Cages, pens, nets and moorings
New beginnings
Aquaculture suppliers are not standing still as cage and pen technology continues to evolve BY ROBERT OUTRAM
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t has been a busy few months for news in the world of containment, with new deliveries, corporate �e-ups and updated models about to be unveiled. In June, aquaculture supplier Gael Force agreed an exclusive deal with net manufacturer Fibras Industriales SA (FISA) to provide nets for fish farming in Scotland. FISA, based in Peru, produces a range of high-quality ne�ng products including supra HDPE high-tenacity containment and predator nets, raschel polyester and nylon containment and protec�on nets, and twisted knotless muketsu nets. Gael Force will market FISA’s products in Scotland, plus an exclusive new SeaQureNet, manufactured by FISA, which will be a key element of Gael Force’s turnkey offering. The deal also brings in John Howard of Boris Net, a long-�me partner for FISA in the UK, with extensive experience in aquaculture, who will be working with Gael Force on serving customers. Meanwhile, Indian-based net and rope manufacturer Garware Technical Fibres announced the appointment of Alan Sutherland as Country Manager, Scotland. He is a well-known figure in the salmon farming sector, with a career including nine years as head of what was then Marine Harvest (now Mowi). More recently, he has been working with the Sco�sh Salmon Company, a customer for Garware’s SealPro range of ne�ng. Sutherland has also recently joined the board of the Sustainable Aquaculture Innova�on Centre (SAIC). As he puts it: “I’ve always been interested in innova�on.” A key part of his role with Garware is liaising with customers and other stakeholders on trials of the company’s technology in Scotland, and gathering feedback on the farmers’ needs.
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Legisla�on now limits farmers’ ability to protect against seal preda�on, and Garware’s Sapphire SealPro range of containment ne�ng solu�ons have achieved a market share of more than 75% in the Sco�sh sector. Garware says the success of SealPro ne�ng is due to its higher mesh breaking strength, s�ffness, enhanced cut resistance and single-sided knots and compact ne�ng structure which leads to be�er condi�ons for salmon, protec�ng them from predators. The high-density polyethylene (HDPE) ne�ng also has a much longer working life than conven�onal nylon. Sutherland adds: “Farmers’ op�ons are limited and nobody wants an escape. It would be rash not to have the strongest net you can get!
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It would be rash not to have the strongest net you can get!
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www.fishfarmermagazine.com
13/09/2021 16:43:51
