Big Fish Systems is an operational, biosecure fishery and manufacturing environment. Consultations and visits must be booked and confirmed by telephone or WhatsApp. Walk-in visitors cannot be accommodated.
TWO WAYS TO START
Choose the attention your enquiry requires.
Both options are deliberately booked in advance so we can allocate the correct person, time and preparation.
TECHNICAL CONSULTATIONR1,600First hour
Scope your project with Etienne van Heerden
A structured working session covering objectives, site, climate, infrastructure, investment scale, system choice and realistic next steps. Where relevant, it may include a walkthrough of operating equipment at the fishery.
New farm concepts
Existing production problems
System and infrastructure choices
Commercial entry-level guidance
Book by WhatsAppGUIDED FISHERY VISITR300Per person · approximately one hour
See a working aquaculture facility
A guided introduction to selected areas of the fishery, presented by an appointed farm representative. This is a general learning visit rather than a private technical design consultation.
No VAT is currently charged. Additional consulting time, reports, travel, design work and site assessments are quoted separately.
ADVANCED CONSULTING
From a difficult question to a complete farm blueprint.
Advanced services are scoped individually according to the project’s size, location, complexity and regulatory requirements.
01
Project concept
Define the species, market, production target, operating model and realistic investment scale.
02
Site and climate
Assess water, temperature, available space, drainage, access and the surrounding production environment.
03
System engineering
Size tanks, aeration, filtration, plumbing, energy, backup power and environmental control around the biomass.
04
Production planning
Connect broodstock, hatchery, fry, fingerling and grow-out capacity to a practical production schedule.
05
Risk and compliance
Prepare technical risk information and coordinate professional environmental input where required.
06
Implementation
Develop layouts, equipment schedules, manufacturing requirements, commissioning and operator support.
RISK ASSESSMENTS & PERMIT SUPPORT
Technical planning that respects the regulatory environment.
Certain aquaculture projects—particularly those involving regulated species such as Nile tilapia—may require a formal risk assessment or supporting environmental information before the relevant authority will consider a permit.
Requirements differ by species, province, catchment, activity and site. We prepare the aquaculture and system components of the assessment and coordinate with a suitably registered environmental professional where specialist review or sign-off is required.
COMPLETE FARM DESIGN
Every production stage, connected.
A good layout considers fish movement, water, people, equipment, energy and expansion before construction begins.
PRODUCTIONBroodstock facilitiesHatcheries and egg incubationSex-reversal and fry areasFingerling productionGrow-out modulesHarvest and handling
ENGINEERINGTanks and racewaysCMES filtrationAeration and oxygenWater storage and drainageElectrical and backup powerSolar integration
INFRASTRUCTUREShaded tunnelsSunTrap buildingsTemperature controlFeed and equipment storageBiosecurity zonesPhased expansion
AFRICA & INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS
Designed for the location—not copied from somewhere else.
We provide remote and on-site consulting for projects ranging from small and community farms to hatcheries, commercial grow-out facilities and high-intensity recirculating systems.
Climate, construction methods, regulation, water, energy and available skills differ between countries. International work is scoped and quoted around the actual location and production objective.
Small-scale farmingEarthen pondsBroodstock & hatcheriesCommercial grow-outCMES and bioflocHigh-intensity RASResearch facilitiesPhased farm development
THE DEVELOPMENT PATH
Move forward in controlled steps.
Not every project requires every stage, but the order prevents expensive decisions from being made before the fundamentals are understood.
01Consultation
02Site assessment
03Production model
04Risk & permits
05Farm layout
06Manufacturing
07Installation
08Commissioning & training
PREPARE FOR THE FIRST CONVERSATION
Tell us what you want to achieve.
Include your location, species, intended output, available space, water source, electricity, backup power and investment range. If you already operate a farm, describe the present bottleneck.