Dans le cadre du programme nationale franco indien DEFIAA, nous avons accueilli deux étudiants de la fameuse université de Pantnagar pour un mois sur notre établissement (Mars 2025).
Les BTSa Bioqualim et BTSa Métiers du Végétal les ont particulièrement bien intégré à leurs activités.
Shreshti le rédacteur de cet article est spécialisée en aquaculture (Fisheries) et pour répondre à sa spécialité, nous avons organisé la visite de la pisciculture du Canigou dont le chef d’entreprise Nicolas est un ancien élève du lycée de Théza.
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Canigou Fisheries: Ensuring Quality and Sustainability in Trout Farming
A Visit to Canigou Fisheries: Overcoming Challenges and Thriving in a Competitive Market
On March 25, 2025, a visit to Canigou Fisheries in the commune of Serdinya, led by owner Nicolas Crouilles, revealed the meticulous care and effort put into cultivating high-quality trout. Nicolas’s farm specializes in Rainbow trout, Brown trout, Brook trout, and Salmon with a production history spanning over five years since 2020. The farm’s unique blend of natural resources, sustainable practices, and innovation allows it to stand out in the competitive world of fish farming in the Pyrénées-Orientales region.
Sustainable Practices: Water and Food Management
At Canigou Fisheries, the trouts are raised in 16 raceways, each covering an area of 200 square meters and supplied with continuous flow water from the nearby Têt River. The water temperature remains optimal for trout growth, averaging 5°C, but fluctuates between 0°C in December and 15-18°C in May. This ensures that the fish grow at their best rate, particularly during the warmer months when the fish are most active.
The farm prides itself on pure, pollution-free water, with high levels of oxygen from the river. This natural flow eliminates the need for chemical treatments or artificial oxygenation, adding significant value to the farm’s products. The water is also recycled across the farm, ensuring efficient use and minimizing waste. The cold, flowing river water, combined with an environment free from contamination, contributes to the high quality of the fish raised at Canigou Fisheries.
The artificial food given to the fish is tailored to their needs as carnivores. The trout are fed high-protein pellets, rich in fish meal and chicken, as vegetable protein isn’t suitable for them. This carefully formulated diet helps ensure the fish grow healthy and strong, with 12-15 months needed for sport fishing trout to reach around 1 kg in weight.
Managing Bird Predation and Maintaining Security
A significant challenge for Canigou Fisheries is bird predation, which has affected the farm’s production, especially near the forested area. In one raceway, the farm initially raised 20,000 Salmons, but this number has dwindled to just 10-15 due to constant attacks by birds. To prevent further losses, Nicolas employs several protective measures.
The farm is equipped with nets over the raceways, which offer a physical barrier to birds, as well as a cannon machine that scares off predators. This combination of strategies helps to reduce bird-related predation and protect the fish. In addition, the farm has tight security featuring two dogs and cameras to safeguard against poaching, ensuring that the fish remain safe from external threats.
Efficient Transportation and Disease-Free Environment
One of the key advantages of Canigou Fisheries is its access to a reliable transportation network. Nicolas has a well-established transportation system that allows him to distribute perishable fish across a 500 km range of on-off sales operations. This gives him an edge in meeting the demands of local restaurants and consumers, ensuring fresh fish reaches its destination without delay. Moreover, as the transportation head for the local Fishing Federation, Nicolas plays an essential role in ensuring the smooth movement of fish throughout the region.
The farm also maintains excellent sanitary conditions to prevent any diseases from affecting the fish. Regular cleaning of the raceways is carried out using Calcium Carbonate (Lime), ensuring the facilities remain free of harmful contaminants. The high standards of sanitation, combined with the natural, clean water from the Têt River, further ensure the purity of the product, adding value to every trout raised at Canigou Fisheries.
Feeding and Growth Process
Nicolas also raises 20,000 fry of Brown trout and sterile Rainbow trout, which are fed high-protein artificial food to support their growth. Regular feeding is key to ensuring optimal development, with the farm providing 30 kg of food per day when raising 3 tonnes of fish. The careful management of food ensures that the fish receive the nutrients they need to grow at a healthy pace.
In addition, the farm’s operation takes advantage of the cold winter months when the water temperature drops to 0°C, causing the fish’s growth to slow. This slower period is essential to manage the farm’s resources carefully, while during the warmer months, when water temperatures rise, the growth of the trout accelerates, especially in May when the temperature reaches 15-18°C.
The Path Ahead: A Growing Business
Today, Canigou Fisheries stands as a model of sustainability and innovation. Nicolas’s strategic management practices, from protecting fish from predation to ensuring quality food and water for optimal growth, have allowed the business to thrive in the face of challenges. The farm’s success is evident in its ability to serve both the local sport fishing community and the restaurant industry, along with providing river restocking services.
Currently, 60% of the fish produced are destined for leisure and sport fishing, while 40% are sold for food. However, Nicolas aims to increase the food market share by adding more value through direct selling and transformation. His strategy focuses on leveraging his prime location near one of the most important national roads in the eastern Pyrénées. This strategic position makes it ideal to develop a drive-through sales system using automatic vending machines, offering fresh and transformed trout products directly to consumers. This innovation is expected to boost sales and enhance customer convenience, making high-quality trout more accessible.
Future Expansion: Innovation and Sustainability
Looking ahead, Canigou Fisheries is embarking on an ambitious expansion project. The new development includes a 2000 m² facility that will house a laboratory, a technical space, and a shop to enhance production capabilities and customer experience. Additionally, the farm will expand its production area by 4000 m², dedicated to new fish basins. This expansion will integrate sustainable energy solutions, featuring solar panels and shade houses with photovoltaic technology, ensuring an eco-friendly and energy-efficient operation.
Auteur : Shreshti Saxena – étudiante en bachelor au collège de fisheries (aquaculture) de l’université de Pantnagar
