Sonars and Underwater Cameras Aid Aquaculture Industry

The worldwide demand for seafood products is expected to more than double in the next 10 to 15 years. However, the amount of seafood being harvested from our oceans is expected to decline over that period due to over-fishing. One solution to the problem is aquaculture, the farming of aquatic species such as fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. Brian O'Hanlon, founder of Open Blue Sea Farms, is one of the pioneers in the field of open ocean fish farming. The key concept behind this method is moving the holding pens into deep water. Having the submerged cages offshore increases the flow of seawater to the fish, creating a cleaner and more healthy environment. Problems can arise in traditional nearshore aquaculture due to higher concentrations of waste and contaminants which can breed disease. To avoid this, the fish in coastal farms are fed antibiotics, antifungal agents, and anti-parasitical agents. Offshore farms eliminate this process, reducing costs and providing the public with a better seafood product with fewer chemicals.