Engineering aspects of cage design, mooring and net design foropen sea cage farming in India

Cage is an aquaculture production structure comprising of a rigid floating frame, flexible net materials and mooring system (synthetic mooring rope, buoy and anchor) with a round or square shape floating net pen to hold and culture large number of fishes and other aquatic resources which can be installed in reservoir, river, lake or sea. The design and operating variables in engineering aspects of an open sea cage is of great concern in mariculture operations as they are installed in exposed sites in the off shore areas. The design of the cage and its accessories is specially made in agreement to the individual farmer’s requirements. A well engineered cage design will provide the opportunity to reduce the cost of the cages. HDPE material is found to be suitable to make cage frame for open sea cages. The HDPE float frames installed in open unprotected water can withstand wave conditions. Round cage (volume depends on diameter) with floatation system made of butt-welded HDPE pipes, designed for the culture of fishes such as milkfish, mullet, cobia or pompano, sea bass and lobsters, and this very well used in many countries.