Approval for Portuguese semi-sub fish farm

Portugal is about to ramp up its aquaculture production business in a big way following the approval of a new fish farm on the Algarve.

Mariculture Systems Portugal (MSP) has been given the go ahead for its sea bass and sea bream project near Vila Real de Santo António which it describes as a major milestone.

The designed installation consists of a semi-submersible platform, situated eight miles off the coast and permanently anchored to the seabed.

This static structure, which does not have engines, measures 55 by 55 metres.

MSP said it plans to produce sea bass and sea bream, with an estimated annual production of 8,000 tonnes. The cage system for fish production will be installed at a distance of 40 metres around the main platform, resulting in total system dimensions of approximately 130m x 130m.

It also says the platform is a pilot project, and MSP anticipates the possibility of installing similar structures in other places around the world.

Mariculture Systems claims that it provides a revolutionary approach to fish farming in the open sea, seamlessly controlled, fully automated managed system that enable proficiency and close process examination with minimum personnel, while combining AI solutions to an on-going process improvement.

The semi-submersible platform is engineered to sustain 17-meter high wave surges and it also has a unique patented design aimed at letting fish flourish in their native environment for healthier growth.

The year round operation will also ensure consistent output over a 25 year service life and is designed for scalability and productivity through shared infrastructure.

The company maintains that open-sea aquaculture addresses critical environmental concerns by reducing the pressure on coastal ecosystems posed by conventional fish farms.