UK indoor shrimp farmer Three-Sixty Aquaculture has started new technology trials with NanobOx and GIS Gas Infusion Systems Inc with the aim to improve its facility’s efficiency and sustainability. According to the company, these collaborations are key to furthering its mission to drive innovation in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS).
Three-Sixty Aquaculture Co-founder James Fox-Davies said the company is always looking for ways to enhance its technical processes and is therefore excited to be embarking on these trials with NanobOx and GIS.
The adoption of nanobubble technology and CO₂ stripping at such low cost could mark a major advancement in producing high-quality, affordable seafood, he said.
Its nanobubble and CO2 trials will run throughout 2025 and 2026, with initial results expected in the third-quarter this year.
The success of the trials will be defined by reduced operational costs and enhanced environmental benefits, Fox-Davies told WF.
“By the end of the trials in Q3 2025, we aim to quantify the cost-effectiveness of nanobubble oxygenation and CO₂ stripping in terms of £/m3 of volume per day, whilst also assessing improvements in water quality and system efficiency. Over the following year, we’ll also monitor fish growth rates, health, and welfare to evaluate the long-term biological benefits of these technologies.”
The company specifically chose NanobOx and GIS because of their compatibility with its existing RAS infrastructure, and this allowed seamless integration, Fox-Davies explained.
“These technologies align seamlessly with our proprietary four-cell tank design and will be a key part of our drive to scale toward larger tank volumes, where efficient oxygenation becomes more challenging. NanobOx and GIS offer a practical solution to this in larger systems. Furthermore, when paired with battery systems, these technologies serve as a low-maintenance, cost-effective backup, reducing reliance on traditional and less energy efficient setups,” he said.
Cost advantages
Specifically, the trial with NanobOx is testing the introduction of nanobubble generation technology into its RAS system, with the expectation to enhance oxygen transfer, improve shrimp growth rates and reduce feed conversion ratios (FCR).
NanobOx generates high concentrations of nanobubbles at just one one-hundredth of the power consumption of conventional nanobubble generation systems, offering RAS operators a significant cost advantage. Beyond oxygenation, early research suggests the technology could also positively impact animal health and disease resistance.
Meanwhile, Three-Sixty is conducting CO₂ stripping trials using advanced technology developed by GIS Gas Infusion Systems. This system, which uses proprietary 3D-printed hydrophobic discs, offers an efficient and compact alternative to traditional degassing towers.
By significantly reducing air and energy requirements, it is expected to lower operational costs whilst improving water quality. Early indications suggest that reduced CO₂ levels will contribute to enhanced shrimp health and improved feed conversion ratios, aligning with the company’s commitment to sustainable and high-performance RAS farming.
Having developed its proprietary, patent-pending technology in its existing R&D facility in Swansea and raised GBP 3.5 million in a Series A funding round, Three-Sixty is looking to invest the money to commercialise its shrimp farming at scale. It has also been granted three new innovative patents – four-cell tank design, continuous harvesting & grading system, waste and mortality removal system.
The company has been heavily investing in automation and AI to help streamline processes, advised Fox-Davies. It also recently expanded its in-house capabilities with two hires that are PhD-level experts in software and hardware engineering to help accelerate the development and integration of technologies into the producer’s operations.
Fox-Davies also confirmed that while Three-Sixty’s current farming efforts are focused on shrimp, many of the proprietary technologies it is developing are “highly transferable” to other species.
