Copper Alloy Fish Cages

Marine organisms grow on and “foul” synthetic nets, reducing the oxygen available to fish and spreading infectious diseases and parasites. The combination of copper alloys’ antifouling, antibacterial properties, and mechanical strength leads to healthier fish without the need for antibiotics, prevents the escape of farmed fish due to attacks by marine mammals, and can reduce production costs by up to 30 percent. Copper-alloy nets are 100 percent recyclable, thereby helping to promote a sustainable environment. The ICA is involved in a range of aquaculture projects in Chile, China, Turkey, and the U.S. In Chile, ICA helped to create EcoSea Farming, a company that designs and leases copper alloy nets to salmon farmers. In China, the ICA is collaborating with the East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute (ECSFRI) to develop copper alloy nets for offshore conditions.