When deciding what type of cages to install in a fish farm, various factors must be taken into consideration. These factors may include water depth, currents present in the body of water, fouling accumulation, oxygen saturation, water temperature, potential storm risks and more.
After considering all these factors, the next step is to decide the dimensions of the cages required and how many to install in a given area. Some companies prefer spreading labour over a larger number of smaller cages, whilst other companies may prefer farming in less cages which are larger in size, thus reducing operational costs.
It will be part of the farm managers or operators’ job to decide the type of netting to use for the cage(s). Different types of netting may include twisted knotted, knotless Raschel, braided knotted or Muketsu twisted knotless netting. Deciding which type of netting to use will be influenced by the role each cage will play in the production process, such as the stage of growth of the fish, whether predator or bird protection is necessary etc. Some of FISA’s customers have opted for braided knotted polyester or HDPE braided Supra® netting for cages, thus avoiding the necessity of using both an anti-predator net and cage. This provides an innovative, two-in-one solution for many fish farmers. Each type of netting has its own advantages and disadvantages and is suitable for a variety of farms, locations, designs and operational procedures.
A second factor that must be considered when choosing cage netting is the raw material used in the manufacture of the netting. This issue can be very tricky as there are a number of various materials available and not all manufacturers or net lofts offer a full range of materials, thus their customers don’t always have access to the full range of available options.
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