Monday, January 24, 2011

NMC symposium to explore open ocean cage culture

As part of its efforts to further develop the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) aquaculture industry and to share information about successful aquaculture initiatives, the Northern Marianas College - Cooperative Research Extension and Resource Service will be hosting the 2011 Open Ocean Cage Culture Symposium next week from Jan. 26 to Jan. 27 at the Saipan World Resort.

The community is invited to the event, which is co-hosted by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council. Open Ocean Cage Culture is based on spherical or double cone-shaped cages made of a kevlar-like, high strength polyfiber netting, with a steel pipe frame giving them semi-rigidity, and are submerged to 40 to 75 feet. The cages are anchored to the sea floor with cement blocks and are submerged 40 to 75 feet.

The size of the cages can be anywhere from 20,000 to 1.4 million cubic feet. A 100,000 cubic feet cage holds about 60,000 fish. For harvest, the cages are brought up to the surface by blowing air into the frame pipes, just like in a submarine. The cages are best situated in water depths from 50 to 200 feet, depths that can be found just outside the reefs in the CNMI. Read more...

This blog is written by Martin Little The Aquaculturists, published and supported by the International Aquafeed Magazine from Perendale Publishers.


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