BEN Pyka and his family own one of the most environmentally friendly salmon farms in Australia.
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On a property just outside Deloraine, the 41 Degrees South Tasmania farm uses recycled water and solar power, a wetland and a waterwheel to create a business that has almost no environmental footprint.
The business’s Atlantic salmon are grown in natural-growing conditions and live a happy, stress-free life.
The relatively small company has the freedom and control to ensure that everything that comes in and out of the farm is of the highest quality.
‘‘If you read my brand, I want you to see a clean, sustainable, high quality product,’’ Mr Pyka said.
‘‘We grow to natural growing conditions which is about 20 kilograms per cubic metre of water.
‘‘In terms of an environmental impact, we don’t have one.’’
The property has created such an environmentally friendly operation that the water coming out of the farm is cleaner than when it came in.
Using the expansive wetlands, 41 Degrees South is able to filter the dirty water from the ponds as well as providing essential nutrients to the nearby plants.
‘‘We use a wetland for a biological filter for the fish waste, what that means is that the water comes into our farm from the creek, our farm has the fish in it which makes the water dirty,’’ Mr Pyka said.
‘‘That dirty water goes into the wetland, the wetland then takes out all the phosphates and the nitrates and the things that cause ammonia.
‘‘Plants use those minerals to grow and then the water that leaves our farm leaves it cleaner than when we get it in the first place.’’
A part of the Cradle to Coast Tasting Trail, the salmon farm gets international visitors travelling out of their way just to taste their salmon.
With products such as hot-smoked baby salmon, salmon fillets and rillettes, visitors can walk through the farm and see exactly where their food is coming from.
‘‘Not many places that are commercial entities allow people to walk about their business and see what it is that they’re doing,’’ Mr Pyka said.
‘‘In this North-West region, the food and drink side of it is very appealing to a lot of people.
‘‘It’s really nice to be reputed as clean and green and it fits in line with Tasmania and its tourism industry.’’
41 Degrees South Tasmania can be found at 323 Montana Road, Deloraine.
For more information call 6362 4130 or visit www.41south
tasmania.com.