ISTANBUL 

Turkish company Karmod has started production of a newly designed buoy, specifically engineered for use in shellfish farming, the company announced in a statement on Friday.

The buoy, designed to withstand underwater pressure and the corrosive effects of seawater, targets farms raising mussels in offshore or enclosed sea areas.

"Our specially designed mussel buoys aim to boost the productivity of shellfish farms," said Soner Kement, production manager of Karmod’s Plastics Group.

"We use high-density hexene polyethylene in manufacturing, a material chosen for its superior durability against both underwater pressure and seawater. With our fully automated rotational molding technology, we apply continuous thermal processing to enhance the buoy's resistance to the highest level," he added.

Each buoy undergoes a one-bar air pressure leak test to ensure water tightness, Kement added, with only products that pass these stringent checks being cleared for shipment.

Ergonomic usability was a key consideration in the buoy's design, Kement said, adding: "We produced the mussel buoys with dimensions of 80x120 cm to meet farm demands. Rope attachment handles are specifically crafted to ensure a tight grip, keeping the buoys stable in marine conditions. Our standard pressure level is one bar, but we can increase this to two or three bars for custom requests. Up to 110 buoys can be loaded onto a single truck, simplifying transport."

The mussel buoys are currently in use at shellfish farms in Turkiye’s ​​​​​​​Canakkale district.