Keeping Salmon Healthy and Safe

How copper alloy fish cages are making a difference to salmon farmers

Salmon farming is a multi-billion dollar global industry.  Traditionally the salmon are kept inside synthetic nets, and these can causea number of problems. Firstly marine organisms can grow on them.  This reduces the amount of oxygen available to the fish, and allows infectious disease and parasites to spread among the salmon. Secondly, they can be broken by predators, leaving holes for the salmon to escape through.

A cleaner, healthier environment

There are significant benefits to using copper alloys as a material for salmon farming nets.  Firstly, the allos' antibacterial properties create a healthier aquaculture, reducing the need for antibiotics to control disease. When brass is used in place of synthetic material, marine organisms do not become attached to the nets. This controls the spread of infectious diseases by eliminating the fouling environment in which pathogens and parasites can thrive. It also means that oxygenated water can reach the fish, which subsequently grow faster and require less food.

Secondly, the mechanical strength and resilience of the copper alloy net makes it impenetrable to predators such as sea lions, and prevents fish within the cage from escaping into the open ocean through holes made by predators.

Significant Savings

Together, these two factors can mean a reduction in production costs of up to 30 %.  An additional benefit is taht, unlike synthetics, copper alloy nets are completely recycled at the end of their useful life.

There has already been some commercail application of copper alloy nets in Japan and Australia with excellent resutls.  Activities in Chile, the leading salmon producing country, are just starting.