Chilean company gets Aust patent for deep sea aquaculture ship, indirect threat to Tasmania

IP Australia has granted a 20 year patent to Chilean firm Ocean Arks Tech for a large vessel for aquaculture operations in the deep sea. Ocean Ark also has patents in Chile and the USA, countries selected on a strategic basis.

To deal with the many recognised problems with traditional open net pen farming, Ocean Arks proposes to use its vessels in the deep seas. The concept vessel measures 170m by 60m, with open-water pens on both sides, and is planned to be able to operate in 7m waves.

In an indirect threat to the Tasmanian industry, they say the ship can be positioned much closer to end markets where the fish are sold, significantly cutting down on transport emissions (NOFF emphasis, 'end markets' means Sydney and Melbourne).

Ocean Arks recognise possible competition from China, but say that the majority of Chinese ships are simply taking land-based methods out to sea, rather than developing techniques to mimic the natural life of salmon.

Ocean Arks Tech has been in serious conversations with a potential investor.

Read the full report in SeafoodSource, 11 November 2025