According to the company, one container, which takes up about 15 sqm, can produce up to 1,200kg of jade perch a year. Installing one container starts at S$30,000 (US$22,200) for the basic model, excluding land preparation costs.
Each container houses three tanks, which can be used for different varieties of fish, or fish at different stages of growth. When journalists visited the container on Nov 7, one of the tanks was already filled with jade perch.
Water filters are neatly tucked into the side of the container, and there is barely any room to walk around inside. The container will be closed to the public, with glass windows on the side for curious residents to peek inside.
The container in Tampines will be used to farm jade perch. Aqualita can also farm barramundi, tilapia, red snapper, hybridised grouper and murray cod at their seven-container set-up at Sungei Tengah, the team said.
“By using up spaces that are not utilised, we can actually grow fishes in an urban city – within grass plots, within empty warehouses,” said Mr Goh.
The system is patented by Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, he added. Unlike floating sea cages, the climate inside the containers can be controlled.
“And we’re able to grow fish in conditions that are away from potential algae bloom, potential changes in water quality, and we’re able to be more certain of how much fish we can get out of the whole system.”
The team is also exploring the possibility of adding solar panels to the container, which will offset about 50 per cent of the energy used by the system, said Mr Goh.