The global population continues to grow rapidly, which has increased the demand for protein (especially fish). However, 75 percent of the world’s fisheries are already fully exploited.
Copper-alloy mesh aquaculture nets improve the sanitary conditions, productivity and sustainability operations of fish farmers raising salmon, trout, sea bream, sea bass, cod, cobia, yellowtail and other species. Copper netting helps improve fish harvesting and increase the world’s food supply. Copper netting improves the harvest by collecting healthier fish in larger amounts at a lower cost.
Copper netting benefits include:
- Improves fish health and production: Copper-alloy mesh naturally improves water flow and circulation, while maintaining higher oxygen levels that inhibit parasites and pathogens from growing and infecting fish. This reduces the need for added antibiotics and anti-fouling chemicals. Feeding costs can be reduced by 15 percent.
- Maintains cage volumes: Clean copper-alloy mesh allows pens to maintain their shape against strong ocean waves and currents, even those offshore. Larger, more stable pen volumes prevent fish crowding and help maintain high oxygenation that ultimately improves yields. The mesh also possesses high mechanical strength and formability, which is essential in the creation of effective marine aquaculture containment structures.
- Excludes predators and prevents escapes: High-strength copper-alloy mesh resists predator attacks, thereby reducing escapes of farmed fish.
- Reduces maintenance: Copper-alloy mesh rarely needs to be cleaned, lowering overall costs associated with maintenance and diver risk.
- Recyclable: Copper netting lasts for six years or more depending on application conditions. Due to its protective patina (coating), it loses little mass over time and is fully recyclable. Recycled material is used in the initial production of copper-alloy mesh, which further reduces CO2 emissions, compared with traditional polymer nets. High-strength and corrosion-resistant copper-alloy meshes are compatible with pens commonly used in the marine aquaculture industry, allowing for rapid implementation at existing cultivation centers.