ISO 16488:2015

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 16488
First edition
2015-07-15
Marine finfish farms — Open net cage
— Design and operation
Exploitations de pisciculture marine — Cages à filets ouverts —
Opération et conception
Reference number
ISO 16488:2015(E)
©
ISO 2015

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ISO 16488:2015(E)

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© ISO 2015, Published in Switzerland
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ISO 16488:2015(E)

Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction .vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Basic considerations and general requirements . 4
4.1 General considerations . 4
4.2 Site survey requirements and environmental considerations . 5
4.3 Degradation and lifetime considerations . 6
4.4 Risk analysis requirements . 6
4.5 Design of marine finfish farms . 6
4.5.1 General. 6
4.5.2 Limit state analysis . 6
4.5.3 Functional requirements . 7
4.6 User handbook . 7
4.7 Assembly of main components . 7
4.8 Inspection of marine finfish farms after installation at the site . 7
5 Requirements for documentation and user handbook . 8
5.1 General . 8
5.2 Requirements regarding user handbook. 8
5.2.1 Contents of user handbook . 8
5.2.2 Requirements regarding general site survey documentation . 9
5.2.3 Requirements regarding documentation of main components . 9
5.3 Requirements regarding site operations and maintenance log .11
5.3.1 General.11
5.3.2 Requirements regarding site and equipment maintenance plan .12
5.3.3 Requirements regarding site inspection program .12
5.4 Documentation of site inspections and site reports, measured parameters,
calculations, and conclusions .12
6 Environmental conditions .13
6.1 Requirements for determination of environmental conditions .13
6.1.1 General.13
6.1.2 Wind .13
6.1.3 Current.14
6.1.4 Waves .15
6.1.5 Ice and snow .16
6.1.6 Water depth and bottom bathymetry .16
6.1.7 Water chemistry parameters .16
6.2 Use of environmental conditions for design of marine finfish farms .16
6.2.1 General.16
6.2.2 Wave modelling . . .16
7 Design of marine finfish farms.17
7.1 General .17
7.2 General considerations .18
7.2.1 Selection of floating collars .18
7.2.2 Selection of net cages .18
7.2.3 Global analysis of marine finfish farms .18
7.2.4 Barges .18
7.3 Guidance on the design and global analysis of marine finfish farms .18
7.3.1 Loads and interface between main components .18
7.3.2 Load and load combinations.19
7.3.3 Breaks in mooring lines .20
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ISO 16488:2015(E)

7.3.4 Puncturing .20
7.3.5 Load factors .20
7.3.6 Design working life and durability .22
7.3.7 User handbook and global analysis documentation .22
Bibliography .24
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ISO 16488:2015(E)

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of any
patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or on
the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity
assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the WTO principles in the Technical Barriers
to Trade (TBT) see the following URL: Foreword - Supplementary information
The committee responsible for this document is ISO/TC 234, Fisheries and aquaculture.
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ISO 16488:2015(E)

Introduction
This International Standard is developed to ensure that a net cage marine finfish farms are adequately
designed, constructed, and maintained to meet the anticipated rigours of the marine environment in
which they will be deployed to prevent escapes (unintended impacts) during every day operations and
unforeseen events. The standard is to be applied by the farm operators on a site-specific basis. Aquaculture
producers are recommended to ensure that the combination of technologies that they have selected for
a site meets environmental and other operational considerations for that site. Equipment manufacturers
can use this International Standard, methodology, and terminology so that their customers (farm
operators) can have the opportunity to meet the requirements with this International Standard.
The physical rigours of the marine environment to which a net cage marine finfish farm can be subjected
include tidal currents, wave action, storm surges, hurricanes, wind exposures, icing; equipment design
(net cage structures, mooring systems, netting components, predator control, and site markers. Other
factors influencing the integrity of a net cage marine finfish farm include qualifications of equipment
manufacturers and suppliers, handling practices, inspection and maintenance, reporting and auditing,
and stock loss and recovery planning.
Within marine aquaculture, an increasing degree of farming on high energy sites (strong tidal currents,
wave action, storm surges, hurricanes, wind exposure, icing) is predicted. Further developments
in equipment and technology for farming in cages on high energy sites can result in improved water
quality and fish health. The use of high energy locations will necessitate improvements of cages, mooring
systems, and feeding systems. It can also require larger boats for servicing, and calls for new techniques
for installation and daily operations.
This international technical standard is intended to reduce technical and operational failures, consequently
enhancing the sustainability of the industry. All precautions are recommended to be taken to prevent
escapes (unintended impacts) from aquaculture installations as a result of improper specification of
technical main components or improper operational use. This International Standard will offer one tool
in a link of other guidelines needed for the aquaculture industry to be environmentally sustainable.
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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 16488:2015(E)
Marine finfish farms — Open net cage — Design and
operation
1 Scope
This International Standard presents a general method to be followed for the systematic analysis,
design, and evaluation of net cage marine finfish farms. One common style of a net cage finfish farm is
shown in Figure 1. A mooring system holds together a series of net cages which contain finfish. Water
from the outside environment freely passes through the nets, providing the necessary environment for
farming finfish. The methodology presented in this International Standard allows for determination
of the adequacy of a given finfish farm’s floating structure, nets, and mooring equipment for a given
environment. The standard addresses specification of a design basis through evaluation of environmental
conditions and acceptable risk, and specifies acceptable techniques for the design and analysis of finfish
farms. This International Standard also provides guidelines for development of a handbook which
documents procedures for correct maintenance and operation of the finfish farm.
The application of the standard is intended to reduce the risk of escape from marine finfish farms.
This International Standard is designed to be used by the operator of a net cage marine finfish farm.
It is intended that through application of this International Standard that increased human safety and
system integrity levels can be achieved.
Figure 1 — Typical net cage marine finfish farm design
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 1107, Fishing nets — Netting — Basic terms and definitions
ISO 19900, Petroleum and natural gas industries — General requirements for offshore structures
ISO 19901-1, Petroleum and natural as industries — Specific requirements for offshore structures — Part 1:
Metocean design and operating conditions
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
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3.1
cage
floating collar with attached net cage for the purpose of containing finfish
3.2
floating collar
frame which provides buoyancy and attachment for one or more net cages
3.3
net cage
net construction attached to a floating collar for the purpose of containing fish
3.4
net pen
net construction that rests on the seabed and whose purpose is to contain fish
3.5
mooring system
system of lines (e.g. polyester rope, chain, wire rope) and bottom attachments for the purpose of keeping
the floating components in a desired position
3.6
barge
floating work station on a marine finfish farm, separate or integrated, with technical equipment for
performing certain functions connected to fish farming
Note 1 to entry: The barge can have functions as storage, feeding, electricity supply, crewing, and monitoring of
the site and others.
3.7
marine finfish farm
containment system for the purposes of farming finfish
Note 1 to entry: A marine finfish farm typically consists of a mooring system, floating collars, anchoring system,
net cages, and can include a barge.
3.8
net cage
containment system through which water freely flows through the net cage from the outside environment
Note 1 to entry: This is in contrast to closed containment systems, in which water from the outside environment
does not pass freely through the structure.
3.9
predator net
barrier cage preventing predators from entering the net cage
Note 1 to entry: A predator net could be a birdnet, jumpnet or other types of nets used for protection against
predators such as e.g. birds, sea lions, seals, and sharks.
3.10
operator
party responsible for the operation of a net cage marine finfish farm and may or may not be the
owner or producer
3.11
supplier
organization that provides a product or a service to a customer
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3.12
floats
buoys
component which is typically attached to a mooring system to provide buoyancy or mark boundaries
3.13
anchor
device that is used to connect the marine finfish farm mooring system to the sea bed to keep the fish
farm in place
3.14
compensator buoy
device used to provide flotation and add compliance to a mooring system
Note 1 to entry: The compensatory buoy is intended to compensate for changes in water level and maintain
tension in the mooring system in waves.
3.15
metocean data
meteorological and oceanographic data
3.16
limit state
limit state is a condition of a structure beyond which it no longer fulfils the relevant design criteria
3.17
global analysis
overall numerical analysis of the complete structure, such as a the complete marine finfish farm, to
determine overall loads and response
3.18
stability log
document with information and specifications regarding the stability of a barge
3.19
tolerance limit
load capacity limit of a component
3.20
return period
average period between occurrences of an event or a particular value being exceeded
Note 1 to entry: For environmental events, this is typically measured in years.
3.21
floats
flotation devices that are used to give floating to a raft-cage system that arranged in the lower section
of hall square cage
3.22
side walk
square structure, preferably galvanized steel, which also allows transit corridors, containing floats at
the bottom that give buoyancy to raft-cage system to this place is attached the net cage
3.23
counterweighs
weights that serves to reduce the deformation of the net cage against prevailing currents in the area of culture
Note 1 to entry: Counterweighs are generally constructed of concrete.
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ISO 16488:2015(E)

4 Basic considerations and general requirements
4.1 General considerations
This International Standard is intended to provide guidelines for the design and operation of
permeable net cage marine finfish farms similar in design to those shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3.
The owner/operator of a marine finfish farm is responsible, through the use of a risk evaluation, for
assessing the environmental conditions at a prospective site, selecting the appropriate equipment for
use at the particular site, and for the safe operation of the finfish farm.
The main components should be designed according to ISO standards that are relevant for the component
in question. Where ISO standards do not exist, appropriate international or regionally accepted
standards should be applied to ensure a high level of system safety and quality assurance. For example,
the design of a steel structure should use ISO 19902 or EN 1993.
Internationally accepted codes and standards that exist and which provide guidelines for the technical
design and integrity of system components may be used. However, the user must ensure that the design
philosophy intended in this International Standard is met and consistent operational and human safety
levels are applied.
As shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3, a marine finfish farm typically consists of the following main components:
a) floating collars;
NOTE The floating collar is designed to hold nets in place, and gives the net cage flotation and structural
shape. Floating collars are frequently constructed of HDPE plastic pipe or galvanized steel.
b) mooring system;
NOTE The mooring system is used to restrict the motion of the entire finfish farm, enabling it to keep
stationary. For example, the mooring system shown in Figure 1 is composed of a mooring grid, bridle lines,
and main mooring lines.
c) anchors;
NOTE Anchoring systems typically consist of concrete blocks (gravity anchor) or drag embedment or
plate anchors (such as Danforth style anchors) which, when connected with the mooring system, keep the
finfish farm in a fixed position.
d) net cage;
NOTE A net cage is typically made of rope and nylon netting and is used to contain finfish.
e) predator net;
NOTE A secondary netted system is often used to prevent predators such as sharks and sea lions from
breaking into the net cage.
f) barge;
NOTE Both feed and accommodation barges are common at finfish farms in many regions. The barge is
frequently used as a monitoring platform for the fish farm operations.
g) other components.
NOTE These could be floats, sidewalk and counterweights.
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Figure 2 — Typical HDPE floating collar finfish farm configuration
Figure 3 — Typical steel frame floating collar finfish farm configuration
4.2 Site survey requirements and environmental considerations
Fish farming sites range from very protected to the very exposed and, as such, containment structures
need to be designed and constructed with particular attention paid to the site-specific rigours of the
marine environment in the location where they will be deployed. For example, fetch, bottom type, and
tidal currents will vary greatly between sites and can affect wave size, anchoring options, and mooring
lines size, respectively.
The site shall be surveyed and described based on bathymetry, topography, and degree of exposure. This
data (e.g. fetch, bathymetric map, site boundaries, bottom type, etc.) shall be used for the calculation of
environmental conditions and assessment of the suitability of the equipment.
The site survey should be used to determine the feasibility of developing a finfish farm at a potential location.
The design and selection of components for a marine finfish farm will vary depending on the
environmental conditions at the site. The impact of currents, wind, and waves on permeable net cages
will be relevant to consider in all parts of the world. Additional loads must be considered in certain
regions, such as snow and ice loads.
The owner or operator of the site shall assess, or have assessed, the environmental conditions at the
site according to the guidelines presented in this International Standard. The assessment shall be
completed by experienced and qualified personnel. Expertise and methodologies have been developed
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for the effective evaluation of meteorological and oceanographic information for ocean industries such
as the marine renewable energy and offshore petroleum and natural gas industries. General guidelines
and background information on collection of meteorological and oceanographic information for the
purposes of defining extreme environmental conditions for the design of ocean structures can be found
in ISO 19900 and ISO 19901-1. Where possible, these existing best practices should be reasonably applied.
It is noted that even in areas such as the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea where a great deal of reliable
measurements have been collected for the purposes of designing ocean structures, this data are often
insufficient for rigorous statistical determination of extreme environmental conditions at specific
locations. Therefore, the determination of appropriate design parameters must be completed with
sufficient care by experienced personnel. Lastly, many fish farms are located in inshore or near shore
locations; not all standards for assessing environmental conditions for offshore locations will directly
apply to near shore or inshore locations. Therefore, sufficient care should be exercised when using
standards developed for offshore locations.
In general, meteorological and oceanographic measurements should be performed on empty sites (i.e. a
site without an installation) if possible prior to development. Clause 6 provides guidelines establishing
environmental design criteria for a finfish farm.
4.3 Degradation and lifetime considerations
The choice of components must be considered in relation to the lifetime considerations and the degree
of inspection and maintenance of the different components.
4.4 Risk analysis requirements
A risk analysis, broken down into probability and consequence, shall be performed in connection with
the design and operation of the finfish farm.
The risk analysis shall be based on accepted procedures, such as those laid down in already established
applicable ISO standards (i.e. ISO 31000 and IEC 31010) or standards that are comparable to the ISO
standards. The various stages shall be documented so that they can be re-examined.
A risk analysis shall be as complete as reasonably possible during the design phase.
4.5 Design of marine finfish farms
4.5.1 General
The marine finfish farm shall be designed with the objective to prevent fish escapes. The design shall
be reviewed by personnel with sufficient expertise and experience. Documentation of each of the main
components shall be such that the design can be evaluated according to this International Standard.
Consideration shall be taken of extra loads one main component receives from the others, and it shall
be established by calculations, research, or numerical modelling that each main component has the
capacity to withstand these loads.
4.5.2 Limit state analysis
The finfish farm shall be designed according to the requirements and considerations presented in Clause 7.
Clause 7 lays out a set of limit states for which different design situations must be assessed. The limit state
analysis approach is similarly used for assessment of offshore structures and mooring systems.
Alternative internationally accepted codes and standards exist which provide guidelines for the design
of floating structures and mooring systems that may be utilized in lieu of the limit state approach;
however, the user must ensure that the design method objectives intended in this International Standard
[20]
is met and a consistent safety level is applied. For example, API RP 2
...