A new system developed by fish farmers in Australia will change the way companies around the world tackle the endless, cyclical problem of net cleaning.
The Marine Inspector and Cleaner, or Mic, is a single-person operated, hydraulically powered cleaning head that has the ability to crawl all over the sides and base of any size net, vacuuming off the fouling in a single pass and disposing of it away from the net. Due to the speed and ease of operation, nets can be cleaned on a regular basis, resulting in minimal fouling growth.
Mic dramatically reduces cleaning times, labour costs and OH&S risks, and results in healthier fish, better growth and lower mortality rates.
Built by Australian company Mic Pty Ltd and distributed by Seafarm Systems, Mic is a robust, reliable, non-diving net cleaning machine.
By removing the weed from the net, water flow is increased providing a healthier environment for fish stocks.
All of the weed is pumped away, leaving clear water around the cleaning head, and, with Mic’s in-built lighting and camera system, the operator is able to conduct a systematic net inspection any time of day or night.
Australian fish farming company Tassal Group Ltd has been using Mic for the past two years, and CEO Mark Ryan said it has made a significant difference to their outputs.
“With Mic, it is possible to achieve every farmer’s goal – keeping all your nets clean, all the time, at a very low operating cost,” he said. “To date, Tassal has experienced a two per cent improvement in fish stock growth, and a two per cent increase in survival rates. In addition, Mic has doubled the interval between net dips, halving our anti-foulant bill.”
The barge or boat-mounted system is a single-person operation, reducing OH&S risks and labour and operating costs.
