Aquaculture is growing fast as one of the main animal-food producing sectors. And it is facing many serious problem, like corrosion, oxygen content reduction, fish disease and so on. With the strong support of International Copper Alliance, copper alloy mesh is more and more applied in aquaculture, providing productive and sustainable solutions for fish farmers. We can provide you copper alloy wire, mesh and panel in LC6911, LC6912, LC6909 and so on.

Copper alloy fish cage application scene

Fish in copper alloy mesh cage.

Four main copper alloy material for sustainable aquaculture:

Chain link copper alloy mesh

• Life span: Depending on the specific use, 5 - 8 years.
• Feature and usage: wear and corrosion resistant, suitable for flexible cage system.
• Type: 2.5-4 mm wire diameter, 25-40 mm hole size, chain link mesh.

Expanded copper alloy mesh

• Life span: more than 10 years.
• Feature and usage: highly corrosion resistant, suitable for places with less mechanical wear. Installed on the fixed frame and can be welded.
• Type: 25-40 mm hole size, 1-2 mm stem size, 73% - 76% open rate expanded mesh.

Welded copper alloy mesh

• Life span: at least 5 years.
• Feature and usage: excellent solderability, high strength, impact resistant, suitable for fixed frame and soft connected cage system.
• Type: 2.5-4 mm wire diameter, 25-40 mm hole size, square hole spot welded mesh.

Woven copper alloy mesh

• Life span: at least 5 years.
• Feature and usage: corrosion resistant and impact resistant, suitable for fixed frame.
• Type: 2.5-4 mm wire diameter, 25-40 mm hole size, square hole woven mesh, sometime crimped.

Wikipedia says:

"The use of copper alloy mesh in aquaculture helps promote a clean energy economy. From decreased CO2 emissions to decreased fish mortality, copper alloys promote "green" living and help fish farmers realize greater cost savings. Copper and its alloys are 100 percent recyclable, unlike other net materials. Copper-alloy nets are durable, so they last longer."

Comparison between traditional fish cage and copper alloy fish cage

Traditional fish cage problem no.1:
Serious biofouling and organic matter blockage impede the water exchange, resulting a low oxygen content environment for the fish. And fish are easy to get ill and infected under this condition.

Copper alloy fish cage advantage no.1: Naturally bacteriostatic - healthy fish harvest
Copper alloy mesh naturally inhibit biofouling, preventing the mesh from organic matter clogging. This increase water flow and oxygen content and reduce fish disease and infection. Feed cost reduced 15%, then survival rate would increase by 11-20%.

Traditional polymer fish net has Serious biofouling and organic matter blockage problem.

Copper alloy mesh can stay clean in the water and won’t be blocked by organic matter.

Traditional fish cage problem no.2:
Traditional polymer fish net would finally end up in local landfills because they are not recyclable. And the surrounding water quality got worse after long time using traditional mesh.

Copper alloy fish cage advantage no.2: recyclable and long service time
Copper alloy fish cage is corrosion resistant and can be used for 5 -10 years. It loses little mass over time, and it is 100% recyclable. Retired copper alloy material will be used in the initial product of copper alloy mesh, which reduces CO2 emission. American Soybean Association did a research that the copper alloy material won’t pollute surrounding water.

Traditional fish cage problem no.3:
Divers need to clean and remove the traditional polymer mesh now and then, wasting too much labor, time and money.

Copper alloy fish cage advantage no.3: Lower maintenance cost
Copper alloy mesh would stay clean and don’t need to be removed, which reduce the diver cost and risk, as well as the maintenance costs.

Copper alloy fish cage are fully recyclable, and it will not do harm to the water quality.

Copper alloy fish cage has high strength, so it can keep its shape and volume stable.

Traditional fish cage problem no.4:
Traditional fish net is easy to be damaged by the outside predators, and fish can easily escape from the net. Farmers are vexatious because they need to protect their fish, but they cannot do harm to the predators.

Copper alloy fish cage advantage no.4: High strength
High-strength copper alloy mesh can efficiently resist predators attack (like seals, sea lions and sharks) and fish escape. They even act well when extreme storm come.
Good mechanical strength: tensile strength ≥ 245Mpa; elongation ≥ 40%
Also the strong copper alloy fish cage cannot change its shape easily, thus prevents fish crowding and fierce predators won’t get ensnared by the mesh.

Boegger Industrial Ltd. will help you to create the new era of efficient, healthy and environmental protective marine aquaculture.