Fish Farm

Albury Estate Fisheries Mission Statement: To produce top quality Trout at various sizes to meet the ever changing angling demand.

At the fish farm a strong emphasis is placed on fish welfare and environmental conservation.

Fish Farming

The Albury Estate fish farms is in the Tillingbourne valley (Wey catchment) and are supplied by artesian wells from the North Downs aquifers.

The fish farm purchases triploid (sterile) and late maturing female fry from 2-5 grammes, which are reared in the fry unit before being graded to the on-growing units.

Fish are stocked at very low densities to maximize fin and tail quality, the densities are appropriate for the stock to be classified as “Free Range”. This form of rearing is known as restocking – supplying high quality, live fish for angling. Densities never exceed 12kg/m3.

The other type of trout farming is called table farming- rearing fish, supplied dead to fish mongers, supermarkets and restaurants. Stocking densities for this production average 80kg/m3, hence, the fin damage.

The feed used at the Fish Farm is supplied by Biomar, the most environmentally friendly fish feed in Europe. It might cost more than other sources of pellets, but has excellent food conversion ratios and lowest phosphorous levels, therefore, minimal environmental eutrophication.

The fish meal is sourced from the coasts off Peru, not the dwindling fish stocks of the North Atlantic. Biomar is a Danish company, who have the best environmental codes of aquatic practice in Europe.

Records and progress

Over the year s the Albury Estate fish farm has produced some stunning fish including:

• Brown Trout caught at 20lb
• Rainbow Trout to 18lb
• Blue Trout to 7lb
• Tiger Trout to 12lb

The farms supply all Rainbow and Brown trout to the estate waters and rivers.