A Review on Nearshore and Offshore Fish Cage Developments in Open Seas

Abstract

Despite the fact that cage culture has been in practice for centuries, commercialization has only begun in the last few decades. Farmers are keen to relocate to offshore locations since most nearshore sites are entirely utilized, with limited potential for additional fish production and environmental groups are raising concerns about pollution, conservation, and recreation. The cage culture system classifies into nearshore and offshore farming. In this review, the nearshore cage system investigates on cage materials, classifications, and net shapes. It provides a brief overview of cage deformation, velocity reduction, cage hydrodynamic features, motion responses, mooring line tension of single cage and grid system. The definitions of offshore and the design challenges that must overcome to relocate offshore are discussed. The offshore system analyses distinct designs in open cages depending on submergence depth and closed contaminant tanks under harsh environmental conditions. An assessment is carried out on experimental studies, in-situ tests, and numerical and analytical methods of the cage culture system. The evolution, development, and present scenario of sea cage culture in India are also reviewed. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd 2024.