Traditional surface pens can leave fish susceptible to mounting environmental challenges that undermine health, impact growth, and, in severe cases, can lead to mass mortality. Dating back to the Aquapod, we’ve prioritized designing fully submersible solutions that protect fish even as the most severe storms pummeled the surface.
In our latest iteration, the SeaProtean Pen, we introduced our revolutionary buoyancy control and ballast system to complement our fully submerged grid. This allows farm operators to enact a “duck and cover” technique even in fish species that are sensitive to pressure changes. In just 30 minutes, the pen can be safely lowered to an ideal location below the surface, keeping the fish, structure, and entire grid safe until conditions improve.
Additionally, the move better preserves the natural beauty of the landscape, fostering harmony, and improved relationships with local communities.
A diver swims below a fully-submerged Innovasea pen.
Building on an idea
Successfully “hiding” fish during storms led to a new question: what if keeping the pen submerged became the norm, not the exception? After all, some of the biggest threats to fish health can be found at the surface.
Innovasea’s SeaProtean Pen
Warm temperatures create ideal conditions for several environmental hazards, including harmful algal blooms (HABs), parasites and sea lice. Meanwhile, storms and extreme heat can create a habitat that fish simply can’t survive in.
By fully submerging the pen(s), farms could move fish below the thermocline and into deeper, cooler, and calmer waters. Doing so brings fish back into an ideal, stable environment where they can thrive. Additionally, this move also better protects the pens, reducing maintenance costs and improving longevity.
From concept to deployment
Today, a fully submersible approach isn’t just a theory; it has been proven as a successful survival strategy in modern aquaculture.
This year, a customer in the Middle East experienced zero mortalities due to heat, despite surface water temperatures reaching 34°C (93°F). Using our SeaProtean pens, they moved their fish deeper into the water column for four months to protect them from extreme heat. This gave farm managers peace of mind even as surface temperatures continued to climb.
Another customer, Santomar, located in La Paz, Mexico, has leveraged our fully submersible solutions to protect their fish from countless storms and rough waters. For instance, during both Hurricane Norma in 2023 and Hurricane John in 2024, the farm successfully protected its fish stocks by relocating the pens underwater. Despite winds exceeding 100 mph, Santomar experienced no damage to the pens.
Aerial view of Santomar’s fully submersible pen grid
A new standard in sea-based aquaculture
At Innovasea, we’re constantly looking for new and novel ways to help farms improve operations and drive more sustainable solutions across the industry. Fully operating below the surface requires a suite of precision aquaculture tools. To provide farmers with what they need, we also offer complementary solutions that enable farm managers to effectively feed, monitor, and track fish growth underwater.
Interested in learning more? Contact Innovasea today to learn how we can support your next project.
Erik Vis, who is part of Innovasea’s Aquaculture Services department, brings hands on aquaculture knowledge and experience to the team. He holds an MSc in Aquaculture from Wageningen University in the Netherlands and an MBA from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH). 
