Reworking Fish Farming - More Management, More Life, More Options

Captains,

Fish farming has been part of Ships At Sea for some time, but based on your feedback and our own experience with the system, we knew there was considerably more we could do with it.

With the upcoming major Update v0.8.8, we've been working on a substantial rework of the fish farm system — from a completely improved fish farm asset and clearer equipment states to changes in feeding, maintenance, economy and the way you manage your farm.

One of our main goals has been simple: make it much easier to understand what is happening at your fish farm, while giving us a stronger foundation to expand fish farming in the future.

So, let's head out to the farm and take a closer look.

A Completely Improved Fish Farm

One of the first things you'll notice is the fish farm itself. We've substantially improved the model and its equipment, adding more of the structural details you would expect to see on a modern fish farm. This includes the surrounding net structure and the stakes supporting and holding the net in position around the cage.

But this work hasn't only been about improving how the farm looks.

We've also revisited the equipment around the farm and how its condition is communicated to the player. Components such as the rotor and engine now have clearer visual states, making it easier to recognize whether equipment is good, dirty, damaged or requires your attention.

Making Fish Farm Management Clearer

One of the main reasons for reworking the system was your feedback about clarity. Previously, it wasn't always obvious what had happened when equipment was damaged or disconnected — or what you needed to do next. We've therefore improved how you interact with the different elements of the fish farm and how its overall condition is communicated.

The Fish Farm Management laptop now gives you a much clearer overview of what's happening. The condition of the farm and its equipment is updated in real time, making it easier to monitor your operation, spot problems and understand when something requires your attention.

This is only the first iteration of the new management UI. Over time, we want to expand it with more detailed information, graphs, statistics and additional management tools, so that operating a fish farm increasingly feels like managing another part of your maritime company.

Feed Your Fish Your Way

We've also changed how fish food can be handled. Previously, supplying your fish farm required some dedication. Every large fish food sack had to be split into smaller sacks, carried over one by one, and brought up to the feeder hatch.

We've seen the effort. We've seen the climbing. Your dedication to keeping those baby salmon well-fed has not gone unnoticed.

With the reworked system, large fish food sacks can now be unloaded directly to the fish farm. Once delivered, the available amount of fish food is automatically recognized and displayed on the Fish Farm Management laptop, where you can manage the feeding directly from the control panel.

So yes — your days of carrying every single small sack up to the feeder can finally be over.

Of course, if you've grown strangely attached to the old routine, we won't take it away from you. Large sacks can still be split into smaller sacks and carried directly to the feeder hatch.

The choice is yours.

Maintenance Matters

Owning a fish farm isn't only about feeding your salmon and collecting the income. Equipment is exposed to the elements, components require attention, and things can go wrong.

We've improved the existing maintenance gameplay to make the condition of your equipment much clearer. Engines and rotors now visually reflect whether they're dirty or damaged, while cables can become disconnected and need to be reconnected.

And then there's the net.

Harsh weather can now damage your fish farm net over time — and the worse the conditions, the faster it deteriorates. Leave a damaged net unattended for too long and your salmon won't stay safely inside the cage. If the net needs replacing, you can purchase a new fish farm net from the Tool Shop and bring it out to the farm.

Together, these changes make maintenance a more meaningful part of operating your fish farm — and give you a good reason to check on your investment from time to time.

The Farm Is Becoming More Alive

We're also adding smaller details to make fish farms feel more alive. Once the salmon reach a certain growth stage, you'll see them jumping from the water inside the cage.

This detail was inspired by the real world. While sailing along the west coast of Norway, we captured salmon jumping at a fish farm — something we wanted to recreate in Ships At Sea .

And the salmon aren't alone. Seagulls can now be seen circling the farm, waiting for an opportunity — and if a damaged net gives them easier access to your fish, they certainly won't complain. Your company's accountant might, though.

These smaller details help make the fish farm feel like a living part of the world, rather than simply a static object at sea.

Rebalancing Fish Farming as a Business

The rework also extends to the fish farm economy. Previously, fish farms could generate a significant amount of money compared with other activities, so we're adjusting the balance.

Fish farming should remain a valuable income stream for your maritime company, while still involving investment, operating costs and responsibility. Feed and replacement equipment cost money, while damaged nets can result in escaped fish or fish being lost.

As with other parts of the Ships At Sea economy, we'll continue monitoring and adjusting the balance as development continues.

Building the Foundation for More Fish Farming

The rework also gives us a stronger foundation for expanding fish farming beyond its current gameplay. The system is being built so we can add different fish types, new ways of supplying and operating farms, harvesting, and eventually larger operations involving vessels such as well boats.

Some of that expansion is already modelled. An upcoming smolt transfer pump will allow players to connect the fish farm pump hose to smolt tanks and pump the fish directly into the cage, with the smolts visibly travelling through the hose. We're also expanding the maintenance side with rotor cleaning using a brush, while feeding will become more visual through fish food particles travelling from the feeder into the cage while the system is operating.

Our longer-term goal is to make fish farming something you can genuinely own, operate and manage alongside the rest of your maritime company — creating another income stream while you're out fishing, completing contracts or operating other vessels.

And that's one of the advantages of Early Access. Your feedback doesn't only help us balance individual values or fix issues — it also helps us identify where entire gameplay systems can become clearer, deeper and more enjoyable.

Update v0.8.8 is another step in that direction for fish farming.

Stay tuned there is more on the horizon!

Team Misc Games