Salmon farm pens in Shetland are being recycled into new and stronger units in a collaborative project between Northern Isles Salmon and aquaculture equipment supplier Fusion Marine.
Old polyethylene two-ring pens at the Northern Isles Salmon site in Basta Voe, which had reached the end of their useful lifespan, are now being converted into 18 modern three-ring Fusion Marine 90m circumference Oceanflex pens in an environmentally friendly refurbishment project.
The new pens will provide Northern Isles Salmon with the highest possible standards of stock containment, which was the driving force behind their move to upgrade the Basta Voe site.
To ensure the success of the project, Fusion Marine engineers developed a specially moulded heavy duty bracket to secure the 280mm diameter flotation pipes from the existing pens in place, which are narrower than the 315mm pipes normally utilised on Oceanflex pens.
As part of the upgrade programme, Fusion Marine modular anti-slip safety decking has been fitted to the new pen systems and bird net supports have also been installed.
