Land-based salmon farming in recirculation systems with in-house processing and smokehouse in the Allgäu region
Griestaler Fish Farm GmbH (Castell Salmon)
Markt Rettenbach (Griestal)New on Amplifa
About Castell Salmon
Castell Salmon is the brand of Griestaler Fish Farm GmbH, a land-based aquaculture operation in the Allgäu Griestal valley near Markt Rettenbach at an altitude of around 750 m. The farm is regarded as Germany's first approved land-based salmon farm and is being developed from the historic trout farm of the Castell family. Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is raised entirely in Germany, from the egg stage to harvest-ready fish, in a modular third-generation recirculating aquaculture system (RAS2020) using natural spring water – without antibiotics and pesticides. Water treatment is carried out using drum filters, moving-bed biofilm reactors (MBBR), ozonated protein skimming and CO2 stripping, monitored by a SCADA control system; a wastewater treatment plant with sludge dewatering reduces nitrogen and organic matter. The entire processing takes place on site: filleting, cutting and portioning as well as traditional smoking with beechwood, cold and hot (farm to table). According to the legal notice, the facility is in the planning and construction phase.
- Site
- Markt Rettenbach
- Processes
- Land-based salmon farming (Recirculating Aquaculture System, RAS), Fish processing (whole salmon, fillets, portions), Traditional fish smoking (beechwood smoking, cold and hot smoking), Water treatment with drum filters and moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR), Wastewater treatment (WWTP) with sludge dewatering and MBBR, Ozonated protein skimming and CO2 stripping (filtration and oxygenation), Automated feeding with central feed management system, Smoking (beechwood, cold and hot smoked)
- Materials
- Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), Rainbow trout, Char (Saibling), Recirculating aquaculture (RAS2020, 3rd generation), Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor, Wastewater treatment with sludge dewatering, SCADA control system
- Industries
- Aquaculture, Food/fish refining
- 01
Egg stage and rearing in the RAS loop
- 02
Water treatment (drum filters, MBBR, ozonation)
- 03
Automated feeding via central feed management system
- 04
Harvest on site
- 05
Filleting, cutting, portioning
- 06
Cold and hot smoking with beechwood
- 07
Marketing (farm to table)
Fish species and farming methods
Recirculating aquaculture (RAS2020, 3rd generation)
Modular recirculating aquaculture system with stable water parameters for salmon farming in spring water.
Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor
Biological water treatment for the removal of pollutants and nitrogen.
Wastewater treatment with sludge dewatering
Reduces nitrogen and organic matter and lowers the environmental impact.
SCADA control system
Precisely controls and monitors pH, temperature and water quality.
Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
Main farmed fish, entirely land-based from the egg stage to harvest.
Rainbow trout
Historic farmed fish species of the Griestal trout farm.
Char (Saibling)
Traditionally farmed fish species at the site.
Location
Markt Rettenbach (Griestal)
DELand-based salmon farming (RAS), processing and smokehouse (in planning/construction)
- Materials
- Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, char
- RAS2020 module (3rd generation)
- Drum filters
- MBBR reactors
- SCADA control system
- Recirculation tanks with movable grids
- Automated feed management system
- Smoking oven (traditional)
Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land-based salmon farming (Recirculating Aquaculture System, RAS)Other (aquaculture) | – | – | – | – | Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) |
| Fish processing (whole salmon, fillets, portions)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Atlantic salmon |
| Traditional fish smoking (beechwood smoking, cold and hot smoking)Heat treatment | – | – | – | – | Atlantic salmon |
| Water treatment with drum filters and moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR)Other (aquaculture) | – | – | – | – | – |
| Wastewater treatment (WWTP) with sludge dewatering and MBBROther (aquaculture) | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ozonated protein skimming and CO2 stripping (filtration and oxygenation)Other (aquaculture) | – | – | – | – | – |
| Automated feeding with central feed management systemOther (aquaculture) | – | – | – | – | – |
6 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS), RAS2020 module, 3rd generation | RAS2020 | – | – | – | Griestal, Markt Rettenbach |
| Drum filter | – | – | – | – | Griestal |
| Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) | – | – | – | – | Griestal |
| SCADA control system | – | – | – | – | Griestal |
| Recirculation tanks (grow-out modules, two circular main tanks with movable grids) | – | – | – | – | Griestal |
| Smoking oven (traditional smokehouse) | – | – | – | – | Griestal |
Additional services
History
- 1940er
Aviation pioneer Count Wulf-Diether zu Castell-Rüdenhausen brought fish farming in Griestal into the family and founded the Alpenland brand; over 80 years of production of fresh and smoked fish.
- 2008
The Castell fish farm and delicatessen passed to Count Anton von Faber-Castell and Count Andreas von Faber-Castell.
- 2018
Count Casimir von Wedel and Countess Daisy Rosemeyer zu Castell-Rüdenhausen joined the team and began planning the modernization into land-based salmon farming.