India-headquartered Garware Technical Fibres Ltd has launched a new aquaculture net that protects fish farming sites from predators.
With a vertical drop design, the Rigid Sapphire X18 has been designed to be suitable for farms that face frequent attacks by sea lions, and to offer increased abrasion resistance in exposed locations.
Sea lion interactions are one of the main challenges faced by salmon farmers in Chile.
“It emerged as a specific development for a local customer requirement and now our customers in general are already testing it; it works well, some have even migrated to this rigid wall solution, noting good operational results in the farming centres,” said Marcos Jofré of Garware Technical Fibres Chile.
According to Garware, the main advantages of a Sapphire X18 net versus a standard rigid net include it being easier to install and uninstall, it is less likely to break, be damaged or become mishapen, its depth and width are adaptable to the characteristics of any cage size, and it has a higher abrasion resistance.
Also, it maintains its shape when it is removed, making it easier to service.
