The siting and design of aquaculture in the landscape: visual and ...

A feed barge similar in size and shape to a boat with ‘boat-like’ paint scheme.
Ordered cage layout, lighter top nets and alignment of feed barge make for a coherent image
5.2.2 Feed barges, lifting gear and on-farm accommodation for staff, ancillary rafts for
generators and other infrastructure
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Feed barges can be particularly prominent, especially those which are tall. Wherever possible,
aim to use low-profile structures.
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Large, bulky ‘box-like’ structures are also likely to be visually intrusive – wherever possible, try to
divide the mass of the feed barge into several conjoined smaller blocks which will break up the
outline;
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Feed barges should be located to associate well, and logically with the cage layout – a central
position, or one where the barge is moored to align with the centre of the cages on the long
axis tends to be the neatest arrangement
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Large structures, for example including accommodation modules, will be difficult to
accommodate within small-scale coastal landscapes
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In general, the more elements included on a barge, the more fragmented the structure is likely
to become. Try to avoid clutter by designing as many of the elements into the structure from the
outset, and using the same colour to unify the individual elements.
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Dark muted colours and matt finishes tend to be less obtrusive. Dark matt grey and recessive
colours specific to the surrounding context are used to minimise the visibility of structures feed
barges; in some locations, for example, dark green has worked well.
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Alternatively, in some areas, especially where there is frequent water-based activity, feed barges
have been painted in ‘boat-like’ colours. This is most likely to work if the feed barge is a similar
size and shape to a boat.
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