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Half of the fish we eat is no longer fishing in an open sea. Is raised in controlled facilitiesmany times away from the coast. It is the aquaculturean industry in full expansion that today produces more Fish for human consumption that traditional fishing, According to FAO data.
Spain leads this activity in the European Union, with more than 5,000 centers in operation and a diversity of species that goes from rainbow trout to the Galician mussel. And yet, the most ambitious development of this industry does not seem to be on land or close to the coast.
The state agency CGTN says that China has just bounced the First intelligent aquaculture ship in the world. A floating structure that sails, breeds and processes salmon without returning to port.
A floating mega -structure that reproduces the complete cycle of a fish farm
The Suhai-1 is the first smart and self-sufficient aquaculture ship in the world. Its construction marks, according to its developers, the beginning of a new stage in the salmon breeding in the open sea.
It measures almost 250 meters long, displaces 132,000 tons and has 15 breeding compartments capable of hosting a volume of water equivalent to 33 Olympic swimming pools. Everything is automated: From food to oxygen control, through the simulation of natural light and waste management. The project has been built by the CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding company.
But the most surprising thing is your ability to navigate. Unlike traditional sea farms, many of them anchored to coastal areas or fixed structures on the high seas, this ship can move to areas with optimal conditions for salmon growth, such as the mass of cold water of the yellow sea (Yellow Sea).
Sinas details that Suhai-1 does not need to be anchored in a fixed place. Can navigate to a maximum speed of 18 km/h and move hundreds of kilometers if the conditions of the environment require it.
In case of storm, red tide or any other phenomenon, the ship can quickly move to safer areas. It also has an autonomy of 20,000 nautical miles and can operate self -sufficiently for 90 days.
Interior of the Suhai-1
His first mission, in fact, will be heading towards the cold waters of the Yellow Sea, where temperatures They range between 10 and 18 degrees: The ideal range for salmon growth. The objective is clear: keep fish in their optimal surroundings since they are fry until they reach maturity.
Once ready, it will not be necessary to take them to the ground for transformation: the ship itself has processing systems that allow you to file, package and preserve the fish on board, ready to be landed and distributed. According to the operating company, the product can reach Chinese markets in less than 24 hours after capture.
To guarantee a controlled environment, the Suhai-1 integrates intelligent systems that They regulate five key factors: Water, oxygen, food, lighting and waste management. Everything is monitored in real time and coordinated from a centralized control center on board.
Interior of the Suhai-1
The automated feeding system is responsible for storing, transporting, opening and distributing the feed (food), guided by algorithmic decisions that adjust the amount according to the growth of the fish. The constant water renewal is carried out by means of a circuit that exchanges the fluid inside with fresh marine water, adapting the pressure and flow rate.
In addition, the ship has environmental sensors, underwater surveillance cameras, filtering systems and a Industrial Processing Plant capable of operating in two modalities: rapid cooling and freezing. In optimal conditions, fish can reach port and be marketed in a matter of hours.
Suhai-1 is not born only as a technological flavor, but in response to increasing domestic demand. China has become in the salmon market that grows faster in the world. Only in 2024, consumption reached 1,760 million dollars, with an increase of 21% compared to the previous year.
However, national production is not yet to meet that demand. Fish farms on land or fixed networks produce less than 50,000 tons per yearwhile imports remain high. Suhai-1 aspires to reduce that dependence. According to CGTN, their drivers plan to release the first fry this fall and bring the first harvest to the market around the dragon boat festival next year.
China has been betting on the scale and engineering for years as a way of projecting power. There they are The three throats damits high -speed trains network –The most extensive in the world– o The trains that compete for being the fastest on the planet. Projects that respond to the same logic: overcome limits in technology, transport or energy. Suhai-1 fits that line.
In Europe, aquaculture has centuries of history. The Romans already raised fish in artificial ponds. Spain adopted these practices early and consolidated an aquaculture culture that is still alive: from the Galician bats for the mussel to the southern estuaries for the lubina or the gold.
Images | Jiangsu LianShen Marine Technology | Caroline Attwood
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