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New Development: High-Strength Stainless Steel as a Sustainable Material for Aquaculture
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This paper presents development work on replacing conventional plastic aquaculture nets with high-strength stainless steel wire nets that have environmentally compatible antifouling properties. The goal is to eliminate plastic pollution and synthetic antifoulant chemicals from nearshore and offshore fish farming.
This paper presents the current state of development and selected technological challenges in the application of ecologically and economically sustainable nets for aquaculture based on ongoing development projects. These aim at the development of a new material system of high-strength stainless steel wires as net material with environmentally compatible antifouling properties for nearshore and offshore aquacultures. Current plastic netting materials will be replaced with high-strength stainless steel to provide a more environmentally friendly system that can withstand more severe mechanical stresses (waves, storms, tides and predators). A new antifouling strategy is expected to solve current challenges, such as ecological damage (e.g., due to pollution from copper-containing antifouling substances or microplastics), high maintenance costs (e.g., cleaning and repairs), and shorter service life. Approaches for the next development steps are presented based on previous experience as well as calculation models based on this experience.
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Researchers reviewed advances in biodegradable polymer alternatives — including polyhydroxyalkanoates and starch-based blends — for aquaculture nets and ropes, finding promising mechanical stability and controlled biodegradation in field trials but identifying ongoing challenges in balancing operational durability with timely degradation and the absence of harmonized marine biodegradation standards.
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Researchers assessed the status of marine pollution associated with aquaculture activities in Vietnam, with particular emphasis on plastic and microplastic contamination from aquaculture materials, and developed recommendations for more sustainable alternatives to reduce the environmental footprint of coastal aquaculture operations.
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This study tested how different plastic materials used in mussel farming degrade after being submerged in seawater for up to three years. Some plastics remained intact while others broke down quickly, potentially releasing microplastics into the marine environment where mussels grow. The research is relevant to seafood safety because degrading plastic nets in mussel farms could be a source of microplastic contamination in the shellfish that people eat.
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Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.