TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages Symposium 1 - the National Sea ...

Although valuable knowledge has been acquired about the issues that affect the success
of commercial RAS, to date very limited information is available to help prospective
users identify or address the practical issues of (i) project siting, (ii) managing the cost
and quality of implementation, and (iii) developing robust though workable management
systems. For us, identification of the unit processes that meet the opposing demands of
robustness, efficiency and low cost was a critical first step. Proper implementation and
cost containment represented a significant secondary challenge that many new users of
RAS will undoubtedly find extremely problematic. Finally, accessing and integrating
appropriate tools and strategies into the management regime is perhaps the most critical
factor to achieving superior biological performance essential for commercial success. A
decade of dealing with these challenges has taught us to anticipate how changes to one
parameter might affect biological or economic outcomes. We’ve found no substitute for
the value of long-term operational experience to develop realistic expectations necessary
for developing successful projects in an increasingly competitive market environment.
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