Modular multipurpose offshore platforms, innovative opportunities for aquaculture

Abstract

The Word fish utilization during the last decades, shows a rapid increase, as a result of the increase of population and an increase in the per capita consumption. Several projections have been made to predict this growth and currently the global food fish demands for 2030 is expected to be 183 million tones, of which Aquaculture has to contribute with an extra amount of about 30-50 million tones. In order for aquaculture to succeed this goal alternative technologies are required, among them these for offshore rearing. Although today marine aquaculture is mostly close to shore, there was always a demand to move offshore where more favorable conditions exists. Today there exist (or are being developed) technologies for fish cages, silos and feeding systems, that withstand and operate in extreme conditions as well as systems for operation and husbandry automated and remote controlled. Furthermore, work is done towards the selection of proper species to be produced offshore being fast growers, preferably cosmopolitan species, globally marketed and appropriate for further processing. Towards offshore, the sector has more problems to anticipate such as the high costs of the required infrastructure, the increased transportation costs, the difficult access to sources & markets and finally to adjust methodologies and husbandry procedures to offshore conditions. A way for solving some of those problems, is to find and share solutions with other offshore sectors looking for synergies for a common use of sea space, infrastructure, resources (energy, water, supplies), services (maintenance, monitoring surveillance) and transports.