The River Kongeå's Fish Farm

The river Kongeå's Fish Farm is a model fish farm. The farm was converted from a traditional fish farm into a model farm in 2004 as the first of its kind in Denmark.

 

A model fish farm is based on a high degree of technology and low water consumption. This kind of fish farm has a high degree of recycling. 95 percent of the water is recycled after mechanical and biological treatment. Water extraction is not performed from the river but from ground water and drain under the production plant. The plant produces rainbow trout in portion size. 

 

Kongeåen's Fish Farm is a continuation of a traditional fish farming. The current owner took over the place in 1985. At that time it was a large traditional farm with 99 ponds dug on the site. It was established in the1960s. It had taken over the Junkerske Stemmeværk from Sønderskov-Tobøl and Lintrup-Hygum irrigation companies.

 

The weir was in poor condition when it was taken over, so instead of repairing the old wooden weir, the fish farm owner replaced it with a new weir in concrete. The remains of the old weir can still be seen down in the river.

 

 

The fish farm also took over part of Sønderskov-Tobøl Irrigation Channel, which was recycled for water extraction.

 

In 2004, a new modern model fish farm was built next to the traditional fish farm. Kongeåens Fish Farm was the first model farm in Denmark. The EU and the Danish Vetinary and Food Administration gave grants for the construction of the fish farm. The old ponds in the ground are today used as plant lagoons that purify the used water and the remains of the nutrients are consumed in plant growth.

 

Author: Linda Klitmøller, museum curator, Sønderskov Museum