Farms

OUR SUPPLIER FARMS

FRESHWATER FLOW THROUGH DESIGN

ChalkStream® is supplied by the only farms on the Test and Itchen rivers in Hampshire growing trout for the table. The farms are built on the sites of old water mills and benefit from exceptional volumes of pure chalk stream water flowing through a series of custom designed raceways, tanks and outlet streams.

The farms are gravity fed and the high flow design ensures the fish grow in a constant current mirroring the conditions of their natural habitat. Oxygen is added to the water periodically to mitigate the diurnal fluctuations in dissolved oxygen created by the vast quantities of river weed that grows in the rivers during the Spring and Summer months.

All the farms are fully segregated from the chalk stream rivers preventing wild fish from entering, minimising the risk of escapees and protecting the important river habitats. The water exiting the farms enters settlement channels or swirl concentrators which capture suspended solids and ensure the water is returned to the rivers in a favourable condition. The fresh water flow through design avoids many of the environmental concerns connected with open net farming.

CERTIFIED QUALITY

Global G.A.P. (Good Agricultural Practices) is an internationally recognised set of standards for safe and responsible farming practices. Global G.A.P. Aquaculture certifies standards for the responsible production of fish and other aquaculture products, from hatcheries to processing facilities. Our supplier partners have been certified by Global G.A.P. for over 15 years. Find out more about Global G.A.P, Aquaculture here.

Sustainably Fed

Our supplier farms have worked for many years with feed manufacturer Skretting to develop a high quality and sustainable micro balanced diet.

Composition:

The feed is made up of approximately 40% protein (the building blocks for muscle development), 30% fat (oils providing the energy for growth) and 30% carbohydrate (energy and feed structure). The farms maintain a higher protein to fat ratio than most salmonid diets to ensure a lean fillet with a lower fat content.

The majority of the protein and oil contained in the diet comes from vegetable sources (70%). However, as the natural diet of trout is fish and insects it is critical that marine sourced protein and oil is included to provide a balanced diet and a palatable feed.

Protein: 85% of the protein content is sourced from sustainably grown vegetable proteins such as soy protein concentrate (Proterra certified deforestation free, GM free), faba beans (EU sourced, GM free), wheat and corn glutens (certified GM free). The remaining 15% of the protein content comes from MarinTrust certified sustainably sourced fish meal primarily from trimmings.

Fat: This content comes from MarinTrust sustainably sourced fish oil, primarily from trimmings, and rapeseed oil (Certified GM free). It is the fish oil which contains the Omega 3 unsaturated fats so important in a healthy diet for both fish and people.

Carbohydrate: This content comes from cereals including wheat. All vegetable content in the diet comes from GM free crops.

Fish Meal and Fish Oil from Trimmings

In 2024 99.89% of fishmeal and 99% of fish oil in our supplier farms' feed came from trimmings sourced in Northern France i.e. a waste product from fish caught sustainably in UK and EU waters for human consumption.

The very small volume of wild captured fishmeal and fish oil included in the feed is from MarinTrust certified sustainably managed fisheries.

The Forage Fish Dependency Ratio (FFDR) is used to assess the amount of fishmeal and fish oil in a feed that originates from wild caught stock. The Aquaculture Stewardship Council has taken the strongest stance on FFDR requiring members to have an FFDR of no more than 1.5 for fishmeal and 2.95 for fish oil. In 2024 our diet had an FFDR of 0.0064 for fishmeal and 0.28 for fish oil.

The Importance of Pigment

Wild salmon and sea trout build up a pink pigment in the flesh called asthaxanthin, a carotenoid ingested when they feed on small crustaceans, krill and algae at sea. Asthaxanthin is an important antioxidant and provides protein and nutrients to the fish.

Panaferd derives from naturally occuring asthaxanthin in the microorganism Paracoccus Carotinifaciens and has the identical isomeric form to that found in wild salmon and sea trout. The supplement is approved for use in organic feeds and is included in our trout diet to ensure the health of the fish and the natural colour of the fillets. Find out more about Panaferd here.

CERTIFICATES:

MarinTrust Responsibly Supplied Chain of Custody

MarinTrust Standard for Responsible Supply of Marine Ingredients

Global Gap Certificate of Compliance

Global Gap GM Free Certificate

Proterra Foodchain Certification

OQUALIM Feed Supply Certificate

The Farms

FRESHWATER FLOW THROUGH DESIGN

CERTIFIED QUALITY

The Rivers

Pure Chalk Stream Water

"Each winter, the rain falls high on the sheep-grazed downs then seeps into the chalk seam hundreds of feet below the ground. Filtered, purified and chilled, the water emerges months later to form such famous rivers as the Test and Itchen. The closest thing to heaven on earth for rearing trout".

Simon Copper - Life of a Chalkstream and The Field

True chalk stream rivers are fed almost exclusively by springs rising from chalk downland. Rainfall filters through the chalk bedrock to emerge gin-clear and full of minerals and nutrients, creating an exceptionally verdant and unique habitat.

The Test and Itchen Rivers

The Test and Itchen Rivers in Hampshire are the two most iconic chalk streams in the world. It was on these rivers that the art of dry fly fishing was perfected in the 1800s. Revered by fishermen across the globe, they remain the spiritual home of upstream fly fishing for trout.

The rivers rise equally in the North Hampshire Downs and the South Downs National Park to flow through some of Southern England's finest countryside before entering the English Channel.

Only 14% of rivers in the UK achieve 'good ecological status' including the River Itchen and the majority of the River Test. There is a short section of the River Test between Kimbridge and Romsey classified as 'moderate ecological status' and ChalkStream® is committed to supporting actions to restore this to good condition.

The Fish

Hatchery to Harvest

Specially selected rainbow trout are hatched in a new state of the art hatchery facility which provides the fry for our supplier farms. Juvenile trout require very controlled water and light conditions and are transferred on to the farms as fingerlings (10g fry) at around 5 months old. It takes, on average, another 2 years to grow the trout to harvest weight of 3 - 3.5kg.

Fit and Lean

The quality of the trout produced for ChalkStream® is directly related to the high flow rates and the quality of the water in the farms that gives our fish a unique clean taste. Slow grown in fast flowing pure chalk stream water, our trout are raised in conditions similar to wild river trout. Coupled with a higher protein, lower oil diet this produces a lean, well defined trout low in fat.

High Welfare

ChalkStream® is a member of the RSPCA Assured scheme and only sourced from farms that are RSPCA Assured. Since a welfare report in 2021, the farms have worked closely with the RSPCA to ensure all fish handling and harvesting procedures are maintained to the highest standards.

The RSPCA standards ensure all animals are reared, transported and slaughtered under higher welfare conditions and have everything required for a better life. For more details about the scheme click here RSPCA Assured .

The Feed