AU2015100151A4 - An aquatic life husbandry system - Google Patents

Abstract

An aquatic life husbandry system 10 includes a receptacle 20 for holding the aquatic life. An envelope structure 30 surrounds the receptacle 20. The envelope structure 30 includes an envelope member 31 of a foraminous material, the foraminous material having pores sized to permit oxygenation of the aquatic life contained in the receptacle 20 but to impede the passage of agents which are potentially harmful to the aquatic life.

Description

1 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Title: An aquatic life husbandry system The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- 2 Technical Field [0001] This disclosure relates, generally, to a husbandry system and, more particularly, to an aquatic life husbandry system which inhibits the transfer of potentially harmful agents to aquatic life. Background [0002] The harvesting of aquatic life, such as Pacific oysters, commonly occurs in a cultivation structure which allows water and nutrients to pass through the cultivation structure to the aquatic life located within the cultivation structure. In addition to the water and nutrients that are able to freely flow through the cultivation structure this also allows the ingress of harmful agents, for example, Herpesvirus (OsHV-1) which can infect the aquatic life. [0003] Herpesvirus is a significant pathogen of Pacific oysters, causing severe economic losses and adversely impacting aquaculture businesses. This has become an international issue, with 50% and 80% of the French and New Zealand oyster industry having previously been lost, respectively. The outbreak is now occurring within Australia. The Herpesvirus is a virulent viral disease which is temperature dependent. The Herpesvirus is dormant until the water temperature exceeds 16'C. The highest level of fatality occurs in juvenile oysters, between 60 100%, and between 10-80% for adult oysters. [0004] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles, or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application. Summary [0005] Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

3 [0006] In an aspect, there is provided an aquatic life husbandry system which includes: a receptacle for holding the aquatic life; and an envelope structure at least partially surrounding the receptacle, the envelope structure including an envelope member of a foraminous material, the foraminous material having pores sized to permit oxygenation of the aquatic life contained in the receptacle but to impede the passage of agents which are potentially harmful to the aquatic life. [0007] The receptacle may be configured to inhibit the aquatic life from damaging the envelope. [0008] The envelope structure may include an outer protective arrangement for inhibiting damage to the envelope member. Both the receptacle and the outer protective arrangement may be in the form of containers sandwiching the envelope member between them, the containers and the envelope member having aligned, closable openings to provide access to an interior of the receptacle. The receptacle may be a tray, basket, bag, or the like and the outer protective arrangement may, similarly, be a tray, basket, bag, or the like. In an embodiment, all three components, i.e., the receptacle, the envelope member and the outer protective arrangement may be in the form of basket-like structures with aligned, closable openings at one end of each of the components. [0009] The system may include an attachment mechanism for attaching the envelope structure, with the receptacle in the envelope structure, to a support arrangement so that the envelope structure is at least partially immersed in a body of water. Brief Description of Drawings [0010] A preferred embodiment of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [0011] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of an aquatic life husbandry system: [0012] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the aquatic life husbandry system of Figure 1 in an assembled state; and [0013] Figure 3 shows the aquatic life husbandry system in use in a cultivation system.

4 Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiments [0014] Referring to the drawings, an embodiment of an aquatic life husbandry system is shown and is designated by the reference numeral 10. The aquatic life husbandry system 10 includes a receptacle 20 for holding aquatic life, for example, bivalve molluscs and, more particularly, Pacific oysters (not shown). An envelope structure 30 surrounds the receptacle 20, the envelope structure 30 including an envelope member, or envelope, 31 of a foraminous material defining a plurality of pores 33. The pores 33 are sized to permit oxygenation of the aquatic life contained in the receptacle 20 and to permit removal of soluble wastes by diffusion but to impede the passage of agents which are potentially harmful to the aquatic life. [0015] The envelope structure 30 includes an outer protective arrangement 40 surrounding the envelope 31. The outer protective arrangement 40 inhibits damage to the envelope 31 by external objects, air or water currents, ultraviolet radiation, or the like. The receptacle 20 and the outer protective arrangement 40 are in the form of containers sandwiching the envelope 31 between them. The envelope 31 is also a container. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the containers 20, 31, and 40 is in the form of a cylindrical basket having a triangular, transverse cross-section. It will be appreciated that the containers 20, 31 and 40 could adopt various other forms and shapes. For example, the receptacle 20 could be in the form of a tray, bag, or the like. The envelope 31 and the outer protective arrangement 40 could, likewise, be in the form of bags, or the like. Still further, the outer protective arrangement 40 could be in the form of a framework surrounding the envelope 31 to inhibit damage being caused to the envelope 31 by external objects, wind or water currents, or the like. [0016] It is to be noted that the components of the system 10, i.e. the receptacle 20, the envelope 31 and the outer protective arrangement 40, have been shown spaced from each other in an exaggerated manner purely for illustrative purposes. In practice, in an embodiment, the components of the system 10 are close fitting and nest within one another. [0017] In an embodiment, the receptacle 20 comprises an elongate, cylindrical body 22 of triangular, transverse cross-section having a side wall 24 and two end panels 26 and 28. At least one of the end panels 28 is a closure member for closing an opening at an associated end of the body 22. The end panel 28, functioning as the closure member, is hingedly connected to the 5 body 22 of the receptacle 20. The closure member 28 attaches to the body 22 in any suitable manner, for example, by way of a zip closure, drawstring, press studs, hook and loop securing tape, or the like. [0018] The interior volume of the receptacle 20 is configured to receive the aquatic life when the end panel 28 is opened to access the interior of the receptacle 20. The body 22 of the receptacle 20 serves to inhibit direct contact between the envelope 31 and the aquatic life to inhibit damage being caused to the envelope 31 by the aquatic life. [0019] The receptacle 20 is of a durable material, for example a synthetic plastics material, such as a Nylon. The end panel 28 in a first, open configuration can be hingedly opened, or otherwise removed, to insert the aquatic life and in a second, closed configuration secures the aquatic life in the receptacle 20. [0020] In the illustrated embodiment, the envelope 31 comprises an elongate, cylindrical body 32 of triangular, transverse cross-section having a side wall 34 and two end panels 36 and 38. At least one of the end panels 38 is a closure member for closing an opening at an associated end of the body 32. The end panel 38 once again, functioning as the closure member and, in this embodiment, is hingedly connected to the envelope structure 30. As with the receptacle 20, the closure member 38 attaches to the body 32 in any suitable manner, for example, by way of a zip closure, drawstring, press studs, hook and loop securing tape, or the like. [0021] The envelope 31 defines an internal volume which is dimensioned to receive the receptacle 20 snugly via the opening closed off by the end panel 38. [0022] As described above, the envelope 31 consists of a foraminous material with the pores 33 being of a size which impedes the passage of agents which are potentially harmful to the aquatic life, for example Herpesvirus, or the like. Agents could include various types of pathogens, examples of which are as algae, plants, viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, metazoan or the like. In addition, agents could also include other types of particulates, non-living, dormant or living, that can be excluded by the envelope 31. The envelope 31 is of a flexible fabric, polyester, or a similar material and the pores 33 are of a size of between about 1 tm to about 50[tm and, preferably, between about less than about 5[tm to about 20[tm. In an embodiment, the pore size is about 1 [tm to about 5 [tm. Other applicable ranges of pore 33 size are about 5 [tm to about 10 [tm, about 10 [tm to about 15 [tm, about 15 [tm to about 20 jam, about 20 jam to 6 about 25 [tm, about 25 [tm to about 30 [tm, about 30 [tm to about 35 [am, about 35 [am to about 40 jam, about 40 jam to about 45 jam and about 45 jam to about 50 jam. [0023] The envelope 31 causes filtration and/or sedimentation of particles away from the receptacle 20, by slowing water flow through the receptacle 20 and thereby reducing the rate of entry of any particles which may contain the Herpesvirus into the receptacle 20. [0024] The outer protective arrangement 40 also comprises an elongate, cylindrical body 42 of triangular, transverse cross-section having a side wall 44 and two end panels 46 and 48. At least one of the end panels 48 is a closure member for closing an opening at an associated end of the body 42. As is the case of the other components 20 and 31, the end panel 48 functions as a closure member and, once again, in this embodiment, is hingedly connected to the body 42 of the outer protective arrangement 40. [0025] An interior volume of the outer protective arrangement 40 is configured to receive the envelope structure 30 snugly via the opening closed off by the end panel 48. The body 42 of the outer protective arrangement 40 is manufactured from a water resistant material, metal, or the like. [0026] The system 10 includes an attachment mechanism comprising a pair of spaced rings 41 carried on the body 42 of the outer protective arrangement 40. The rings 41 allow the outer protective arrangement 40 to be suspended from a line 64 of a cultivation system 70 (Figure 3), as described in greater detail below. [0027] It will be appreciated that, in the above described embodiment, the components of the receptacle 20, the envelope structure 30 and the outer protective arrangement 40 are separate and are nested in one another for use. In another embodiment, the envelope structure 30 may be attached to the receptacle 20 to form a unified structure. It will be appreaciated that farmers of the aquatic life will be able to remove the envelope structure 30 and receptacle 20, when attached or separate, from the outer protective arrangement 40 when it is not required. In a further embodiment, the envelope structure 30 can be attached to the outer protective arrangement 40 to form a unified structure. [0028] In use, the aquatic life husbandry system 10 is intended for the cultivation of aquatic life, more particularly, Pacific oysters. The oysters are placed in the receptacle 20 which is then 7 inserted into the envelope 31. The envelope 31 is, in turn, inserted into the outer protective arrangement 40. [0029] The cultivation system 70 comprises a pair of spaced posts 60 extending upwardly from a bed 62 of an aquatic environment, the bed 62 being covered by a body of water 66. The line 64 extends between the posts 60 above a surface of the body of water 66. The outer protective arrangement 40 is suspended from the line 64 via the rings 41 and a pair of suspension lines 68 depending from the line 64. [0030] The lines 68 can be lengthened or shortened so that the outer protective arrangement 40 can be positioned in a desired location relative to the body of water 66 in which the aquatic life husbandry system 10 is either fully or partially submerged in the body of water 66. The lines 68 are also able to be used to suspend the aquatic life husbandry system 10 above the surface of the water 66, when low tide occurs. [0031] Further, the lines 68 are also used to raise the aquatic life husbandry system 10 out of the body of water 66. This occurs to enable the aquatic life husbandry system 10 to be cleaned or inspected or to intentionally stunt the growth of the aquatic life within the aquatic life husbandry system 10 or to reduce the likelihood of exposure of the aquatic life to agents/pathogens that may harm the aquatic life, thereby protecting the aquatic life. [0032] When the aquatic life husbandry system 10 is at its highest elevation level relative to the body of water 66, wave action will strike the system 10 to facilitate cleaning the aquatic life, stunting the growth of the aquatic life and improving meat quality. Conversely, if the aquatic life husbandry system 10 is lowered closer to the bed 62, the aquatic life will grow at a faster rate. This is achieved by extending the lines 68. [0033] It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the shapes illustrated in the drawings are illustrative only and the system 10 is not restricted to components of that shape. It may be possible for each of the receptacle 20, envelope 31 and the outer protective arrangement 40 to take the shape of a cylinder of different cross-section and not the triangular cross-section as shown. The receptacle 20 may be in the form of a rectangular tray, or some other shape, that enables it to be used with a cultivation system such as one of the type shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. It will also be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the cultivation system 70, itself, may be of different configurations from that shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. For example 8 the cultivation system 70 may, instead of the posts 60 and lines 64 and 68, comprise racks of timber, plastics or steel on which the system 10 is mounted or otherwise secured. In addition, or instead, the cultivation system 70 could employ tanks, ponds or upwellers in which the system 10 is placed. [0034] It is advantageous to utilise the aquatic life husbandry system 10 when cultivating aquatic life. Utilising the aquatic life husbandry system 10 to inhibit the transmission of potentially harmful agents into the receptacle 20 assists in reducing the fatality rate of the aquatic life and the associated economic losses. The foraminous material 33 is sized to inhibit the transmission of harmful agents, for example, Herpesvirus, into the receptacle 20 resulting in healthier aquatic life and reduced economic losses. The foraminous material 33 may impede access of the aquatic life to its food and, for this reason, the receptacle 20 and the envelope structure 30 are omitted at certain times of the year when there is minimal risk of transmission of harmful agents. [0035] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims (5)

1. An aquatic life husbandry system which includes: a receptacle for holding the aquatic life; and an envelope structure at least partially surrounding the receptacle, the envelope structure including an envelope member of a foraminous material, the foraminous material having pores sized to permit oxygenation of the aquatic life contained in the receptacle but to impede the passage of agents which are potentially harmful to the aquatic life.

2. The aquatic life husbandry system of claim 1 in which the receptacle is configured to inhibit the aquatic life from damaging the envelope.

3. The aquatic life husbandry system of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the envelope structure includes an outer protective arrangement for inhibiting damage to the envelope member.

4. The aquatic life husbandry system of claim 3 in which both the receptacle and the outer protective arrangement are in the form of containers sandwiching the envelope member between them, the containers and the envelope member having aligned, closable openings to provide access to an interior of the receptacle.

5. The aquatic life husbandry system of any one of the preceding claims which includes an attachment mechanism for attaching the envelope structure, with the receptacle in the envelope structure, to a support arrangement so that the envelope structure is at least partially immersed in a body of water.