Case Studies

Current use and future applications 
Copper alloy mesh technology began in 1975 with small salmon farming enclosures in North-eastern USA. Since then, alloy technology has evolved and now is being successfully used in Japan, Australia and Chile, providing productive and sustainable solutions for fish farmers. In addition to trials underway in Norway and Turkey, additional pilot projects to test improved copper alloy materials, mesh forms, and aquaculture system configurations and applications are underway with a variety of species in China, Korea, Panama, South Africa and the United States.

Commercial realities today

Australia	At Van Diemen Aquaculture, Copper-Zinc mesh cages have been used since 2005 to raise Atlantic salmon. Based on demonstrated success in improving fish health, the first installation of 6 rigid cages has been increased to 28 cages, with further expansion in progress. Growers have reported a 15% reduction in feeding costs over the past 3 years. Fish mortality decreased from 20% to 10% and losses from attack by predators were reduced from 5% to less than 0.1%. Net cleansing is now only performed once or twice a year.
Japan	Ashimori Industry Company has installed over 300 Copper-Zinc alloy cages. Typical sizes are 20 x 20 x10 metre depth, and 20 metre diameter for seriola (yellowtail). Some cages have been in continuous service for more than 8 years. Farmers report 50% increase in biomass density, 10% improved growth rate and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), and no antibiotic use.
Chile	EcoSea Farming is leasing copper alloy cages to salmon and trout farmers in Chile. As of mid-2010 the company has installed more than 40 cages measuring 30 x 30 x 12 metres depth by retrofitting them to existing platforms. Farmers report decreased mortality, increased oxygenation, and no losses from predator attack. In addition, EcoSea is testing submersible cage technology for installation at exposed sites. EcoSea recently presented a joint solution with Aqualine (a cage provider based in Norway) to deliver 50 metre diameter cages fitted with EcoSea mesh.
China	The East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, part of the Chinese National Academy of Fisheries Sciences, is leading a 3-year programme to develop and deploy innovative copper alloy aquaculture cages. The activity involves copper alloy mesh suppliers, cage manufacturers, fish farmers, fisheries scientists and government regulators. The target species include black sea bass, fugu, large yellow croaker, and cobia.

Research trials

Turkey	A cooperative project involving the University of New Hampshire and Çanakkale University is developing copper alloy aquaculture cages for sea bass and sea bream farming in the Mediterranean region.
Panama	Ocean Farm Technologies, in cooperation with the International Copper Association, has installed 3 small Aquapods at Open Blue Sea Farms to evaluate the performance of 3 types of copper alloy mesh in open ocean aquaculture (11 km offshore).
United-States	The University of New Hampshire (UNH) has conducted small-scale trials with juvenile and adult cod contained in copper alloy mesh. In 2009, in association with the Soybean Association, UNH conducted a trial with a 100m3 submerged cage in the Gulf of Maine in the North Atlantic. The test demonstrated copper-zinc’s successful containment of cod and no attachment of macrofouling organisms to the mesh. Based on the success of these trials, activities are underway for a full-scale installation at a cod farm in Maine.