OFFSHORE CAGE FARM MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS

The World aquaculture production reached ۱,۲۵۷,۷۰۱,۷۳.۹ tons in total and considering farmed fish only, the total harvest volume on a live weight basis was recorded as ۵۹,۲۹۵,۰۹۵.۳ tons according to ۲۰۲۱ statistics by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The fact that the water resources used in freshwater facilities, namely in trout farms, are also used for "drink water" that reveals the sensitivity and importance of the water-use issue. The drastically growth of the aquaculture industry worldwide has benefited from the advanced marine Technologies, that needs new farm management strategies for the sustainability of the aquaculture industry. Recently, new environmental legislations came to front in terms of "Regulations on Environmental Management of Fish Farms Operating in the Sea". This is important for the steady control of the eutrophication risk from farms in designated aquaculture zones, which requires periodic environmental monitoring to ensure best aquaculture practice, that in turn may help to maintain optimum water quality in the farm environment. The estimation of carrying capacity is one of the main management tools that can provide the level of fish production without any harm to the environment. Among a variety of carrying capacity assessment, the physical carrying capacity of the farm area considers topographic characteristics of the region, the distances from the coast line, the characteristics of the bay, depth of the farm site, current direction -and speed. The present study aimed to evaluate the farm management strategies for offshore cage aquaculture with special emphasis on physical carrying capacity evaluation with mathematical approach for best aquaculture practice and sustainable growth of the aquaculture industry.

کلیدواژه ها:

Good aquaculture practice ، best farm management ، economic benefits ، sustainable growth ، carrying capacity