Offshore innovation
have already obtained a lease for a 1km2
permit for 12 Oceanspheres, each with capacity of 82,000m3
twice as big as the largest salmon pen and 10 times bigger than an Aquapod.’
As Spencer explains, whilst land- based farming is also a viable op- tion for aquaculture, such systems require a lot of land, fresh water and energy. ‘Plus, they can only work in two dimensions, where- as ocean farming works in three dimensions. Oceanspheres are 55 metres in diameter and operate at around twenty metres below the surface, thus avoiding the worst of the weather’, he continues. ‘We are also using Dyneema nets, which have anti-fouling properties and are 80 per cent lighter than polyester. The geodesic dome de- sign is what gives the Oceansphere its strength. Designed by architec- tural genius, Buckminster Fuller, the dome is a set of triangles that forms a structure that becomes stronger as it gets bigger,’ he adds. The Oceansphere will also utilise military and oil industry technology so that it can maintain its position in the ocean without being tethered to the sea bed. ‘When drilling for oil in the open sea, the drill is mounted on a barge that uses a device with thrust- ers and GPS to hold its position exactly. We use the same principle for the Oceansphere’, explains Spencer. ‘The 100-tonne topside buoy is remote controllable, has a fully automated feed system and is a platform for the monitoring of predators and every possible en- vironmental factor. This data is then sent to a central command centre.
site off coast of Hawaii, and a , which is
The thrust- ers have been designed by an aerospace technology company and the whole device has performed very well in trials.’ As well as cutting labour costs by
around 50 per cent, because the Oceanspheres will be 50-100 miles off the coast, their environmental impact will be minimal. For exam- ple, any effluent from the farm is quickly mineralised by photoplank- ton and zooplankton. The initial ‘concept’ phase of the Oceansphere was seven years, and cost around $2 million. The next ‘proof of concept’ stage is dependent on further investment which, Spencer admits, will require an eight-figure sum. However, he is clearly confident that the money will come in. ‘We are now in the process of construction and we will be ready for deployment in 2015’, he says. If they can get the project off the
“
We had a bigger vision
ground, they will be farming big eye tuna. ‘We have had success holding and spawning in captivity and mov- ing larvae from live to formulated feed’, Spencer explains. ‘We’ve had more of an issue with spawning and holding the broodstock; they can damage themselves on sides of tanks. However, this is less of an issue with hatchery-bred tuna.’ Each Oceansphere can hold 20,000 40-45kg tuna. And whilst Spencer acknowledges that finding the investment will be a challenge, if successful the Oceansphere could be adapted for other species,
www.fishfarmer-magazine.com 17
and in the not- too-dis- tant future
we could see, or rather not see, these innovative
geodesic domes throughout the world’s oceans. FF
Clockwise from bottom left: Bill Spencer; artist’s impression of the Oceasphere; how the concept works; Oceansphere array; tuna larvae
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