News - Blue Linked - Marine environmental services

16.04.2021 | Circular aquaculture in progress

We are ready for it! We are going to use our expertise in circular aquaculture techniques in our collaboration with the Oceans at Work Foundation.

The Oceans at Work Foundation wants to contribute to a healthy relationship between humans and the sea, with a focus on the development of circular fish culture techniques. Over the next two years, we will focus on realizing a hatchery for marine organisms and an outgrowth facility for fish raised in the hatchery. Initially, this will involve turbot and cod.

A great opportunity to build on the successful results of Blue Linked's earlier pilot with circular aquaculture. And an important step in making the food chain more sustainable.

Follow us on LinkedIn to stay informed!

17.08.2020 | Grant awarded

Earlier Blue Linked completed a successful pilot with turbot (photo: T. Wijgerde).

Recently Blue Linked, as a partner of New Generation Nutrition, was awarded a grant by Regio Noordoost-Brabant. The project is aimed at making the fish chain more sustainable. The focus is on practical research into the food needs of fish fry; one of Blue Linked's areas of expertise.

During the project we will investigate in our hatchery (Hazerswoude-dorp) how natural and sustainable ingredients for microdiets can be used for circular aquaculture of marine fish. Microdiets are an alternative way to grow fish fry without using live food.

Follow us on LinkedIn to stay informed.

10.08.2020 | Thornback rays almost free

Treating the Thornback rays is done with the greatest care (photo: J. Heemsbergen).

Last week Remko Verspui of Sportvisserij Nederland visited the Blue Linked hatchery in Hazerswoude-Dorp. With extreme precision he tagged Thornback rays from the project Sharks and rays back in the North Sea and performed surgery to inplant a transmitter. The Thornback rays grew up from egg capsules in our hatchery for a year and a half. The animals can now recover from surgery and will be released into the North Sea at the end of August. Thanks to the tags and transmitters, it is then possible to follow where the Thornback rays are swimming.

Predecessors of these Thornback rays were able to reach the Wadden Sea and the Belgian coast; a success of this nature restoration project of which we are enormously proud.

Also curious about the wanderings of our Thornback rays? Follow our LinkedIn page and stay informed!

01.05.2020 | Student advice monitoring network

With the corona crisis, the setup of our breeding centre at the new location in Hazerswoude-dorp is unfortunately delayed. But of course this does not mean that we are in a passive state.

Recently, students from Utrecht University presented their advice to Blue Linked on setting up a monitoring network that can maximise the success rate of reintroducing marine species into the North Sea; a helping hand in underpinning our strategic vision of '1 fish on your plate, 1 fish in the sea'.

29.01.2020 | Fish on the move

Last night the first fish arrived in Blue Linked's new centre for circular aquaculture in Hazerswoude-dorp. For weeks in a row we have been working on the construction of the climate room, now home for the thornback rays of the project 'Sharks and rays back to the North Sea'.

The interior design is far from ready, but with the fish swimming around we can fully proceed with the expansion of our business. The location provides ample opportunities to do so. And we are confident about the future!

08.11.2019 | New location!

The hatchery of Blue Linked will move to another location. We have found a great location in Hazerswoude-dorp, which is much closer to our office in Zoetermeer. Today, Michaël Laterveer (director of Blue Linked) signed the rental agreement. This is the start of a new phase. We hope to have our facilities up and running by January 2020. Check this website for regular updates!

10.01.2019 | Expansion formal training company

Three years after the first acceptance of Blue Linked as a formal training company for students in the Green sector, we expanded this accreditation. Blue Linked is now also a training company in Technical engineering. This implies that we can proceed with our innovative technical developments in aquaculture even more effectively.

Accreditation Learning Company Technical Engineering

As a learning company in the Green sector, Blue Linked welcomed many students during the past few years in our hatchery, including 40 MBO-students. Also, Blue Linked offers positions for trainees in HBO and University students in biology and life science.

Besides our three well trained staff members, we currently have three MBO-trainees, two HBO-trainees and one trainee from University, who all help enthousiastically running our hatchery.

Are you also a student, and do you feel that Blue Linked is the place to be? Please feel free to contact us and discover the possibilities.

18.09.2018 | Cultured Thornback ray pops up in Wadden Sea

Exactly 285 days after the release of a Thornback ray from our hatchery in Utrecht in the Oosterschelde, the fish was cought in the Wadden Sea. This is mentioned on Twitter by fisherman Piet Bakker on 12th September. The catch implicates a big success for the project 'Sharks and rays back in the North Sea', with Blue Linked as coordinator in fish culture. Dozens of Thornback rays have already been released with the aim to monitor growth and survival of the cultured fish in the wild.

Here you can read the press release of the special catch by World Wildlife Fund (in Dutch).

14.10.2017 | Free!

Michael Laterveer (director Blue Linked), holding a cultured Thornback ray before setting it free in the Oosterschelde (photo: P. Verhoog).

On 14th October 2017 our project 'Sharks and rays back in the North Sea' reaches an important milestone. The Thornback rays that are cultured in our hatchery since May last year, are released into the wild in the Oosterschelde (the Netherlands). Our staff and student trainees have been working for months on end to meet this moment. We are very proud with the results!

31.08.2017 | Ray-update

A lot of progress has been made in the project 'Sharks and rays back to the North Sea'. The 300 Thornback rays show a steady growth, they are tagged and preparations are carried out to release the fish in the Oosterschelde (Zeeland, the Netherlands).

Here you can read more about this pilot project, carried out by Blue Linked in collaboration with WWF and others.

08.06.2017 | Omroep Zeeland

The project 'Sharks and rays back to the North Sea' has entered a new phase. The ca. 300 Thornback rays that have been raised succesfully in the hatchery of Blue Linked since last year, are being prepared to be released in the Oosterschelde. A number of preparations still need to be made, but the Dutch newspaper Omroep Zeeland already gives an enthousiastic account.

20.05.2017 | Rays and sharks in Het Parool

Thornback ray in hatchery Blue Linked (photo: P. Verhoog).

Again media attention for the project 'Sharks and rays back to the North Sea', this time in the Dutch newspaper Het Parool.

03.05.2017 | Tijd voor MAX

'Michaël, just between you and me...' Sybrand Niessen asks at the opening of the interview. 'So if we are swimming in the North Sea, there is a chance that we run into a shark?'

On 3rd May, Blue Linked's director Michaël Laterveer, was a guest of the Dutch television programme Tijd voor MAX, to explain about the project 'Sharks and rays back to the North Sea'.

Please watch the programme here (fragment 11:40-18:45)

27.04.2017 | Workshop WWF Impact Ventures

With great enthusiasm the participants of the first workshop of WWF Impact Ventures (24-26 April 2017 in Zeist, the Netherlands) boost their nature conservation projects to a higher level (see news item 28.03.2017). Michaël Laterveer, director of Blue Linked (left, in front), was one of them.

The diversity of the 17 participants and 5 tutors is reflected by the countries they represent, e.g. Brazil, Mexico, Malaysia, Syria, Bonaire, Hungary, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Ecuador and Uganda.

Aim of the first workshop was to define the framework of each business plan. The next workshop will be held in June (Vienna, Austria). In the mean time, the participants proceed with their plans under personal coaching and in webinars, thanks to an online platform.

Participation of WWF Impact Ventures means that, after many years of preparations and our own investments, we can make the next step in our innovative hatchery, under professional guidance and in an inspiring atmosphere. Tune in to this news column to follow our progress!

07.04.2017 | Algemeen Dagblad

This week we received much media attention for Blue Linked's hatchery. After the television programme Vroege Vogels, also the Dutch news paper Algemeen Dagblad paid us a visit to observe the sharks and rays that grow up succesfully. Later this year the animals will be released in the North Sea. Follow the news on this website to stay in tune.

04.04.2017 | Vroege Vogels

Thornback ray in hatchery Blue Linked (photo: P. Verhoog).

Today Blue Linked's hatchery was visited by Vara's Vroege Vogels (Dutch television programme) (first zeven minutes of this episode). Michael Laterveer explains with great passion about his work on the project 'Sharks and rays back to the North Sea'.

28.03.2017 | Blue Linked selected for WWF Impact Ventures

Selection of our proposal for WWF Impact Ventures is an enormous impulse for Blue Linked's hatchery. Participation in the program enables us to boost our business case to a whole new level.

14.02.2017 | Expansion hatchery

Technician Nico Leeuwestein at work (photo: M. Laterveer-de Beer).

The new year had a productive start at Blue Linked. The extension of our hatchery facility is in full progress. What are our plans?

30.06.2016 | Sneak preview WNF Life Guards

WNF Life Guards received a unique tour behind the scenes of the project 'Sharks and rays back in the North Sea'. In the hatchery of Blue Linked, Michael Laterveer showed them around and explained about the important role of sharks and rays in the North Sea ecosystem. The youth members of the World Wildlife Fund were very enthousiastic to observe the egg capsules of thornback rays from close by.

Read here the whole report (published in: WNF Life Guard, special June 2016, in Dutch).

11.06.2016 | WWF Service Event at hatchery Blue Linked

At Saturday June 11th, 2016, our hatchery in Utrecht was hosting the yearly Major Service Event of the World Wildlife Fund in the Netherlands. This happened on the account of the collaboration between Blue Linked, WWF and other partners in the project 'Sharks and rays back in the North Sea'. About one hundred guests were offered a special tour to admire the 25 or more juvenile thornback rays that are born in the hatchery.

02.06.2016 | This website is now responsive

$Fish embryo\'s (photo: W. van Egmond).$

Since today our website is optimal accessible on any digital medium: smartphone, tablet or pc. Whether you are on the road or behind your desk, you can always check our activities.

01.05.2016 | Newborn ray

Thornback ray (Raja clavata) (photo: M. Laterveer-de Beer).

At May 1st the first 'baby' ray was born at the hatchery of Blue Linked. Culturing rays is part of the project 'Sharks and rays back in the North Sea', which is carried out in collaboration with i.e. the World Wildlife Fund.

02.02.2016 | Formal training company

On 2 February 2016 Blue Linked was accepted as a formal training company for students in the Green sector (environment, husbandry). We experience this as an empowerment of our efforts to educate young professionals in the marine environment.

20.12.2015 | Vroege Vogels (Dutch Radio Program)

Michael Laterveer, marine biologist at Blue Linked, is interviewed by the Dutch Radio Program 'Vroege Vogels' about culturing corals using sexual reproduction.

Click here to listen to the radio interview (in Dutch).

21.11.2015 | Blue Linked in Bionieuws

The Dutch specialist journal for biologists 'Bionieuws' regularly pays attention to starting entrepeneurs. In the November issue 2015 - also a special about sustainable fisheries - the experimental fish fry hatchery of Blue Linked is described as 'urban marine fish farm'.

Read here the article in Bionieuws (in Dutch)

01-06-2015 | Sharks and rays project

Since June 2015, Michael Laterveer - owner of Blue Linked - acts as coordinator in fish culture for the project 'Sharks and rays back in the North Sea'. For this purpose Blue Linked's facilities of the hatchery in Utrecht are presently adjusted to accomodate cold water species of sharks and rays. Partners of the project are e.g. the World Wildlife Fund.

18-02-2015 | Blue Linked in De Telegraaf

Coral embryo's (photo: Australian Institute of Marine Science).

An article in the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf about the development of a method to rehabilitate coral reefs using sexual reproduction.

07-02-2015 | Blue Linked in Het Parool

Coral embryo's (photo: J. Craggs).

An article in the Dutch newspaper Het Parool about coral sex, with an interview with Michael Laterveer of Blue Linked about the missing link in the upscaling of existing coral breeding techniques.

Read here the article in Het Parool (in Dutch)

September 2014 | Blue Linked in Visionair

An article (in Dutch) about eel culture issues, including an interview with Michael Laterveer of Blue Linked about the challenges in rearing elver.

Read here the article (in Dutch) in Visionair, the professional magazine of Sportvisserij Nederland.

08-05-2014 | Home made corals

Today at the front page of the Dutch newspaper Trouw: Biologists: we can make corals by ourselves.

An article about the work of Michael Laterveer (director Blue Linked) and coral expert Tim Wijgerde in the Experimental hatchery in Utrecht.

11-03-2014 | Corals for ZappLive

Michael Laterveer of Blue Linked with the coral tank at ZappLive (photo: T. Wijgerde).

Together with Wageningen University, Blue Linked organized a live coral exhibit for the Dutch children's television programme ZappLive.

05-02-2014 | Blue Linked in magazine for fish professionals

Specimen of Blue Linked's turbot culture (photo: M. Laterveer-de Beer).

The culture of turbot in Blue Linked's Experimental Fish Fry Hatchery was succesfully completed with a publication in VIS, the Dutch magazine for fish professionals. This means a step towards the market.

For the whole article (in Dutch) and information about the next activities in the Hatchery...

16-11-2013 | Stage of turbot fry is accomplished

Turbot fry in Experimental fish fry hatchery of Blue Linked (photo: M. Laterveer-de Beer).

In the Experimental fish fry hatchery of Blue Linked, the turbot larvae have reached the stage of fish fry.

Since the innovative culture system has proved itself, the time is right to draw up a business plan and search for sponsors in order to scale up the hatchery.

18-10-2013 | Blue Linked hatchery works on an important breakthrough in aquaculture

Developmental stages of turbot larvae, cultured in the Experimental hatchery of Blue Linked (photo: T. Wijgerde).

After a period of two weeks, we can assess the first results of the culture of turbot larvae (Scophthalmus maximus) in the Experimental fish fry hatchery of Blue Linked.

Using innovative culturing techniques, we have obtained unexpected results. An important link in the chain of traditional aquaculture methods of feeding fish larvae, can be skipped. This is a breakthrough in aquaculture.

01-10-2013 | Arrival turbot larvae in hatchery

Daan Pijnenburg (left) and Michael Laterveer (right) holding a plastic bag containing turbot larvae (photo: Babette Sips).

Today 60.000 Norwegian turbot larvae arrived in the Experimental fish fry hatchery of Blue Linked. Supplier of the fish fry is Fry Marine.

After several hours of acclimatizing, the fish larvae were released in the culture system. In a few days time we will report in this news column about their development. After months of preparation, the hatchery is now up and running!

09-09-2013 | Experimental hatchery ready for next step

Michael Laterveer (left) and Daan Pijnenburg (right) at work in the Experimental fish fry hatchery of Blue Linked (photo: M. Laterveer-de Beer).

The culture system in the experimental hatchery of Blue Linked is ready for the introduction of fish larvae.

01-07-2013 | New employee

Daan Pijnenburg (photo: M. Laterveer-de Beer).

On 1 July 2013, Daan Pijnenburg joined Blue Linked as a junior hatchery employee. He will concentrate on growing copepods and on the Experimental Fish Fry Hatchery project.

01-04-2013 | Algae reactor operational

Close-up algae culture (photo: M. Laterveer-de Beer).

Blue Linked, in collaboration with the Dutch company L-Gem, has developed a reactor for the culture of the marine algae species Rhodomonas spp. This algae is part of the Experimental fish fry hatchery project. The first algae were recently harvested.

11-03-2013 | Michael Laterveer gives lecture at Sabella

At the invitation of the sea aquarium club Sabella (Hasselt, Belgium), Michael Laterveer (director Blue Linked) gave a lecture about corals on 11 March 2013.

22-02-2013 | Michael Laterveer gives lecture at Antwerp Sea Aquarium Club

At the invitation of the Antwerp Sea Aquarium Club (Belgium), Michael Laterveer (director Blue Linked) gave a lecture about corals on 22 Febuary 2013.

08-02-2013 | Michael Laterveer co-author article in Advanced Aquarist

Illustration: Tim Wijgerde (in: Advanced Aquarist, Febuary 2013)

The effect of light spectra in the culture of corals, is highly species dependent. It appears that most efficient coral growth is invariably attained at low irradiance. These are the results of a study ...

10-01-2013 | Michael Laterveer gives lecture at IMARES meeting

As an expert in coral rehabilitation, Michael Laterveer (director Blue Linked) was guest speaker at the first meeting of the ‘tropical team’ of IMARES at 10 January 2013.

08-01-2013 | Michael Laterveer gives lecture at Cerianthus

At the invitation of the Dutch sea aquarium club Cerianthus, Michael Laterveer (director Blue Linked) gave a lecture about corals on 8 January 2013.

26-11-2012 | Michael Laterveer gives lecture at meeting of Ministry of Economic Affairs

As an expert in coral rehabilitation, Michael Laterveer (director Blue Linked) was guest speaker at a meeting of the Ministry of Economic Affairs at 26 November 2012.

19-11-2012 | Coral Rehabilitation Initiative - successful fieldtrip Australia

Coral embryo's, 28 hours after fertilization (photo: Australian Institute of Marine Science).

The culturing systems that were developed by Blue Linked for the Coral Rehabilitation Initiative operate very well. The systems were tested during a working visit to Australia. Together with other coral scientists, Michaël Laterveer succeeded in growing tenthousands of coral embryo's into healthy coral larvae.

13-08-2012 | Blue Linked on Dutch television

As a jelly fish expert, Michaël Laterveer of Blue Linked was guest in a Dutch television programme ('Groeten van MAX', MAX broadcasting). He explained the reason of this summer's outbreak of jelly fish along the Spanish coast and advised about what to do if a person is stung by a jelly fish.

15-07-2012 | Coral Rehabilitation Initiative - presentation at the 12th International Coral Reef Symposium

Together with Van Oord, Blue Linked presented the Coral Rehabilitation Initiative at the International Coral Reef Symposium in Cairns, Australia (9-13 July).

14-06-2012 | Coral keepers do their job

Coral culture benefits from Blue Linked's consultancy.

25-05-2012 | Website Blue Linked online!

This website provides information about Blue Linked's current activities and developments.

Keep up to date withe Blue Linked's projects and its marine services.

10-05-2012 | Return of the sturgeon

In May, 50 European sturgeons were released into Dutch rivers. This was done in the Nieuwe Maas near Rotterdam and in the Waal near Nijmegen. Blue Linked was involved at the start of the reintroduction of this extraordinary fish in our estuary...

14-03-2012 | RTV Utrecht pays attention to ecologically and sustainably cultured coral

'We can imitate a natural coral reef here!' (Michaël Laterveer, Blue Linked)

EcoDeco coral hatchery at Utrecht (photo: M. Laterveer-de Beer)

RTV Utrecht visited the coral hatchery of the Dutch company EcoDeco, a close business partner of Blue Linked. This hatchery, in Utrecht, is part of the Coral Farm project. Watch the television programme.

23-11-2011 | Michael Laterveer gives lecture at Antwerp Sea Aquarium Club

At the invitation of the Antwerp Sea Aquarium Club (Belgium), Michael Laterveer (director Blue Linked) gave a lecture about corals on 23 November 2011.