DISSCUSSIONS
Mention of other architectures and equipments is made during discussions :
Sadco-Shelf: The Russian concept of submersible cage seems suitable for Mediterranean areas as it is already used for sturgeon in Black Sea. The principle consists in ballasted rigid frame stretching a net, and maintained at the right depth by a guide-rope. At the present time, the cage sizes are available up to 2000 m2.
Ocean Spar: This US company proposes a surface cage without frame; The cubic net is stretched by moorings which floats are spars. This particular shape limits the movement transfer in wave and permits tolerance to very severe conditions.
Marintek: The Norwegian institute of hydrodynamics proposes a new concept of tension legged cage. The bottom slide upward along the legs for cropping. The surface structure is very small compared to the cage body in order to diminish the effect of wave and wind.
MSI (Marina system Iberica): This Spanish constructor proposes a light-concrete, semi-submersible platform as support of net cages and life. Two Spanish aquaculture companies have purchased this equipment, one in Algesiras (PISBARCA), the other in Tarragona (CRIPESA).
An international conference on fish farming technology will be held in Trondheim, Norway, on the 12th of August, 1993
But the technical choice of equipments which depends primarily on site conditions, has not been examined with much attention. The main discussions of the audience was to evaluate the place of open sea settlements in future aquaculture; Since it is difficult to operate hatchery and fingerlings fattening in open sea (unless it is inboard a ship, like P2M, these particular activities will very likely stay inshore; As they do not require much space, they could settle even on coasts where sheltered sites are scarce.
All participants agree that sea aquaculture in exposed (or semi-exposed) sites must be considered as a good solution for the production of fish and shellfish in the Mediterranean countries: but it is not a panacea for aquaculture development as it will remain only a part of marine shellfish and fish production activities.
In order to make easier and to organise expansion of aquaculture to exposed sites, it is necessary to anticipate the related needs. The present workshop has been an opportunity to identify some of them, but more work is necessary to complete the analysis and to translate it into research programmes and procedures in the frame of the different networks which will be in charge of the continuity of MEDERAP.
It is suggested that each Member and Associated country do an effort of identification and charactrization of its capabilities and needs for the expansion of aquaculture activities to open sea, according to the different productions and available technologies. A questionnaire could be set up by experts in order to gather relevant informations. The collected data, consisting in mapping and assssments could be inserted in the SIPAM system.
In order to prepare this inquiry, it should be interesting to repeat this sort of meeting in other countries where “off-shore” systems are more developed or in fast developing process, such as Cyprus, Malta, Greece an Turkey.
The Coordinator of Diversification of Aquaculture Production activities (Cyprus) is requested to identify and propose the most relevant activities relevant activities related to open sea to be implemented in the framework of TECAM.
it is proposed that the networks, initiated by MEDRAP ii will cooperate and exchange the informations for the development of the new technological fields related to the present topic, favouring linkages which are necessary to promote aquaculture and guarantee the perenniality of the networks.
Lastly, it is proposed that the legal and Socio-Economic aspects of open sea aquaculture be further developed in workshops to be organised in the framework of SELAM Network, In the meantime, effluents of open sea culture and water control could be examined in the frame of EAM Network.
