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Environmentally friendly, anti-fouling, anti-microbial, high-strength, corrosion resistant, 100% recyclable copper alloy containment wire for the aquaculture industry.

What We Do

We provide means for the aquaculture industry to produce healthy fish raised in environmentally friendly, naturally antimicrobial UR30^® copper alloy pens. Our fully recyclable UR30^® wire prevents biofouling, stops predator loses without harm, keeps raised fish away from native species, and dramatically improves crop yields. UR30^® wire has been successfully used for fish pens since the 1980's. Unlike painted antifouling coatings the solid UR30^® wire does not flake off and leave harmful deposits on the seabed and it does not increase concentrations of copper in the sea.

UR30^® wire is supplied to fabricators who weave it into nets then install in new or existing fish pens. Current fabricators and installers of UR30^® pens are Ashimori Industries in Japan and EcoSea S.A. in Chile.

Fouled Nylon Nets	Clean UR30 Nets

Benefits

• Increased water flow - nets remain clean and free of biofouling resulting in higher oxygen levels. Free flowing water and higher oxygen levels leads to lower levels of parasites and pathogens. The result is a quicker growing healthy fish.
• Reduced contact with fish - less handling of the fish means lower levels of stress and mortality. UR30^® pens are virtually maintenance free resulting in fewer visits to the pens by staff and less need for divers to make dangerous dives.
• Consistent cage volume - clean and free of biofouling UR30^® pens have reduced drag and maintain their shape. The increased volumes prevent overcrowding and low oxygen levels resulting in better yields.
• Harm free predator protection - high-strength UR30^® pens reduce predator attacks without harming the predator and greatly reduces the chance of farmed fish escaping into the natural environment.
• Reduced operational costs and increased profits - UR30^® pens will reduce your costs by reducing the need for divers, cleaning, antibiotics, and crop losses, resulting in increased profitability of your operations.

How it Works

Copper is a natural element and is a necessary to healthy development of living organisms. The concentration in the earth's crust is about 50ppm, in the coastal seawater the concentration is about 1ppm and about 0.25ppm in the open ocean. Biofouling resistance comes from copper's natural slow release of copper ions found on the immediate surface area of the solid copper alloy wire. The cupric ions are rapidly dissipated, bound to organic material and not bioavailable. Numerous studies have shown the released copper ions from solid copper alloy wire do not have effects on non-target organisms, do not raise copper concentrations above natural background levels, and do not build up in the food chain.

Sources: "Environmental Performance of Copper Alloy Mesh in Marine Fish Farming: The Case for Using Solid Copper Alloy Mesh", International Copper Association, 2010

All copper alloys are not equal, some rapidly corrode resulting in a short product life. Only UR30^® has a solid proven track record of long life in pens found in Japan, Australia, and Chile.

As UR30^® is a solid copper alloy wire, not a bi-metal or coating, it recycles easily. UR30^® is an environmentally friendly solution to our growing need for farmed seafood.

Company Profile

UR30^® wire was designed and is produced by Mitsubishi Shindoh in Japan. Mitsubishi Shindoh is part of the Mitsubishi Materials group of companies, some 221 subsidiaries and affiliates in 25 countries.

Contact Information

Tel +81-072-233-2865

FAX +81-072-233-9056

Address 8-374, Sambo-Cho, Sakai-ku, Sakai City, Osaka Pref. 590-0906 JAPAN

Email: ccraig@mitsubishi-shindoh.co.jp