Ocean Farm Technologies Inc. develops and markets innovative technology for aquaculture in exposed open ocean conditions.
AquaPod™ Net Pens
The patent pending AquaPod™ is a unique containment system for marine aquaculture, suited for rough open ocean conditions and a diversity of species. The AquaPod™ is constructed of individual triangular net panels fastened together in a spheroid shape. The majority of the panels are simply structural members of reinforced high density polyethylene and wire mesh netting. Some individual panels or groups of panels have other functions, such as access, feeding, fish transfer and grading, harvest, mooring, and mortality recovery. Other individual panels have pneumatically controlled flotation devices which allow an almost infinite orientation of the AquaPod™ in the water. The AquaPod™ functions as a secure containment system for finfish while submerged or partially surfaced.
WIRE MESH NET PANELS
Net handling activities in present commercially sized fish pens are labor-intensive, require significant power, and cannot be performed in strong seas and currents. The modular nature of the AquaPod™ solves this problem by utilizing individual net panels which are interchangeable and scaled to be handled easily either on the surface or while submerged. These net panels are fastened together to form strong, secure geodesic spherical enclosures, custom tailored to site specific hydrological and environmental requirements of deep water fish farms.
The use of wire mesh netting guarantees a predator proof containment, greatly reducing the possibility of fish losses due to escapement.
AQUAPOD FEATURES
Submersion: The AquaPod™ can be operated partially surfaced for ease of operations or fully submerged for storm and collision safety.. Near neutral buoyancy of structural materials makes vertical positioning easy.
Fixed Volume: The AquaPod™ maintains its shape and volume in strong currents or under tow. AquaPod™ net pens can be constructed to any size to fit individual customer's needs, with a practical range of 10 meter diameter (400 cubic meters) to 27 meter diameter (9,800 cubic meters).
Modularity: The modular nature of the AquaPod™ containment system allows easy inspection and inventory control as required by effective containment quality management systems. Maintenance is very efficient and requires little or no diving time.
Predator Control: We use tensioned vinyl coated galvanized steel wire mesh for containment netting, guaranteeing superior predator control in areas where losses have made fish farming difficult.
Feeding: One or more panels in each AquaPod™ net pen is modified to receive and distribute hydraulically supplied feed from a centralized feed barge or boat. The rigid exoskeleton of the AquaPod™ allows easy attachment of any number of feeding ports and secures feed pipe installation at any location on the exterior of the pen.
Safety: The ability of the AquaPod™ to rotate within its mooring grid, bringing any segment of the pen to the surface or near to the surface, greatly reduces the amount and depth of diving needed to operate the pen and greatly facilitates cleaning.
AFFORDABLE OWNERSHIP
The AquaPod™ containment system costs significantly less than currently available submersible net pens on a per cubic meter of containment basis. The true cost of any system is not only the initial capital cost, but the life cycle cost and the cost of operations, including risk. The AquaPod™ has been designed with these efficiencies as principal drivers, and will be economically customized for your site specific conditions.
SECURE MOORING AND TOWING
AquaPod™ net pens can be moored individually or in groups in grids, two point, or single point deployments, depending on specific operational needs and site conditions. The AquaPod™ and can be safely moored or towed at sustained current speeds up to three knots without any net deflection or reduction in volume.
OFT will provide certified engineering specs for any site, such as this typical two point installation.
SUPPORT
Ocean Farm Technologies has assembled an experienced team of engineering and technical people who know about fish farming. We provide ongoing support to customers regarding feeding systems, installation of nursery nets, species specific habitat, cleaning, harvesting, and environmental monitoring systems for your AquaPod™ net pens.