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.
Projects/Consultancies/Trainings/Technical Assistance (On-site and Remote) in:
- 31 Fattening operations in 'zero-effluent' Bio-RAS systems;
- 18 Hatcheries (Egg Collection/Incubation/Fry Rearing and Nursery);
- 16 Vertical Integrations (from Genetics Nucleus/Hatchery to Fattening and Feed Mill – 'Pre-Digested' System);
- 19 Partnerships/co-founding in aquaculture projects, including integrations with feed mills, R&D, and technical responsibility;
- 41 Short-Term Consultancies (Various);
- 25 Medium to Long-Term Consultancies for established aquaculture operations (Expansion/Strategic Development);
- 3 Global Operations Directorships with Tilapia/Technical Responsibility for Genetics Nucleus/Hatcheries in large multinationals, with Staff Training and Protocol Updates (remotely);
- CEO, Senior Aquaculture Consultant for two companies.
ZAS IN A NUTSHELL (A TIMELINE OF INNOVATIONS)
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.
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).
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.
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).
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.
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).
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).
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.
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.
'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).
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).
'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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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
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.
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
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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.