage
- Long-term remote technical supervision & technology update.
- New staff pre-training in our site.
- Optimization of the operation/management continuous with technical supervision and training “on site”.
- Trouble shouting and marketing assistance/networking facilitation.
GALLERY
