AU2019200217A1

AU2019200217A1 - Apparatus and method for retrieving shellfish traps

Info

Publication number: AU2019200217A1
Application number: AU2019200217A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Sean Hildebrandt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-03-14
Filing date: 2019-01-12
Publication date: 2019-10-03

Abstract

Abstract An apparatus for retrieving a shellfish trap submerged in water. The apparatus comprises an inflatable bladder configured for attachment to the shellfish trap and a hoseline connected to the inflatable bladder. Pumping air through the hoseline causes the inflatable bladder to inflate and the shellfish trap to float towards a surface of the water. Figure 5

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RETRIEVING SHELLFISH TRAPS

Field [0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for retrieving shellfish traps submerged in water.

Background [0002] Shellfish traps, also known as crab pots or lobster pots, are portable traps comprising a chamber constructed of wire, wood, metal, rope netting or rigid plastic that rests on the seabed. Bait is placed into the chamber which lures shellfish through a one-way opening or funnel into the chamber that the shellfish cannot leave once it has passed through.

[0003] Shellfish traps are used to catch a wide variety of crustaceans and shellfish including lobsters, crayfish and crabs and are usually dropped to the sea floor about a dozen at a time. A buoy or similar floatation device marks the position of each trap on the seabed which is attached to the trap using a rope, chain or similar line that extends from the buoy down to the trap.

[0004] Shellfish traps are periodically retrieved from the seabed so that their contents can be inspected and emptied if edible shellfish of regulation size have been caught. To retrieve a trap, a boat goes alongside the relevant marker buoy and the trap is hauled to the water surface by pulling on the line that extends from the buoy to trap. If the line is pulled in by hand, this is an onerous task to perform and can lead to personal injury such as damage to the back and arms. This is particularly the case if the trap is heavily laden with a large number of shellfish or the trap is being retrieved in poor weather or sea conditions.

[0005] In an effort to make the task easier, mechanical or electrically operated winches may be installed on the boat to haul in the line which are often used in combination with specialised pot tippers. However, this equipment is expensive to purchase and install which puts it out of reach for many small fishing operators.

2019200217 12 Jan 2019 [0006] The line that extends from a buoy down to a trap can also become tangled in the trap or get snagged on underwater reef or other objects on the seabed when being hauled in. This can lead to trap equipment and tackle getting damaged or lost at sea causing financial loss and inconvenience to the fishing operator.

[0007] In this context, there is a need for improved ways for retrieving submerged shellfish traps.

Summary [0008] According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for retrieving a shellfish trap submerged in water, the apparatus comprising:

an inflatable bladder configured for attachment to the shellfish trap; and a hoseline connected to the inflatable bladder, wherein pumping air through the hoseline causes the inflatable bladder to inflate and the shellfish trap to float towards a surface of the water.

[0009] The hoseline may extend from the inflatable bladder to the surface of the water.

[0010] The hoseline may be configured for connection to an object floating on the surface of the water.

[0011] The hoseline may be connectable to a floating buoy.

[0012] The apparatus may further comprise a float comprising an elongate aperture extending between first and second ends of the float that is configured to receive the hoseline.

[0013] The elongate aperture may extend between a lower and an upper end of the float.

[0014] An end of the hoseline that is remote from the inflatable bladder may comprise a valve configured such that air may be pumped into the end of the hoseline without escaping.

2019200217 12 Jan 2019 [0015] The inflatable bladder may comprise at least one attached buoyancy aid for keeping the inflatable bladder suspended above the shellfish trap in the water when the inflatable bladder is deflated.

[0016] The buoyancy aid may be attached to a topmost end of the inflatable bladder.

[0017] The buoyancy aid may be attached to the inflatable bladder via a tether that extends from the inflatable bladder.

[0018] The apparatus may further comprise a clip for attaching the inflatable bladder to the shellfish trap.

[0019] The clip may be releasably attachable to the shellfish trap.

[0020] The clip may be releasably attachable to a lifting handle of the shellfish trap.

[0021] The apparatus may further comprise a cord that extends from the inflatable bladder, wherein the clip is attached to an end of the cord.

[0022] The inflatable bladder may further comprise an air release valve for deflating the inflatable bladder.

[0023] The present invention also provides a method for laying and retrieving a shellfish trap, the method comprising:

attaching an inflatable bladder to the shellfish trap;

placing the shellfish trap into water and allowing the shellfish trap to sink; and subsequently inflating the inflatable bladder causing the shellfish trap to float towards a surface of the water for retrieval.

[0024] The method may further comprise pumping air into the inflatable bladder via a hoseline connected to the inflatable bladder.

2019200217 12 Jan 2019 [0025] The method may further comprise connecting an end of the hoseline that is remote from the inflatable bladder to an object floating on a surface of the water before inflating the inflatable bladder.

[0026] The method may further comprise feeding the end of the hoseline through an elongate aperture in the object floating on the surface of the water.

[0027] The method may further comprise pumping air into the end of the hoseline from a topmost surface of the object floating on the surface of the water to inflate the inflatable bladder.

Brief Description of Drawings [0028] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for retrieving a shellfish trap submerged in water according to an example embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows the apparatus of Figure 1 with a float attached to an end of the hoseline of the apparatus;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the float depicted in Figure 2 wherein a spherical body of the float is shown in cross section;

Figure 4 shows the apparatus of Figure 1 attached to a shellfish trap submerged in water, wherein an inflatable bladder of the apparatus is deflated and the shellfish trap is resting on a seabed; and

Figure 5 shows the scene depicted in Figure 4 wherein the inflatable bladder is inflated and the shellfish trap is floating towards a surface of the water.

Description of Embodiments [0029] Referring to Figure 1, an example embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for retrieving a shellfish trap submerged in water 10. The apparatus 10 comprises an inflatable bladder 12 configured for attachment to a shellfish trap and a hoseline 14 connected to the inflatable bladder 12, wherein pumping air through the

2019200217 12 Jan 2019 hoseline 14 causes the inflatable bladder 12 to inflate and the shellfish trap to float towards a surface of the water.

[0030] More particularly, the hoseline 14 is sufficiently long such that when the inflatable bladder 12 is attached to a submerged shellfish trap resting on a seabed in a body of water the hoseline 14 extends from the inflatable bladder 12 all the way up to a surface of the water. The hoseline 14 may be flexible and be made of an extruded synthetic rubber or soft plastic material.

[0031] The end of the hoseline 14 that is proximal to the inflatable bladder 12 may extend into the inflatable bladder 12 via an aperture formed at a lower end of the inflatable bladder 12. The hoseline 14 may be sealedly retained within the aperture using a cylindrical coupling nut 15. One or more rubber gaskets (not shown) may also be provided with the coupling nut 15 to provide a watertight fit between the hoseline 14 and the aperture.

[0032] The end of the hoseline 14 that is remote from the inflatable bladder 12 may be configured such that it is connectable to an object floating on the surface of the water such as a buoy or float. For example, referring to Figure 2 the apparatus 10 is shown with a spherical float 16 attached to the end of the hoseline 14. The float 16 may be constructed using a buoyant material such as foam or hollow plastic.

[0033] Referring to Figure 3, the float 16 may comprise an elongate aperture 18 that extends centrally through the float 16 from a lower end 20 to an upper end 22 of the float

16. The aperture 18 is configured to receive the hoseline 14 which extends through the entire longitudinal length of the aperture 18 and out of the upper end 22. The terminal end of the hoseline 14 that protrudes from the upper end 22 of the float 16 may comprise a valve 24 configured to enable air to be pumped into the hoseline 14 using a pump device without escaping.

[0034] The valve 24 may comprise a self-contained valve stem which is configured to open automatically and admit gas into the hoseline 14 when air is pumped into the valve 24 and automatically close when the pump is withdrawn. For example, the valve 24 may

2019200217 12 Jan 2019 be similar in construction to a bicycle tire or inner tube valve such as a Schrader, Presta or Dunlop-type valve.

[0035] Referring to Figure 1, the inflatable bladder 12 may comprise at least one buoyancy aid 26 that may be attached to the inflatable bladder 12 via a short tether 28. The buoyancy aid 26 may be made of foam, cork or similar buoyant material and provides that the inflatable bladder 12 is kept suspended above the shellfish trap in the water when the inflatable bladder 12 is deflated so that it does not get tangled or interfere with the shellfish trap resting on the seabed. Further, the buoyancy aid 26 may be attached to a topmost end of the inflatable bladder 12 which provides that the inflatable bladder 12 is held upright in the water away from the shellfish trap.

[0036] The apparatus 10 may also comprise a clip 30 for attaching the inflatable bladder 12 to the shellfish trap. The clip 30 may be disposed at the end of a strap, line or cord 32 that extends from a lower end of the inflatable bladder 12. The clip 30 may comprise a carabiner, dog clip or similar releasable clip assembly configured such that the clip 30 may be releasably attached to a part of the shellfish trap such as a lifting handle of the trap.

[0037] The inflatable bladder 12 may also comprise an air release valve 34 for deflating the inflatable bladder 12 when the shellfish trap has floated to the surface of the water and has been retrieved. For example, the air release valve 34 may comprise a plastic plug that seals a further aperture in the lower end of the inflatable bladder 12 that may be pulled out to allow the air to escape. A plastic cord or retainer (not shown) may extend from the plug to the inflatable bladder 12 which keeps the plug connected to the inflatable bladder 12 when the plug is removed so that it does not get lost.

[0038] In use, the apparatus 10 may be used with a variety of different submersible shellfish traps. For example, referring to Figure 4 the apparatus 10 may be used with a lobster or crayfish trap 36 of the type that comprises a chamber constructed of wire, wood, metal, rope netting or rigid plastic that rests on the seabed 38.

[0039] To set and lay the trap 36, the trap 36 is baited and the inflatable bladder 12 may be attached to a lifting handle 40 of the trap 36 in its deflated state. The trap 36 may then be placed into the water and lowered to the seabed 38 using either the hoseline 14 or a separate rope or line that may be connected to the trap 36. The float 16 is also

2019200217 12 Jan 2019 lowered into the water which floats on the water surface 42 with the hoseline 14 extending from the float 16 down towards the inflatable bladder 12 on the seabed 38.

[0040] When the trap 36 is resting on the seabed 38, the buoyancy aid 26 that is attached to the inflatable bladder 12 advantageously ensures that the inflatable bladder 12 and hoseline 14 are held above the trap 36 so that they do not get tangled or interfere with the trap 36 or its connected tackle.

[0041] When the trap 36 subsequently needs to be retrieved from the seabed 38, compressed air may be pumped into the hoseline 14 via the value 24 at the top of the float 16 using a pump device, such as a mechanically operated or electric hand pump, to inflate the inflatable bladder 12. As illustrated in Figure 5, this causes the inflatable bladder 12 and the trap 36 to rise towards the water surface 42 where it may then be retrieved.

[0042] The apparatus 10 advantageously enables the trap 36 to be recovered without any strenuous physical exertion which mitigates the risk of the operator incurring personal injury. The apparatus 10 also removes the risk of tackle snags and tangles that can occur when pulling up the trap 36 using a rope or line. The hoseline 14 advantageously ensures that the trap 36 appears on the water surface close to the float 16 so that the trap 36 may be located and lifted out of the water easily.

[0043] For the purpose of this specification, the word “comprising” means “including but not limited to”, and the word comprises has a corresponding meaning.

[0044] The above embodiments have been described by way of example only and modifications are possible within the scope of the claims that follow.

Claims

1. An apparatus for retrieving a shellfish trap submerged in water, the apparatus comprising:

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hoseline extends to the surface of the water.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the hoseline is configured for connection to an object floating on the surface of the water.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the hoseline is connectable to a floating buoy.

5. The apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the apparatus further comprises a float comprising an elongate aperture extending between first and second ends of the float that is configured to receive the hoseline.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the elongate aperture extends between a lower and an upper end of the float.

7. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an end of the hoseline that is remote from the inflatable bladder comprises a valve configured such that air may be pumped into the end of the hoseline without escaping.

8. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inflatable bladder comprises at least one buoyancy aid attached to the inflatable bladder

2019200217 12 Jan 2019 for keeping the inflatable bladder suspended above the shellfish trap in the water when the inflatable bladder is deflated.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the buoyancy aid is attached to a topmost end of the inflatable bladder.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the buoyancy aid is attached to the inflatable bladder via a tether that extends from the inflatable bladder.

11. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus further comprises a clip for attaching the inflatable bladder to the shellfish trap.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the clip is releasably attachable to the shellfish trap.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the clip is releasably attachable to a lifting handle of the shellfish trap.

14. The apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the apparatus further comprises a cord extending from the inflatable bladder, wherein the clip is attached to an end of the cord.

15. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inflatable bladder further comprises an air release valve for deflating the inflatable bladder.

16. A method for laying and retrieving a shellfish trap, the method comprising: attaching an inflatable bladder to the shellfish trap;

placing the shellfish trap into water and allowing the shellfish trap to sink; and

2019200217 12 Jan 2019 subsequently inflating the inflatable bladder causing the shellfish trap to float towards a surface of the water for retrieval.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the method further comprises pumping air into the inflatable bladder via a hoseline connected to the inflatable bladder.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the method further comprises connecting an end of the hoseline that is remote from the inflatable bladder to an object floating on a surface of the water before inflating the inflatable bladder.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the method further comprises feeding the end of the hoseline through an elongate aperture in the object floating on the surface of the water.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the method further comprises pumping air into the end of the hoseline from a topmost surface of the object floating on the surface of the water to inflate the inflatable bladder.