New Chinese-built autonomous offshore fish farm nearing completion

Construction is nearly complete on a new offshore aquaculture structure that will be deployed in the waters off China's Guangdong province.

Zhannong No 1 will consist of three sets of rectangular modules having a total of six fish cages that can be raised and submerged individually. The structure itself will have an LOA of 95 metres, a beam of 30 metres, and a height of 48 metres, while the six cages can store up to 62,000 cubic metres of seawater when submerged.

Once the cages are in operation, up to 900 tonnes of fish of different species and sizes can be harvested by the structure each year. Intelligent breeding systems and automated feeding, net washing, and independent lifting systems will also be fitted. Power for all onboard systems will be supplied via PV panels.

Zhannong No 1 will be operated by China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) via its CCCC Guangzhou Navigation Bureau division.