Constructing

Fish Pens
and Fish
Cages
INTRODUCTION:
A pen culture is similar to a
cage culture because cages
and pens allow water
currents or wind action to
carry away waste products
and to continually provide
oxygen.
Materials for Fish Pens and Fish
Cage Construction:

A. Fish Pen

1. Framework/structure

a. bamboo- most common

b. wooden poles
c. anahaw (palm tree) logs/ coconut
poles
d. Creosoted pole- pole treated with
creosote ( wood preservatives)
e. Steel/ G.I. pipe
2. Enclosure and barrier nets

a. Polyethylene nets
b. Polypropylene nets
c. Nylon nets
d. Woven bamboo splits
Polyethylene net
Polyprophylene Net
Nylon Nets
Woven bamboo splits
3. Tying and braiding
materials
a. Polyethylene rope and twine
b. Polypropylene rope
c. Nylon threads
d. Nylon cord (Monofilament)
e. Rubber tire strips
Polypropylene rope
Polyethylene rope
Nylon Threads
Nylon cord (Monofilament)
Rubber tire strips
 Preparation of Frameworks
1. Bamboo poles and anahaw
logs are cleaned of sharp
edges to prevent net damage.

2. When bamboo poles are used

for posting, the diaphragm is
removed to reduce buoyancy.
Preparation of Net Installation
Net fabrication should be based on
the physical characteristics of the
proposed site like depth of water
and mud, highest water level or
flood, and characteristics of species
to be cultured. The perimeter of the
fish pen must be known before the
nets are cut and installed according
to specifications.
 Net Measurement
The length of the net is
determined by multiplying
he total perimeter of the pen
by 1.3. This is the ideal
allowance for the net pen
and cage. It gives equal
stretching to the four sides
of the mesh.
Example:

Perimeter pen= 400 m.

Therefore, the length of

perimeter net required
= 400 x 1.3= 520 meters.
Procedure in Ribbing Nets
(joining nets with ropes)
1. First, Enclose both ends of the
nets.
2. Then, insert 5 mm polyrope at
the first raw of meshes of nets.
3. Weave with 210/18 resined
nylon- twine one inch apart
employing a clove hitch and knot
4. Repeat the procedure for the
succeeding layers until the
desired depth of net is completed
Barrier Net Installation
The commonly used nets are 3
knots and 7 knots polypropylene
nets. A 9 mm polyrope can be
used for lower (foot) upper
(head) part of the barrier
assembly. The installed nets can
be adjusted according to
fluctuations in water level.
Fixing Nets into Frameworks
The installed nets are brought to
the site and attached to the pen
framework. Tie the head rope
about 1-2 meters high above the
water surface. Use the double
footrope to fasten the bamboo
pegs and stone sinkers. Install the
net in place by driving the pegs
and stone sinkers into the
lakebed.
After the net has been
fixed in place, remove
the debris and other
materials inside the
net enclosure as these
may damage the nets.
B. Fish Cage
1. Framework/ structure
a) Bamboo- most common
b) Wooden poles
c) Anahaw (palm tree) logs
d) Creosoted pole
e) Steel/ G.I. pipe
4. Enclosure and
barrier nets
a. Polyethylene nets
b.Polypropelene nets
c. Nylon nets
d.Woven bamboo splits
5. Tying and braiding
a. Polyethylene rope and
twine
b. Polypropelene rope
c. Nylon threads
d. Nylon cord
(monofilament)
e. Rubber tire strips
6. Floats
a. Bamboo
b. Steel drum/ barrel
c. Styrofoam
d. Plastic container
e. Aluminum cylinder
f. PVC pipes
g. Rubber tires
7. Sinkers/ Anchors

a.Stone
b.Concrete stabs
c.Bamboo and
wooden pegs
Nets and Mesh Sizes
Suitable for Fish Pens
and Fish Cages
Generally, the most suitable
nets should be flexible or
adaptable, for ease of
handling; resistant to fouling
growth and heat.
 The mesh size must be small
enough to prevent the escape of
fish and entry of predators. For
hatchery operations of tilapia,
the most common sizes of mesh
used are 0.5 mm (hapa) for
breeding, 10 mm for nursery
and 20 mm for grow- out.
However, as long as the fish
cannot escape, larger
Meshes are
recommended since
they provide larger
passageway for water
circulation, slower rate
of fouling, ease in
handling and cheaper
cost per unit area.
Nets for cage fabrication

• B-net (1/4 in mesh)

• DD-net(3/8 in mesh)
• CC-net(1/2 in mesh)
 There are many kind of nets
that could be used for
fabrication. The most common
are the B-net (1/4’’ mesh),
DD-net (3/8’’ mesh), and CC-
net (1/2’’ mesh). However,
the most popular is the B-net
because smaller fingerlings
do not need a nursery cage.
It is cheaper per unit area
because it is wider (108
inches) than the other nets,
hence, labor cost in
fabricating cages is much
lower, and tearing of one or
two mesh do not easily
provide an escape route for
bigger fish
Floating system (Floating
Fish Cage)
The floats for floating cages must
have the following qualities:

a. High buoyancy
b. Fouling- resistant
c. Durable, enough to withstand
the wind and waves.
 For longer life and
less fouling, floats
used may be
covered with
protective materials
such as rubberized
canvass.
Mooring System

Mooring lines should be light

and strong, flexible, highly
resistant to wear, impact,
abrasion, stretching and
twisting. As a general guide,
the length of the mooring
lines should be three times
the depth of water.
Anchoring Device
An ideal anchor must provide
enough holding power with
reasonable weight size. The type
of anchor to use in the mooring
system depends on the depth of
water, nature of bottom, and
water current. The three types of
anchor are the following:
1. Dead weight
anchors. They are
recommended for
mooring involving
essentially vertical
tension. A typical
example is a concrete
block.
2.Embedment
Anchors. These are
designed to dig into the
bottom as they are
being pulled by a
horizontal force. It is
recommended for sandy
and muddy bottom.
3. Special Anchors.
These are the
combinations of
deadweight and
embedment anchors. They
are designed to resist
vertical and horizontal
components of tension.
Net Cage Fabrication
The cage is from netting materials,
which are sewn together to form
an oversized mosquito net. These
are then installed in the modules
in an inverted position. The
dimensions of the cage will depend
on the needs, capability, and
production target of the fish
farmer
For instance, a small cage
measuring 5x10x2.5 m is easy to
manage. One or to laborers can
readily lift the cages during harvest
or during routine inspection.
Another advantage using smaller
cages is that even if a cage gets
damaged or destroyed, Fish loss will
be minimal. However, one can
increase to as much as 10x25x2.5
meter to save on materials compare
to fabricating several units of cages.
A 5 x 10 x 2.5 meter net cage
would required at least one
Role of polyethylene nets, a
roll of polyethylene and 3-5
rolls of nylon twine. The 10 x
20 x 2.5m net cage would use
up to 2 ½ rolls of netting
materials, 2 ½ rolls of
polyethylene rope, and 8-10
rolls of nylon twine.
Procedure in Installing Net
Cage-To-Cage Frame
1. Hang the nets in bamboo
raft-type frame.
2. Fix the synthetic ropes into
the four corners of the
frame.
3. Set the mooring system.
Materials Quantity Unit Cost
Price (Php)
(Php)
1. GI pipe 54 pcs. 480 25,920
1.5’’ diam.
X 6m #40
2.PE net 3 rolls 4,500 13,500
enclosure,
size 17,
knotted
200 mesh
depth,
3. PE 2 rolls 200 400
rope
#14
(7mm)
4. PE 3 rolls 250 750
rope #
16
(8mm)
5. PE 1 roll 400 400
rope
#24(12
mm)
6. PE 10 rolls 50 500
twine
#2
(1.0m
m)
7. 18 pcs. 900 16,200
Plastic
drum
(200L
capacit
y)
8. 30 40 1,200
Welding kgs.
electrode
( 1/8”
diam.)

9. Paint 3L 110 330

epoxy
primer
10. 120 18 2,160
Stainle pcs.
ss steel
bolt
and nut
with
washer
14 mm
diam x
40 mm
11. 56 pcs. 20.83 1,166.4
Steel 8
plate
(120 x
100 x 5
mm)
12. 2 pcs. 20.00 50.00
Paint
brush(
1”)
Total of
62,566.
48
II. Construction Cost
-Material Cost………………P62,566.48
-Labor Cost
(22% Material Cost)…..P13,138.96
-Miscellaneous and
Contingencies (10%
of Material Cost…………. P6,256.64
Grand Total= P 81,962.00
Say= P 82,000.00
Glossary:

Barrier. Something(such as fence or

natural obstacle) that prevents or
blocks movement from one place to
another
Braid. To weave together ( three or
more strands or pats of something)
Buoyancy. Ability of an object to
float in water or air.
Creosote. A brown, oily liquid used
to keep wood from rotting
Diaphragm. A thin sheet of material
forming a partition
Fabrication. The action or process
of manufacturing or inventing
something.
Fluctuation. An irregular rising and
falling in number or amount raise
lines