Israel's desert fish farming technology has earned the admiration of the world.

More than half of Israel's land area is desert, with an unfavorable climate and a lack of water resources, yet the Israelis have earned the admiration of the world with their desert fish farming technology. Not only are they able to supply enough fish for domestic needs, but they also export it to other countries around the world.

Agriculture is a highly developed sector in Israel: The country is a major exporter of fresh produce and a world leader in agricultural technology. Despite unfavorable natural conditions for agricultural production, the country has always known how to apply high technology to improve the productivity and quality of its agricultural products.

Fish farm in the desert

Israel is also known as the "Silicon Valley" of the world in the fields of agriculture and water technology. Although only 1.7% of the population works in agriculture, Israel exports approximately $3.5 billion worth of agricultural products annually, making it one of the world's leading agricultural exporters.

According to Dotan Bar-Noy, CEO of GFA, in recent years, overfishing has significantly impacted marine resources. Without appropriate measures to prevent it, many saltwater fish species will disappear completely.

Dotan Bar-Noy, along with over 30 others, primarily engineers and marine biologists, combined traditional techniques to find a new solution to help reduce overfishing, which is causing a decline in the number and species of marine fish. This new technology allows for the cultivation of marine fish inland, especially in deserts. The system uses biological filtration and special bacteria to treat wastewater produced during fish farming, thus minimizing environmental impact.

After independence, the country conducted geological and water resource surveys in desert and semi-desert regions such as the Negev. Israelis have strived to find methods to extract saltwater from the ground and build water recycling systems to combine aquaculture and agriculture, maximizing water use efficiency and reclaiming and developing desert land.

Israeli fish farming systems reuse 99% of the water and filter fish waste to use as fertilizer for crops. Wastewater from the fish ponds undergoes a complex recycling system to remove toxins and sludge, before being reused in the ponds.

This Jewish system can be used anywhere on land as long as there is a readily available water source.

Waste from the fish pond can be used as nutrients for plants, but this closed system still needs cleaning about once a year due to sludge buildup on the filter screens and machinery.

One factor that fish farmers are very worried about is disease outbreaks. However, in these closed fish farms, the source of disease usually only comes from new batches of fish fry when they are brought to the farm, while the influence of natural factors and wild fish is very low.

One of the key factors in Israel's successful fish farming industry is its technology for identifying groundwater sources and optimizing water usage down to the last drop, enabling people to raise fish in the desert with limited water resources.

Furthermore, due to limited water resources, Israelis often store water during the winter to use for agriculture in the summer. Taking advantage of this, fish farms utilize stored water for aquaculture, providing additional food while still ensuring sufficient water for agriculture in the summer.

Regarding environmental pollution and ecosystem issues, Israel implements an extremely strict water treatment system, while also raising public awareness about water conservation and environmental protection.

The Israeli government also provides special support for investment in agriculture and aquaculture. Up to 24% of total government support is allocated to agricultural and aquaculture projects, and businesses in this sector are exempt from all import taxes.

Today, thanks to those initial efforts, “more than 10 extremely large-scale fish farms have been built in various parts of the Negev,” writes Shmuel Rothbard. Groundwater is channeled into the fish farms and then used to irrigate crops.

Fish farms are now found throughout Israel, and many new fish species have been introduced. Israelis raise carp, tilapia, grass carp, mullet, bass, catfish, salmon, and several ornamental fish species.

Israel is also known as the "Silicon Valley" of the world in the fields of agriculture and water technology.

However, Israel's fish farming industry is not without its difficulties. "Many farms in the Sea of ​​Galilee region have been abandoned as water prices have risen," said Yossi Yaish, secretary of the Israeli Fish Farmers Association. "The Sea of ​​Galilee has a source of potable freshwater, and we cannot use that precious water for fish farming."

The key to Israel's aquaculture success lies in knowing where to find abundant water resources and how to maximize the benefits of every drop. The country's most significant technological advancement in aquaculture is the realization of its desire to raise fish using its scarce strategic water reserves in the smartest way possible.

Furthermore, attention to fish quality has helped Israel improve its native freshwater fish species. Currently, the Israeli fish farming industry produces 20,000 tons of fish annually. With current prices around $3.50/kg, the industry generates $70 million in revenue per year. Israeli fish farmers hope to soon capture the European market, diversify their products, and even develop aquaculture tourism.

According to khoahoc.tv