Evaluation of multiple small volume aquaculture cage systems

The construction of the University of New Hampshire (UNH) American Soybean Association International Marketing (ASAIM) cage was documented and modifications were made to the original design. Testing included hydrostatics and solid modeling to ensure modifications would not violate cage parameters.;To test alternate mooring systems, the finite element package Aqua-FE was used. Five mooring designs (three for single cage, two for multi-cage systems) were reduced to two through an initial feasibility study. Results from AquaFE demonstrated that transverse loadings, loads applied perpendicular to the mooring, supplied higher anchor tensions and system motions than in-line loadings, loads applied parallel to the mooring.;The string mooring, a multi-cage design utilizing two main anchors at the fore and aft of the system and rope bridles to hold cages in-line, was identified as the best mooring configuration because it allowed for easy harvest, additional cages, and an even distribution of loads among the mooring lines.