Land-based salmon farm in the Allgäu: Atlantic salmon from spring water, processed and traditionally smoked in Griestal.
Griestaler Fish Farm GmbH
Markt Rettenbach (Griestal)New on Amplifa
About Castell Salmon
Griestaler Fish Farm GmbH operates in Markt Rettenbach in the Allgäu what is, according to the company, the first approved land-based salmon farm in Germany. On the grounds of the historic Griestal fish farm, established over eight decades ago and located at 750 metres above sea level, Atlantic salmon is raised in spring water using recirculating aquaculture technology (RAS) – from egg to harvest, without antibiotics and without pesticides, with full traceability. This is complemented by the historic breeding of trout and char. The processing range includes fillets, portion cuts and traditional smoking with beechwood, both cold and hot, in the farm's own smokehouse. The third generation of the Castell, Faber-Castell and Wedel families runs the company and has been modernising the former trout farm into a highly automated salmon farm since 2018, with RAS2020 modules, drum filters, MBBR biology and a SCADA control room. The short distances from harvest to plate ensure long shelf life and high freshness for gastronomy and retail.
- Site
- Markt Rettenbach
- Processes
- Land-based salmon aquaculture (Recirculating Aquaculture System / RAS), Smoked fish production (traditional smoking, beechwood smoking, hot smoking), Fish processing/refinement (filleting, portion cutting), Trout farming in pond systems with spring water, Smoking (beechwood, cold- and hot-smoked), Processing (fillets, portions), RAS technology (recirculating aquaculture), Wastewater treatment (WWTP, MBBR)
- Materials
- Atlantic salmon, Rainbow trout, Char (Charr), Atlantic salmon in recirculating aquaculture, Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (water treatment), Wastewater treatment plant with sludge dewatering
- Industries
- Aquaculture, Fish delicacies/Food, Gastronomy, Retail, Food/Fish delicacies, Gastronomy/Retail
- 01
Egg rearing and keeping in the RAS loop (spring water)
- 02
Water treatment (drum filters, MBBR, protein skimming, CO2 degassing)
- 03
Automated feeding (Feed Management System)
- 04
Harvest
- 05
Processing (filleting, portion cutting)
- 06
Smoking (beechwood, cold and hot)
- 07
Sales and traceability
Breeding Fish and Processes
Atlantic salmon in recirculating aquaculture
Rearing from egg to harvest in modular RAS2020 systems with spring water, without antibiotics or contact with the marine environment.
Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (water treatment)
Biological filter technology for maintaining the highest water quality with greatly reduced water consumption.
Wastewater treatment plant with sludge dewatering
Reduces nitrogen and organic matter, thereby minimising the operation's ecological footprint.
Locations
Griestal, Markt Rettenbach
DELand-based salmon farm (RAS), historic trout farming, processing and smokehouse
- Materials
- Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, char
- RAS2020 module (3rd generation)
- Drum filter
- Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR)
- Ozone-based protein skimming and CO2 degassing
- Central automated feeding system
- SCADA control room
- Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) with sludge dewatering
- 2 main rearing loops (circular tanks)
- Smoke ovens (traditional)
Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land-based salmon aquaculture (Recirculating Aquaculture System / RAS)Other (aquaculture) | – | – | – | – | Atlantic salmon |
| Smoked fish production (traditional smoking, beechwood smoking, hot smoking)Surface (smoking) | – | – | – | – | Salmon, Trout, Char |
| Fish processing/refinement (filleting, portion cutting)Other (processing) | – | – | – | – | Salmon |
| Trout farming in pond systems with spring waterOther (aquaculture) | – | – | – | – | Rainbow trout, Char |
9 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAS2020 module (Recirculating Aquaculture System, flexible modular recirculation system) | RAS2020 (3rd generation) | – | – | – | Griestal, Markt Rettenbach |
| Drum filter | – | – | – | – | Griestal |
| Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) | – | – | – | – | Griestal |
| Ozone-based protein skimming / CO2 degassing (filtration and oxygen enrichment system) | – | – | – | – | Griestal |
| Central automated feeding system (Feed Management System) | – | – | – | – | Griestal |
| SCADA control room (integrated control system) | – | – | – | – | Griestal |
| Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) with sludge dewatering and MBBR | – | – | – | – | Griestal |
| Rearing loops (circular tanks) with adjustable flow velocity and movable grids | – | 2 | – | – | Griestal |
| Smoke ovens (traditional smoke ovens) | – | – | – | – | Griestal |
Additional services
History
Aviation pioneer Count Wulf-Diether zu Castell-Rüdenhausen (married to Luise Ullrich) takes over the Griestal fish farm and establishes the Alpenland brand.
Cared for by the second generation: Countess Michaela zu Castell-Rüdenhausen and Bernd Rosemeyer run the farm for over twenty years.
- 2008
The Castell fish farm and delicacies business pass to Count Anton von Faber-Castell and Count Andreas von Faber-Castell.
- 2018
Count Casimir von Wedel and Countess Daisy Rosemeyer zu Castell-Rüdenhausen join and begin planning the modernisation into a land-based salmon farm.