An aquaculture system includes a pen configured to be disposed in a body of water and configured to at least temporarily store aquatic animals during development. A control system is configured to receive electric power from a power source and is configured to provide electric power to a pumping mechanism coupled to the pen such that the pumping mechanism provides a flow of water through the pen. A set of buoyancy tanks are coupled to the pen. A portion of the control system is in fluid communication with the set of buoyancy tanks and is configured to adjust a volume of fluid in at least one buoyancy tank to move the pen from a first position in which the pen is partially submerged in the body of water to a second position in which the pen is fully submerged in the body of water.