Instead of having aquaculture farms in areas where the fish that are grown might not have the freshest water to swim in, why not have an aquaculture farm that moves?
The ship classification society RINA has announced the “Approval in Principle” (AiP) of a new-concept offshore fish-farming vessel.
The Ocean Ark fish-farming vessel is a 170m/558ft-long and 64m/210ft-wide, self-propelled, AI-assisted, low-emissions trimaran. Artificial intelligence and self-cleaning fish cages of copper help secure fish health and welfare, according to Chilean shipbuilder Ocean Arks Tech.
The Ocean Ark was built in accordance with RINA rules and other maritime vessel regulations, according to a RINA statement:
“The Ocean Ark vessel delivers a new approach to fish farming and is set to revolutionise the industry by dramatically improving fish health, crew comfort and the industry’s image.”
The ocean may offer the only opportunity for fish-farming to meet the nutritional needs of a growing world population. Deploying the Ocean Ark away from marine heatwaves, algae blooms and storms — aquaculture’s three Achilles’ heels — would produce higher-quality protein and increase world fish production without increasing pressures on fish stocks and coastal habitats.
RINA Marine Principal Engineer for North West Europe Patrizio Di Francesco said:
“Sustainability is a core strategic pillar at RINA, but this is not just about reducing carbon emissions. A sustainable food production chain is also needed to supply an increasing global demand for nutrition. We believe aquaculture in the open sea is one solution that will help for the future.”
For more info, check out the video below or go to the Ocean Arks Tech website.
