A new FPS-designed net hauler for Sanford salmon farms

FPS Hydraulic Designer Own Little pictured with the five new net haulers, prior to delivery to Sanford.

October 2024 Update:

Sanford was so impressed with the safety and design of the hauler unit, it commissioned five more FPS Safe Stop Safety Valve-equipped net haulers for their salmon farming operations. These have been delivered to Stewart Island this month.

FPS has designed and built a custom net hauler unit for Sanford’s Big Glory Bay salmon farm on Stewart Island. 

These units help with safe and stress-free salmon harvesting. The net is sunk to the bottom of the pen (where the salmon are raised). When it is time to harvest or grade the fish, the net is lifted from the bottom of the pen with the hydraulic ‘haulers’ and can be set on an angle to get the fish from one end of the pen to the other.  

Manufactured in FPS’ Port Nelson workshop, the entire system is marinised as much as possible to improve durability and the lifespan of the unit.  

For FPS’ Hydraulic Designer Owen Little, it was important to ensure the unit was practical, reliable and not too complicated. 

Safety is also at the forefront of the design. The hauler heads sit on custom-built trolleys and include a bespoke version of the FPS Safe Stop Safety Valve. The valve prevents operators getting their hands caught by automatically shutting the operation of the unit down if a safety guard is raised – removing the risk of human error. 

There has been interest from other aquaculture companies in this net hauler technology as well.

The hydraulic net hauler unit designed for Sanford’s Stewart Island salmon farm.