WaterWand
Our vision
Overfishing (wild catch) is threatening our marine ecosystems. Almost 30% of fish stocks are already over-exploited. Aquaculture is seen by many as part of the sustainable solution to combat this. Yet, there are some challenges that stand in the way: 1. Carnivorous fish are fed with wild caught fish, which is contributing to overfishing. 2. Alternative feed and protein sources are still underexplored and underutilized. 3. Current pellet feeding methods are inefficient as fish are inequally fed and a lot of feed drops through the aquaculture cage to the ocean floor, polluting the water. Are you interested in co-developing this aquafeed innovation with us? Contact us at info@waterwand.org
Our solution
ReThinking Aquaculture Feeding Systems. We introduce WaterWand, a decentralized, sub-surface feeding solution designed for high-value, off-shore aquaculture applications, mainly the Scandinavian salmon market. The solution consists of two parts: the decentralized, rotating, automated sub-service feeding system (simple installation) and the uniquely designed micro algae-based feeding components. WaterWand enables on-demand feeding and can be used in conjunction with feeding pellets. We utilize micronutrient-dense, sustainable plant ingredients such as microalgae to achieve a feed that is cost-efficient, highly nutritious, and environmentally friendly. In aquaculture, over 50% of costs/yr are attributable to fish feed. WaterWand addresses the market need of a low-cost sustainable feed alternative to fishmeal. Our solution offers a feeding practice that reduces feed losses and optimizes intake. "With WaterWand, fish can eat whenever they want."
Our market
WaterWand caters to the off-shore aquaculture industry in Europe. WaterWand's feeding system offers a new feeding method complementary to their current practices.
About the team
WaterWand's team consists of three passion-driven WUR MSc students in Aquaculture & Marine Resource Management (Belén), Nutrition & Health (Eva) and Geo-Information Sciences (Sytze). The team is complemented by our external advisor Christoph Steck, a strategy consultant that brings the WaterWand vision to life. A diverse academic backgrounds, a range of professional experiences, but with a common goal: alleviating the burden on our oceans. Our team is small, but this will be our advantage: we are ambitious, agile, and keep our focus on the vision.