The quality of the fish produced is directly related to the quality of the water and the high flow rates of the farms. It is the pure chalk stream water that gives the fish a unique fresh, clean taste. The high flow design of the farms produces an exceptionally lean, athletic fish. Slow-grown over two years in the same conditions as a wild trout from the Test and Itchen, they are firm, well-muscled fish. 

A true rainbow trout raised exclusively in fresh water, ChalkStream® trout are red-fleshed and are harvested at the robust and versatile size of 2.5-3 kg.

True chalk stream rivers are fed exclusively by springs emerging 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. 

ChalkStream® farms are built on the sites of old water mills, providing a huge volume of water (about 36 million gallons per day) for the fish to grow in a constant current that mirrors their natural river environment. Trout grow out in hard-sided and gravel-bottomed tanks and raceways and are kept at a stocking density of 35-40 kg fish per cubic meter of water. 

ChalkStream Rainbow Trout has a ruby-red flesh, well-balanced fat content, and clean flavor. It’s suitable for both raw and cooked applications.

ChalkStream® farms are fully segregated systems, which minimises the impact on the unique chalk stream environments of the main rivers.  

The outflow from the farms pass through specially designed settling channels to remove waste and ensure the water returns to the river in the same class A rated condition. The Test and Itchen Rivers are two of the most highly monitored rivers in the UK and the farm outflows are subject to a constant testing regime by the Environment Agency to ensure water quality.  In contrast to sea cage and loch reared fish, ChalkStream® has a proven low impact on the surrounding water environment.

Fish are the most efficient converters of food of any farmed animal, and trout is the most efficient of all farmed fish. Coupled with good farming practices and high quality feeds, ChalkStream® achieve extremely good feed conversion rates.  This minimizes the amount of feed used, the amount of feed wasted, and the amount of fish waste created.

ChalkStream® farms have worked closely with their feed supplier over many years to develop a specially formulated high quality micro-balanced diet.  Marine caught content has been reduced by 60% in the last 10 years, and is sourced from sustainable fisheries certified to IFFO RS. The feed conversion rate (FCR) is between 1.2 – 1.3, and the fish-in-fish-out ratio (FIFO) that is less than 1. 

It now takes less than 1 Tonne of marine caught content to produce 1 Tonne of ChalkStream® trout.  Good aquaculture is by far the most resource efficient way to produce fish protein.  Furthermore, eating trout is a far more efficient way of taking in Omega-3, yet 35-40% of the world’s supply of fish oil goes into pills and capsules.

ChalkStream Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) aka Rainbow Trout is raised on a clean high quality diet safe from environmental toxins such as Mercury, PCB or micro plastics.  100% real fish.  No antibiotics.  No Hormones.  Non GMO.

ChalkStream trout are smoked to perfection using kiln method with oak chippings.  The smoked fillets are matured for several days in a Himalayan salt chamber to produce an exceptional texture and depth of flavour.  Full of flavor, it can be enjoyed as it is, or as a versatile ingredient.

Our ChalkStream® trout are hand filleted, pin boned, and trimmed, before being dry cured in salt and demerara sugar and traditionally kiln smoked for 8-10 hours over sustainably sourced oak chippings. The smoked fillets are matured for several days in a Himalayan salt chamber to produce an exceptional texture and depth of flavour. Comes traditionally long sliced with a minimum of 2 weeks shelf life and is suitable for home freezing.