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Gunnar Þórðarson
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gunnar.thordarson@matis.is
Offshore aquaculture farming. Report from the initial feasibility study and market requirements for the innovations from the project / Requirements and market possibilities for technological solutions in offshore farming
This report assesses the technical requirements and market potential of bedding that could be suitable for the development of mussel farming in the high seas, in difficult conditions. The technology used for mussel farming worldwide was examined, including inland farming, offshore farming and partly in unprotected environments. Most of the world's mussel farming takes place in a protected environment, where there is shelter from the ocean waves and are built up with surface floats or a line that does not withstand the stress of the ocean waves. Nevertheless, inland cultivation needs strong anchors that could also be sufficient for offshore cultivation. Offshore mussel farming is usually based on deep-sea or semi-rigid lines laid below sea level, which are less dependent on the tidal waves and the forces that accompany them, but can be serviced from the surface. The majority of offshore crops are either already large-scale cultivation or will become large-scale cultivation with thousands of acres. Service and maintenance of fields in such conditions call for problems and make high demands on strength and reliability. Such equipment calls for cost-effective and reliable equipment, which can be positioned with great precision and large numbers and sizes suitable for relatively small service boats. The equipment that best meets such requirements is a screw anchor that can be positioned with equipment from the surface without the use of a diver. Offshore mussel farming has been successful on a large scale in China, France and Italy for decades. This breeding method has also become widespread, albeit to a lesser extent, in the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, the USA, Bulgaria and New Zealand. Larger crops are being prepared in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, and indeed in many other countries, and the viability of such crops is being developed. The market in the near future for anchorages designed for offshore mussel farming will largely be driven by the market need for the mussel itself, which in turn will be determined by the general economic development in market countries. The policy of the European Union and individual states within it in aquaculture is to introduce large-scale cultivation of common mussel and seaweed cultivation, which could lead to great market potential for equipment for such cultivation. There is a strong emphasis on the renewable utilization of resources that could increase offshore cultivation of mussels. Future demand for equipment such as screwdrivers could also come from inland cultivation, as such equipment is cheap and safe and easy to use, and is in good competition with older types of equipment that have been in use so far.
This report consists of an appraisal of the technical requirements and market potential for a mooring system that will prove suitable for use by offshore mussel farming developments in high energy exposed locations. A review is carried out of the technology that is currently in use in mussel farming industries around the world, including those in inshore environments, offshore environments and partially exposed environments. Most mussel farms around the world are located in sheltered inshore waters and consist of surface rafts or long lines that are deemed unsuitable for high energy exposed locations. Despite this, inshore mussel farms often require high holding power mooring systems that will also be suitable for use at offshore locations. Offshore mussel farms generally consist of submerged or semi ‐ submerged long lines of a variety of designs that are suitable for withstanding high energy conditions while still enabling access to the crop supported by the lines. The majority of offshore farms are either currently, or will soon become, large scale operations with numbers of moorings in the thousands. Inspection and maintenance of moorings in these circumstances is often problematic and absolute reliability is a high priority. This brings with it the requirement for a cost effective, reliable mooring that can be placed accurately and rapidly in large numbers by relatively small, standard mussel farm service vessels. The mooring system that best meets these requirements is the helical or screw ‐ in anchor that can be placed remotely without the use of a dive team. Offshore mussel farming has been successfully carried out on a large scale in China, France and Italy for several decades. This form of aquaculture has also been adopted in smaller scale commercial and trial projects in the UK, Germany, Ireland, USA, Bulgaria and New Zealand. Large scale developments are scheduled for the near future in New Zealand and the UK and many other mussel producing countries are known to be considering trials pending the success of current projects and the development of suitable economic conditions. The near future market for offshore mussel farm mooring systems will largely be driven by the market for the mussels themselves which is dependent on the general economic climate. Aquaculture strategies at EU and individual state level which promote large scale integration of mussel and seaweed farming with offshore renewables could lead to a very large long term market potential for offshore mussel farm mooring systems, if these strategies are implemented. Further markets for these mooring systems could arise from their use by existing inshore finfish and shellfish aquaculture providing that they were cost effective in comparison to the systems currently in use.