Twizel innovation lights up salmon farms
From the foothills of Aoraki Mount Cook, a South Canterbury business is proving that some of the world's most innovative aquaculture technology can come from small-town New Zealand.
Southern Salmon Lights, based in Twizel, has grown alongside New Zealand's salmon farming industry, developing specialised underwater lighting systems that are now used by most of the country's major salmon producers and exported to Australia.
Scientists have established that light can influence salmon maturation and growth. By using carefully managed lighting programmes, farmers can optimise fish development and improve production outcomes.
Riaan Van der Westhuizen established Twizel Electrical after moving to New Zealand from South Africa 15 years ago.
While the business initially focused on electrical construction and farm systems, it became increasingly involved in the development of salmon farms in the Mackenzie Basin. That work ultimately led to the creation of Southern Salmon Lights.
"We knew nothing about salmon," Riaan says. "Mt Cook Salmon came and asked me to help. We started with one small farm, and as they expanded, Southern Salmon Lights expanded with them."
Today, lighting is a critical tool for salmon farmers.
"Nearly everyone uses lights now," Riaan says. "It helps manage the maturation of the fish. You can effectively put a timestamp on fish and speed up the growth process."
What sounds straightforward took years of trial and error.
"When we started, we installed 10 fittings and lost six in the first night," Riaan says. "There were lots of sleepless nights and a very fast learning curve."
Designing reliable underwater lighting systems is complex. Factors such as fitting size, heat management and durability all had to be refined through testing in real-world farming conditions.
"We saw a gap in the market and built a product to fill it," Riaan says. "Our fittings have now been running for six or seven years in the water."
Today, Southern Salmon Lights has more than 1,000 fittings operating in salmon farms and supplies lighting systems for other species, including trout and kingfish —anything that can be triggered by light. The company is also testing applications for kelp and prawn farms.
Riaan credits the company's success to strong partnerships with farmers willing to embrace new technology.
"We were very fortunate with our clients because they developed with us," he says. "They gave us the opportunity to test in a real environment on their stock. They took a leap of faith, and luckily the results were good."
True to its roots, the company continues to build around customer needs. Its next generation of 'smart' fittings will incorporate sensors that can monitor water temperature and oxygen levels alongside lighting functions.
"Ideas come from clients," Riaan says. "We build according to their needs."
With only a handful of companies globally developing specialist underwater lighting systems, Southern Salmon Lights demonstrates how Kiwi ingenuity, close industry partnerships and a willingness to innovate can help New Zealand lead the world in aquaculture technology.
“We saw a gap in the market and built a product to fill it. Our fittings have now been running for six or seven years in the water.”