EcoSea received the Avonni prize in the Industrial Innovation category for its contributions to the national aquaculture industry. The award was received by Diego Hernández, president of Codelco; Rodrigo Sánchez, general manager of EcoSea; Claudio Elórtegui, rector of the Catholic University of Valparíso; and Álvaro Fischer, president of Fundación Chile, who appeared on National Television representing the strategic partners of this company which has developed a revolutionary copper system for fish farming.
Ecosea is a company formed by Codelco, the International Copper Association, the University of Concepción, the Catholic University of Valparaíso, Sitecna and Fundación Chile. It successfully submerged a pen with copper alloy nets, 20 meters in diameter, 10 meters long and weighing 4 tons, to a depth of more than 30 meters, off the coast of Auchemó, Region X, in the installations of Pacific Star. This event marked the highlight of the start of this innovative cultivation method, which will allow aquaculture to be carried out in Chile and worldwide in areas that are far from coasts and more exposed to bad weather, currents and big waves.
This company’s technological innovation not only improves productivity, but also provides a solution for sanitary problems and optimizes operating costs in the fish farms.
The Avonni Award for Innovation aims to recognize and promote the innovative capacity of those who are making a difference and, through innovations, contribute to the country’s quality of life and its economic progress.
The 2011 version received 336 applicants, who sought recognition in the competition’s 11 categories which are: Agriculture and Food Innovation, Environment and Energy, ICT, Education, Social Ventures, Public Innovation, Industrial Innovation, Innovation in Services, Innovation in Design, New City and Health.
EcoSea’s industrial innovation
There are now 60 non submergible pens with copper alloy nets operating in Chile, where 3 million fish (Atlantic salmon and trout) are already being farmed, amounting to 12 million tons of fish. One of the advantages of using copper in the pens, is that it inhibits biofouling – the adhesion of red algae, mollusks and microorganisms on marine structures – favoring oxygenation inside the pens and the growth of the fish. The use of copper also prevents losses from attacks by seals and other predators, that commonly rip open the traditional nylon nets.
Copper alloy nets for farming fish are now being used with excellent results in other countries like Japan and Australia.
The potential world market for this application will probably shortly surpass 200 thousand tons of copper, generating a new and important market for this metal.
Benefits of copper alloy net pens
- Biofoulding does not accumulate.
- Production costs are reduced by more than 20%.
- The bacterial properties of copper and its alloys create a healthier environment inside the net, decreasing dependence on the use of antibiotics for disease control.
- Research has shown that fish in copper alloy enclosures grow healthier resulting in lower mortality.
- Microorganisms do not adhere to copper alloy nets during the 18 months of the salmon’s growth, eliminating the need to
- change the nets.
- Mechanical force and resistance make the nets impenetrable to predators, like seals, preventing fish escapes.
- They are 100% recyclable at the end of their useful life.
- Copper alloy nets are made using copper and zinc, two metals that are essential to life.
