You might not be aware of it, but aquaculture is one of the most important farming methods in the world. Countless hundreds of millions of people are deeply reliant on this method of making food – a vital industry that supports global food security, and even helps rebuild populations of threatened wild species.
Aquaculture (also known as aquafarming) simply describes the practice of breeding, raising and harvesting seafood and plants in controlled environments. It covers fish farming, shellfish and prawn farming, as well as plants. But many foods can be grown with aquaculture and aquaponics – even strawberries!
So, as the demand for aquaculture grows, so does the need for reliable and safe materials that support it. And once again, polythene has become a key component in modern aquaculture – just like it is in agriculture.
Polythene’s role in aquaculture
Polythene liners are extensively used in nursery ponds and tanks, to create a safe and stable environment for aquatic life. Pond and tank liners have to be fish-safe; meaning they don’t leach harmful chemicals into the water. Polythene is totally non-soluble in water, making it an ideal choice for raising sensitive species like koi or edible fish.
Read more: How to Transport Koi with Polythene Bags
The use of liners in nurseries helps maintain water quality, prevents contamination, and simplifies the cleaning process – providing a healthy habitat for all kinds of aquatic species. Polythene liners also reduce the risk of diseases that can arise from soil contact, and can keep predatory insect larvae out of the environment, too.. It creates a stable environment for the fish, improving survival rates and farming yields.
Polythene fish transport bags
Heavy duty polythene bags are commonly used for the safe transport of live fish, as detailed in our koi fish transport guide. The bags specified are designed to be robust and leak-proof, with oxygen systems sometimes built-in to keep the fish healthy during transit. All kinds of aquatic animals can be transported in polythene bags – from pets and show animals, to food fish and endangered species.
Biosecurity with aquatic polythene
Polythene sheets and barriers can be used in aquaculture facilities, to prevent the spread of diseases. They can be employed as partitions to separate different sections of a farm, or as covers for tanks to reduce the risk of airborne contaminants. This enhances biosecurity, protecting both the stock and the environment.
Fish and livestock can also be quarantined in partitions if they become infected or unwell, giving them time to recover without furthering the spread of disease (which can quickly collapse an enclosed aquatic ecosystem).
Innovative in aquaculture
Polythene has an edge as an easily engineered material that can be crafted into useful shapes and devices. Layflat tubing can be inflated and welded with sheeting or strapping, to create flotation devices, and even floating cages for marine aquaculture.
These floating cages can house fish in open water, keeping them safe from predators in a controlled setting, while allowing the fish to benefit from natural water flow. Polythene’s buoyancy and flexibility allow it to withstand rough coastal conditions – and with UV additives, the material won’t break down with prolonged exposure to sunlight.
Polythene is also used in integrated aquaculture systems – like aquaponics. This is where fish and plants are grown together, with polythene used for tanks and liners. This integration maximises resources and creates a symbiotic environment, where both fish and plants can thrive. The results are higher food yields per square foot and far more diverse revenue streams for farmers, who can cater to demand for seasonal foods year-round.
Polythene films for plant growth
In integrated aquaculture systems, polythene is used for growing edible plants – watercress, spinach, and strawberries included. Polythene’s low weight, durability, and ability to retain liquids make it perfect for hydroponic setups, where plants can grow in nutrient-rich water rather than soil.
This method is particularly effective in aquaponics, where fish waste provides the natural fertiliser for the plants – creating a sustainable cycle of nutrient use.
Aquaponics applications are usually indoors and temperature controlled – but UV lamps are required to simulate sunlight. That means that proper UVI additives need to be considered for any photosensitive plastics used in aquaponics.
Unlike some other plastics, virgin polythene does not contain elements that could leach harmful chemicals into the water. For food production, using polythene reduces the risk of contamination, and helps contribute to fish and plants that are safe for consumption.
An indispensable material in modern aquaculture
From nursery ponds to integrated systems, polythene helps the health and safety of aquatic life while supporting more secure farming practices. As aquaculture evolves, innovations in polythene products will continue to play a part in meeting the challenges of sustainable food production – and with a growing population, making sure everyone has enough to eat is going to become more important than ever before.
To learn more about polythene’s role in food production, and how it’s used to build polytunnels for farming, read our features here:
Custom polythene for aquaculture and aquafarming
Talk to the polythene experts at NPF Packaging – and design your own custom polythene solutions for any industrial application. Enquire online to get a quote now, or call us on 01773 820415 to find out more about our manufacturing and design process.
