Mitigating the Environmental Effects of Mariculture through Singel-Point Moorings(SPMS) and Drifting Cages

摘要

The production of finfish in cages causes a measureable impact on the nearbywater and seabed due to faeces production and uneaten feed. The impact depends on the specifics of the culture operation and on the environment in which it is located. The most severe impact has been associated with large, intensive operations in areas with inadequate water circulation, where benthic habitats have been seriously degraded. The current practice of mooring a cage array, over a permitted site exacerbates the problems. An alternative approach is to allow cages to move in response to the environment. For example, the use of a single point mooring (SPM) would allow the operation to maintain a 'watch circle' where the position of the cage(s) depends on the sum of the environmental forces. By spreading out the accumulation of organic matter, one can prevent the local environment from being overwhelmed.