the major constrains for offshore aquaculture (the industry operates in
depth <100 m), the synergy with the platform is vital for a feasible industry at deep
offshore sites. The innovative synergies developed on modular multi-purpose
platforms provide the opportunity for aquaculture to expand in offshore sites and
meet future demands. Important constraints for success are the co-development and
shared use of infrastructure, the selection of sites and technologies appropriate for
environmental conditions, and the synergies in operational planning.
Until now, the aquaculture industry has moved offshore slowly and conservatively due to high costs and immaturity of innovative technologies. Some prototypes, consisting of submersible or semi-submersible cages, are currently available,
allowing farms to be located farther from the coast than today. However, a significant research effort is needed on the development of new culture technologies
as, although several prototypes have been proposed, few have been tested in
commercial scale.
With its innovative design and technology the TROPOS concept represents an
advanced solution for an integrated and synergistic offshore multi-use approach
involving aquaculture and microalgae production. However, the next essential step
is to move from theoretical approaches and modelled designs towards “real world”
deployments. Even if financial support is possibly required at the beginning, pilot
scale deployments are vital to proceed in the field of multi-use offshore
installations.
References
Cressey, D. (2009). Aquaculture: Future fish. Nature, 458, 398–400.
Enzing, C., Ploeg, M., Barbosa, M., & Sijtsma, I. (2014). Microalgae-based products for the food
and feed sector: An outlook for Europe. JRC Scientific and Policy Reports, Luxembourg:
Publications Office of the European Union.
FAO. (2014). The state of world fisheries and aquaculture. Rome: Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations.
Lu, S. Y., Jason, C. S., Wesnigk, J., Delory, E., Quevedo, E., Hernández, J., et al. (2014).
Environmental aspects of designing multi-purpose offshore platforms in the scope of the
FP7 TROPOS Project. Paper presented at the OCEANS 14 MTS/IEEE, Taipei, Taiwan.
Muller-Feuga, A. (2004). Microalgae for aquaculture: The current global situation and future
trends. In A. Richmond (Ed.), Handbook of microalgal culture (pp. 352–364). Oxford:
Blackwell Science.
Papandroulakis, N., Anastasiadis, P., Thomsen, C., Koutandos, E., Mayorga, P., Quevedo, E. et al.
(2014). Modular multipurpose offshore platforms: Innovative opportunities for aquaculture. In
Book of abstracts (pp. 955–956) European Aquaculture Society Special Publication.
Quevedo, E., Delory, E., Castro, A., Llinás, O. & Hernández, J. (2012, October). Modular
multi-purpose offshore platforms, the TROPOS project approach. In Paper presented at the 4th
International Conference on Ocean Energy, Dublin.
Quevedo, E., Cartón, M., Delory, E., Castro, A., Hernández, J., Llinás, O., et al. (2013, June).
Multi-use offshore platform configurations in the scope of the FP7 TROPOS Project. In Paper
presented at the OCEANS 13 MTS/IEEE, Bergen.
12 The EU-Project “TROPOS”
373
depth <100 m), the synergy with the platform is vital for a feasible industry at deep
offshore sites. The innovative synergies developed on modular multi-purpose
platforms provide the opportunity for aquaculture to expand in offshore sites and
meet future demands. Important constraints for success are the co-development and
shared use of infrastructure, the selection of sites and technologies appropriate for
environmental conditions, and the synergies in operational planning.
Until now, the aquaculture industry has moved offshore slowly and conservatively due to high costs and immaturity of innovative technologies. Some prototypes, consisting of submersible or semi-submersible cages, are currently available,
allowing farms to be located farther from the coast than today. However, a significant research effort is needed on the development of new culture technologies
as, although several prototypes have been proposed, few have been tested in
commercial scale.
With its innovative design and technology the TROPOS concept represents an
advanced solution for an integrated and synergistic offshore multi-use approach
involving aquaculture and microalgae production. However, the next essential step
is to move from theoretical approaches and modelled designs towards “real world”
deployments. Even if financial support is possibly required at the beginning, pilot
scale deployments are vital to proceed in the field of multi-use offshore
installations.
References
Cressey, D. (2009). Aquaculture: Future fish. Nature, 458, 398–400.
Enzing, C., Ploeg, M., Barbosa, M., & Sijtsma, I. (2014). Microalgae-based products for the food
and feed sector: An outlook for Europe. JRC Scientific and Policy Reports, Luxembourg:
Publications Office of the European Union.
FAO. (2014). The state of world fisheries and aquaculture. Rome: Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations.
Lu, S. Y., Jason, C. S., Wesnigk, J., Delory, E., Quevedo, E., Hernández, J., et al. (2014).
Environmental aspects of designing multi-purpose offshore platforms in the scope of the
FP7 TROPOS Project. Paper presented at the OCEANS 14 MTS/IEEE, Taipei, Taiwan.
Muller-Feuga, A. (2004). Microalgae for aquaculture: The current global situation and future
trends. In A. Richmond (Ed.), Handbook of microalgal culture (pp. 352–364). Oxford:
Blackwell Science.
Papandroulakis, N., Anastasiadis, P., Thomsen, C., Koutandos, E., Mayorga, P., Quevedo, E. et al.
(2014). Modular multipurpose offshore platforms: Innovative opportunities for aquaculture. In
Book of abstracts (pp. 955–956) European Aquaculture Society Special Publication.
Quevedo, E., Delory, E., Castro, A., Llinás, O. & Hernández, J. (2012, October). Modular
multi-purpose offshore platforms, the TROPOS project approach. In Paper presented at the 4th
International Conference on Ocean Energy, Dublin.
Quevedo, E., Cartón, M., Delory, E., Castro, A., Hernández, J., Llinás, O., et al. (2013, June).
Multi-use offshore platform configurations in the scope of the FP7 TROPOS Project. In Paper
presented at the OCEANS 13 MTS/IEEE, Bergen.
12 The EU-Project “TROPOS”
373