Open-ocean Farming
Open-ocean farming is farming located in large bodies of water such as the ocean or seas, with depths generally greater than 30 m, that allow natural water currents to pass through animal enclosures. Because of the free moving water there is no artificial water filtration associated with these farm sites as the farms rely on the water current to move any waste or diseases away from the enclosures.
Enclosures used in open-ocean farming are generally designed similarly to the image above, consisting of net pens or cages that have a closed top and are anchored via buoys or the sea floor. These net pens and cages can remain on the surface or submerged under water when needed. The image below is an example of a cage designed by InnovaSea which can be floating or submerged. Other net pens or cages are not fully closed, prohibiting them from being submerged when there is a threat. Each type of enclosure is maintained by divers who dive into and around the enclosures to ensure they are clean and not at risk for breakage or other damages.
