AU2021221603A1

AU2021221603A1 - An offshore fish pen

Info

Publication number: AU2021221603A1
Application number: AU2021221603A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jörg Baumeister; Yunil CHU; Chien Ming Wang
Original assignee: Blue Economy Crc Co Ltd
Current assignee: Blue Economy Crc Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-07-23
Filing date: 2021-08-25
Publication date: 2023-02-16
Also published as: WO2023000042A1

Abstract

AN OFFSHORE FISH PEN ABSTRACT A fish pen frame for offshore aquaculture is described, the fish pen frame including: one or more connectors for connecting to buoyancy elements; one or more coupler elements for coupling to cooperating coupling elements on fish pen modules; and a fish enclosure operatively connected to the frame assembly. There is also described an offshore fish pen including: a buoyancy assembly for floating in a surface region of an offshore water body; a frame operatively mounted on the buoyancy assembly, at least a portion of the the frame disposed above the water surface; and one or more fish enclosures operatively connected to the frame assembly. There is still further described an offshore fish pen including: a buoyancy assembly for floating in a surface region of an offshore water body; a frame operatively mounted on the buoyancy assembly, at least a portion of the the frame disposed above the water surface; and one or more fish enclosures operatively connected to the frame assembly wherein the frame and/or the fish enclosures are operatively mounted to move between an upper position in which the frame and/or the one or more fish enclosures are disposed in a position adjacent the water surface, and a lower position in which the frame and/or the one or more fish enclosures are disposed below the water surface, up to about 15m. 90 18 42 4735 51 49 r 17 5t 92 44 30 34 32 79 61F50 55 65 (60 63 64 62 Figure 3

Description

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AN OFFSHORE FISH PEN

Technical Field

1. The present technology relates generally to offshore fish pens.

Background Art

2. Wild-caught fish have dominated seafood supplies, but the practises are becoming unsustainable. Ninety per cent of wild caught species are already overfished or fully fished, with no potential for increases in production.

3. Farmed fish is projected to increase its market growth in supplying the world's protein requirements.

4. To date, marine fish pens are disposed in coastal regions, which is to say in bays, and in any event, inshore (meaning close to shore). Generally speaking, known fish pens are often disposed within 20km of a shoreline. Inshore locations help to keep stock transport, stock feeding, and pen maintenance costs to a sustainable level.

5. Furthermore, inshore currents are low, winds are low, wave heights and sea conditions are manageable. Forces on the pens in adverse weather conditions are manageable. Thus, installation costs are low, and material requirements such as anchor lines and mooring bases, are low.

6. While these features are advantageous, a feature of inshore fishing is necessarily reduced space, resulting in cramped conditions for the fish in the pens. Diseases such as fish lice and Amoebic Gill Disease (AGD) can rapidly spread through the crowded fish pens. Biowaste builds up in the inshore region, and is difficult to remove, adding to further environmental stress, and further reducing the fish stocking efficiency of the location.

7. Moving the fish pens offshore has been proposed as an alternative to inshore fish pens. The offshore region is roughly characterised by four features: 1) an unsheltered site which is at least 3km seaward of the shoreline but within the EEZ; (2) water depth greater than 50m; (3) current speeds between 0.1m/s to 1.5m/s; and (4) significant wave heights exceeding 3m.

8. Another feature of the offshore region is that is also presents marked layers of water at different current speeds, temperature, oxygen content, and salinity.

9. While the offshore location does alleviate some of the above mentioned issues, it can present other difficulties. For example, while a deeper site allows a greater volume of water in which to farm fish, the forces in such large structures are far greater than those encountered in inshore pens. Coupled with the greater masses of the structures, the six degrees of movement: heave, surge, sway, pitch, roll, and yaw are all much larger and more unpredictable, because of the much larger currents and waveforms.

10. The fish in the offshore pens can be less cramped, but the increased currents and exposed offshore conditions do tend to increase the exercise required of a fish, when compared to inshore locations. So, while disease-causing vectors like amoeba and lice may not be as prevalent, the tired fish may be more susceptible to the pathogens if they are encountered.

11. Thus, while offshore fish pens may not be a panacea for all inshore pen deficiencies, it is considered that it can provide several improvements over inshore methods.

12. Some offshore pens have been proposed, which take advantage of the larger volumes available in deeper water. The structures have become large and unwieldy. They are also generally toroidal in form, which presents difficulties for the mooring system in regions of high offshore waves and currents.

13. The present technology seeks to ameliorate one or more of the above mentioned disadvantages, or at least provide a useful alternative to known fish pens.

Summary of Invention

14. Broadly, the present technology provides a modular offshore fish enclosure.

15. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a fish pen for offshore aquaculture, the fish pen including: one or more fish pen modules including: a buoyancy assembly; a frame operatively connected to the buoyancy assembly; a fish enclosure operatively connected to the frame wherein the frame includes coupler elements to couple with cooperating coupler elements disposed on like frames or buoyancy assemblies.

16. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a fish pen frame for offshore aquaculture, the fish pen frame including: one or more connectors for connecting to buoyancy elements; one or more coupler elements for coupling to cooperating coupling elements on fish pen modules; and a fish enclosure operatively connected to the frame assembly.

17. In accordance with a yet further aspect of the present invention there is provided a fish pen module for offshore aquaculture, the fish pen module including: a buoyancy assembly; and a frame operatively connected to the buoyancy assembly, the frame including: one or more connectors for connecting to buoyancy elements; and one or more coupler elements for coupling to cooperating coupling elements on fish pen modules; and a fish enclosure operatively connected to the frame assembly.

18. Embodiment 1 - gantry structure above water

19. In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided an offshore fish pen including: a buoyancy assembly for floating in a surface region of an offshore water body; a frame operatively mounted on the buoyancy assembly, at least a portion of the the frame disposed above the water surface; and one or more fish enclosures operatively connected to the frame assembly.

20. The arrangement of the offshore fish pen is such that, disposed on the frame is elevated working and maintenance equipment, and one or more elevated working areas. These are provided so that the fish enclosures can be safely and readily maintained, and the fish in the enclosures can be readily and safely fed, and like operations conducted, clear of waves and rolling sea, and all while the fish in the enclosures are safely contained under the ocean wave surfaces.

21. Embodiment 2 - enclosures movable below waves

22. In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided an offshore fish pen including: a buoyancy assembly for floating in a surface region of an offshore water body; a frame operatively mounted on the buoyancy assembly, at least a portion of the the frame disposed above the water surface; and one or more fish enclosures operatively connected to the frame assembly wherein the frame and/or the fish enclosures are operatively mounted to move between an upper position in which the frame and/or the one or more fish enclosures are disposed in a position adjacent the water surface, and a lower position in which the frame and/or the one or more fish enclosures are disposed below the water surface, up to about 5 40m.

23. The arrangement of the offshore fish pen is such that, the frame and/or fish enclosures can selectively access relatively calmer waters when required, or at least waters of different characteristics, at different times, including zones of different water temperature, or current, or light level, depending on need and desirability.

24. Buoyancy assembly

25. In one embodiment the buoyancy assembly includes one or more buoyant elements which facilitate flotation in water.

26. In one embodiment the one or more buoyant elements include an element constructed from one or more buoyant materials such as wood or HDPE.

27. In one embodiment the one or more buoyant elements include a rigid hollow element.

28. In one embodiment the one or more buoyant elements includes a flexible hollow element.

29. In one embodiment the buoyant element is elongate.

30. In one embodiment the buoyant element is in the form of a collar.

31. In one embodiment the buoyant assembly includes a plurality of elongate buoyant elements.

32. In one embodiment the one or more buoyant elements are of fixed buoyancy.

33. In one embodiment the one or more buoyant elements are of variable buoyancy.

34. In one embodiment the buoyancy assembly includes depth indicators.

35. In one embodiment the one or more buoyant elements include depth indicators.

36. In one embodiment the one or more buoyant elements include depth sensors.

37. In one embodiment the collar extends at least partially around an upper portion of the frame.

38. In one embodiment the buoyant assembly includes a plurality of buoyant bodies in the form of blocks, rectangular prisms, tubes and other suitable body shapes for holding the frame and fish enclosure near the water surface.

39. In one embodiment the buoyant elements or bodies include inlets and outlets for receiving and releasing gas and/or liquid. The gas may be from a compressor or compressed source of gas to vary their buoyancy; the liquid may be from the surrounding offshore water.

40. In one embodiment the depth indicators are pivotally connected to the frame such that they extend vertically when the frame is disposed in the descended position and they lie horizontally when the frame is disposed in the ascended position.

41. Frame - sea dipper

42. In one embodiment the frame includes one or more gantries for supporting elevated working areas and/or machine or infrastructure or services mounts clear of ocean waves.

43. The gantries may be in any suitable form - such as for example, a catenary, an arch, a semicircle, an A-frame or like form which provides elevation above the waves. The gantries may be in the form of trusses or prefabricated wall elements tilted into position to form a working platform for services well (about 1Om) above the ocean waves.

44. In one embodiment the one or more gantries include upwardly-extending legs mounted on a portion or element of the buoyancy assembly and a connecting overhead bridge element extending between the legs.

45. In one embodiment the elevated working area includes a working platform operatively or otherwise connected to the gantry.

46. In one embodiment the frame includes one or more mounts for mounting on the buoyancy assembly.

47. In one embodiment the frame includes one or more elevated working areas for working clear of ocean waves.

48. Frame - couplers

49. To effect the coupling of the frame elements together to form a larger, modular fish pen, there are provided coupling elements on portions of the frame.

50. In one embodiment the coupling elements are self-aligning.

51. In one embodiment the coupling elements include damping material such as rubber fenders.

52. In one embodiment the coupling elements include male and female elements to interconnect.

53. In one embodiment the coupling elements are substantially those described in patent publication W02012026883 the contents of which are disclosed in full in this specification by the reference to it now.

54. In one embodiment the male element includes a resilient coating such as rubber.

55. In one embodiment there is provided a coupling plate on one frame element which includes one male element and one female element.

56. Gantry crane

57. In one embodiment the operative connection to the working platform includes a carriage for moving along the overhead bridge element of the gantry.

58. In one embodiment the operative connection to the working platform includes a crane winch for raising and lowering the working platform from the overhead bridge element of the gantry.

59. In one embodiment the or each module includes a rail which facilitates connection to other rails disposed on other modules, in use for the gantry carriage to extend along from one module to another, carrying the working platform from one end or side or zone of the offshore fish pen to another.

60. In one embodiment the carriage includes onboard power.

61. In one embodiment the onboard power is a supercapacitor.

62. In one embodiment the rail provides power to the carriage at discrete stations or from a live rail.

63. In one embodiment there are services provided and operatively or otherwise mounted to the gantry, including power services, including power storage, power distribution and/or power generation services.

64. In one embodiment the power generation services include electrical generators and distributors of electrical power including solar panels, and/or wind turbines, batteries and/or other onboard power storage elements.

65. In one embodiment the frame includes a dock for docking a supply vessel.

66. In one embodiment the gantry includes a davit for loading and unloading feed and equipment from a docked vessel.

67. In one embodiment the gantry includes lights.

68. In one embodiment the power services power the crane winches and carriages.

69. Fish enclosure

70. In one embodiment the fish enclosure includes one or more layers of material, which may be flexible, in the form of netting, mesh, membrane.

71. In one embodiment the fish enclosure includes rigid material including a tank, including one of concrete, thermoset polymer, moulded polymer, or other kind of suitable tank material.

72. In one embodiment there are two layers provided, and one may be separated from the other by a selected or predetermined separation distance. The separation distance may be variable, or it may be fixed.

73. In one embodiment the enclosure is in the form of two nets, to inhibit predator attack and to inhibit fish escape.

74. In one embodiment the one or more layers of material provide enclosure walls, a base, and a top closure.

75. In one embodiment there is provided a ring weight to weigh down the flexible material to form a fish enclosure of a selected or predetermined volume.

76. In one embodiment there is provided a substantially impermeable membrane as a base wall to collect waste.

77. In one embodiment there is provided a vacuum cleaning system for removing waste from the enclosures.

78. In one embodiment there is provided a bathing system for the fish, which includes a pump and a pipe system, to draw fish from the enclosure, so as to move them into a bathing reservoir.

79. In one embodiment the bathing system includes a bathing reservoir.

80. In one embodiment the bathing reservoir includes a fresh water inlet.

81. In one embodiment the bathing reservoir includes a water inlet from outside the fish enclosure.

82. In one embodiment the module includes a robotic cleaning brush for removing biowaste and feed and other marine organism buildup from the enclosure material.

83. In one embodiment there is provided one or more automated feeding systems mounted on the gantry.

84. In one embodiment the automated feeding systems include pipes and manifolds for distributing the feed to different parts of the enclosure.

85. In one embodiment one or more modules includes a deflector mounted on the frame for deflecting ocean-going predators or refuse including containers and flotsam.

86. In one embodiment the module includes a floating platform for anchoring or mooring. The floating platform may include services such as onboard power storage or generation and like useful systems to support the one or more modules.

87. In one embodiment the floating platform includes one or more lines extending to the module frames, and one or more lines extending to mooring systems on the sea floor.

88. Frame - Embodiment 2 - enclosures movable below waves

89. In one embodiment the frame is configured to be at least partially disposed in the upper layer of the ocean at all times. In this embodiment the frame is movable to a descended position, below the surge and heave and other effects, when strong ocean waves are predicted or actually incident on the fish pen.

90. In one embodiment the frame is operatively connected to a buoyancy assembly so that it moves between the elevated and descended positions. The stroke of the movement is approximately 15m, but it may be 3m, 4m, 5m, 6m, 7m, 8m, 9m, 1Om, 11m,12m, 13m or 14m.

91. The downward movement to the descended position is facilitated by reducing the buoyancy of the buoyancy assembly by flooding at least a portion of the buoyant elements with water.

Brief Description of Drawings

92. To enable a better understanding of the technology, embodiments will now be described in detail, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

93. Figure 1 is a plan view schematic diagram of a fish pen having six modules, which is a first embodiment of the present invention;

94. Figure 2 is a side elevation schematic view of the fish pen shown in Figure 1;

95. Figure 3 is a lateral cross section view of the fish pen shown in Figure 1;

96. Figure 4 is a plan view schematic diagram of a different structural arrangement of fish pen, also having six modules, in accordance with another embodiment of the present technology;

97. Figure 5 is a longitudinal section view of the fish pen of Figure 4, shown in a lowered or descended position;

98. Figure 6 is a longitudinal section view of the fish pen of Figure 4, shown in a raised or elevated position;

99. Figure 7 is a lateral cross section view of the fish pen of Figure 4, shown in a lowered or descended position;

100. Figure 8 is a lateral cross section view of the fish pen of Figure 4, shown in a raised or elevated position;

101. Figure 9 is a plan view schematic of a main portion of the fish pen of either of the arrangements of Figure 1 or 4, having 20 modules, being in a 10 x 2 arrangement and showing the flow of water and nutrients possible through the flexible walls of the fish enclosures of each module;

102. Figure 10 is a perspective view of the fish pen of the type shown in Figure 1, shown with six modules;

103. Figure 11 shows a perspective view of two fish pens side by side, of the type shown in Figure 4, shown with six modules each, and in which one is shown in a descended position and the other one shown in an ascended position;

104. Figure 12 is a perspective view of a coupling contemplated to be mounted on a frame element and/or a buoyancy element, for coupling with other elements on the pen;

105. Figure 13 is four section views of the coupling element of Figure 12 showing engagement in progress, from left to right;

106. Figure 14 is an isometric render of a semi-submersible fish pen support module to support the pen shown in Figures 4 to 8; and

107. Figure 15 is a side elevation view of the semi-submersible support module shown in Figure 14.

Description of Embodiments

108. Turning to the Figures, a modular offshore fish pen is shown disposed in an offshore

marine environment 5. There is a first embodiment of fish pen generally indicated at 10 (Figures 1, 2, 3 and 10). There is a second embodiment of fish pen, generally indicated at 110 (Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 11). In the two embodiments shown, like features will be indicated with like numerals, just as has been shown (10, 110 being the most general case).

109. Embodiment 1 - gantry structure above water

110. So, in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 10, there is shown a fish pen for offshore aquaculture, the fish pen generally indicated at 10 and including six modules 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16. The modules are aligned longitudinally, which has advantages in that modules 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 are protected from detritus carried by ocean currents, but it is to be understood that the modules could be aligned laterally, or in a ring, or in a cross-arrangement or some other arrangement. One such alternative arrangement is shown in Figure 9 which shows a pen generally indicated at 210 which has two rows of ten modules disposed side by side. In Figure 9, the modules are coupled together with couplings 20 disposed at the sides and at the front and back.

111. The fish pen 10 includes a buoyancy assembly 30, which includes one or more buoyant elements 32 which facilitate flotation in the offshore environment 5. The one or more buoyant elements 32 include rigid hollow elements 34. The purpose of the buoyant elements 32 is to maintain the fish pen 10 in position on the surface of the ocean 5. The buoyant elements 32 form a partial collar of discrete elements which extend along the sides 17 and 18 of the pen 10 to hold the fish pen 10 on the surface of the ocean 5.

112. The fish pen 10 further includes a frame 40 in the form of a gantry 42, connected to the buoyancy assembly 30. The gantry 42 is for supporting elevated working areas 44 and/or machine or infrastructure or services mounts (for example, solar panel and wind turbine mounts 46) well clear of ocean waves. The gantry 42 is shown to be, for efficiency, in the form of trusses 43. The gantry 42 also includes upwardly-extending legs 47, 48 mounted on a portion or element of the buoyancy assembly 30 and a connecting overhead bridge element 49 extending between the legs 47, 48.

113. The elevated working area 44 includes a working platform 50 operatively connected to the gantry via a gantry crane 51 in the form of a carriage 52 on a rail 53. The rail 53 facilitates connection to other rails 53 disposed on other modules, in use for the gantry carriage 52 to extend along from one module, say 11, to another, say 12, carrying the working platform 50 from one end or side 17 or zone of the offshore fish pen to the other side18. The crane 51 includes a winch (not shown) for lifting and lowering the working platform 50.

114. There is mounted to the frame 40 or the buoyancy assembly 30 a fish enclosure 60 for enclosing fish 2 to be farmed. The enclosure 60 includes one or more layers of flexible material 61, shown to be in the form of netting 62. The layer of flexible material 61 can include some portions which are closed, so that they are in the form of a membrane 63. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the base wall 64 is in the form of a membrane 63 to retain uneaten fish food and bio waste such as faecal matter for removal and recycling. Other arrangements are possible, including panels on walls to reduce the effect of currents and provide a little barrier to assist with respite for fish from exercising constantly in the current. In the fish pen 11 there are two layers provided 161 and 161A, and one may be separated from the other by a selected or predetermined separation distance. A ring weight 65 is provided to weigh down the flexible material 61 to form the fish enclosure 60 of a selected or predetermined volume.

115. To facilitate the modularity described in the specification, the frame includes coupler elements 70 to couple with cooperating coupler elements 72 disposed on like frames or buoyancy assemblies. The coupler elements 70, 72, are self-aligning and include damping material 73 such as rubber fenders 74. The coupling elements include male elements 75 and female elements 76 to interconnect. The coupling elements shown at 70, 72 are substantially similar to those described in patent publication W02012026883 the contents of which are disclosed in full in this specification by the reference to it now. For example, the male 75 and female 76 coupling elements may be in the form of a male D and a female V for ready interconnection from a misaligned position as shown in Figures 12 and 13.

116. There are services provided and operatively or otherwise mounted to the gantry 42, including power services 77, including power storage, power distribution and/or power generation 78 services. The power generation services 78 include electrical generators and distributors of electrical power including solar panels 82, and/or wind turbines 84, batteries and/or other onboard power storage elements (not shown).

117. The gantry 42 includes a dock 79 for docking a supply vessel 92. The gantry 42 also includes a davit 90 for loading and unloading feed and equipment from the docked vessel 92. The gantry 42 further includes lights 99.

118. The arrangement of the offshore fish pen shown at 10 is such that, working areas and equipment are provided well above any possible or likely offshore waves. Elevated working areas are useful since the power in the waves is high, and they are larger and travel faster than those inshore. When clear of the waves, the fish enclosures 60 can be safely and readily maintained, the fish in the enclosures can be readily and safely fed, and all this is achieved while the fish in the enclosures 60 are safely contained under the ocean wave surface.

119. Embodiment 2 - SeaFisher

120. Another embodiment of fish pen is generally indicated at 110. The embodiment has the same modularity that is provided by couplings 70, 72, but the frame 140 is not a gantry, but it is disposed substantially the entirety of its life underwater near the ocean surface, either in an elevated position proximal the surface (Figure 6) or in a descended position distal the surface by up to 15m (half the offshore wavelength, Figure 5).

121. Not only is the framework 140 different from (Embodiment 1 - gantry structure above water 10), but the buoyancy assembly 132 is also different. The buoyancy in the buoyancy assembly 32 (Embodiment 1 - gantry structureabove water 10) is fixed, but the buoyancy of the buoyancy assembly 132 of the Embodiment 2 - enclosures movable below waves - 110 is variable.

122. When the buoyancy in the buoyant elements 132 is varied by a controller, the frame 140 moves between the ascended position (Figure 6) and the descended position (Figure 5). Since the frame moves proximal and distal the surface of the ocean, there are provided buoyant depth indicators 145, which are hinged so as to be are pivotally connected to the frame such that they extend vertically when the frame is disposed in the descended position (Figure 5) and they lie horizontally when the frame is disposed in the ascended position (Figure 6).

123. The buoyant elements 132 are in the form of a collar 146 extending at least partially around an upper portion 148 of the frame 140. To change the buoyancy of the buoyant elements there are inlets and outlets (not shown) for receiving and releasing gas and/or liquid. The gas may be from a compressor or compressed source of gas to vary their buoyancy (disposed on floating platform 190); the liquid may be from the surrounding offshore water.

124. Embodiment 3 - SeaFisher with semi submersible platform

125. One component of embodiment two, may be a support module, and is generally indicated at 210. This component supports the embodiment shown in Figures 4 to 8 and the component provides a semi submersible platform assembly 240. The semi submersible platform 240 is configured to elevate the support platform 240 above the waves on columnar tubes 232 that are configured to provide ballast.

126. The semi submersible platform 240 includes wind turbines 284 and other control sheds 286. Other features described herein above are also included.

127. Advantages

128. The advantage of the offshore fish pen is such that, the frame and/or fish enclosures can selectively be elevated for increased water currents and maintenance when required, and also be lowered for to access relatively calmer waters below the ocean surface when required. The pens may access water layers of different characteristics, at different times, including zones of different water temperature, or current, or light level, depending on need and desirability.

129. Mooring

130. One or more modules 10, 110, include a deflector 95 mounted on the frame 42, 142 for deflecting ocean-going predators or refuse including containers and flotsam.

131. The modules 10, 110 also include a floating platform 94 for anchoring or mooring. The floating platform 94 may include services such as onboard power storage or generation and like useful systems to support the one or more modules.

132. The floating platform 94 includes one or more lines 93 extending to the module frames 42, 142, and one or more lines 92 extending to mooring systems on the sea floor.

Clarifications

133. It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 134. It is to be understood that any prior art practise or publication referred to herein does not constitute an admission that the practise or publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art. 135. In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

EDITORIAL NOTE 2021221603 Page 20 is not page numbered.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A fish pen for offshore aquaculture, the fish pen including: one or more fish pen modules including: a buoyancy assembly; a frame operatively connected to the buoyancy assembly; a fish enclosure operatively connected to the frame wherein the frame includes coupler elements to couple with cooperating coupler elements disposed on like frames or buoyancy assemblies.

2. A fish pen frame for offshore aquaculture, the fish pen frame including: one or more connectors for connecting to buoyancy elements; one or more coupler elements for coupling to cooperating coupling elements on fish pen modules; and a fish enclosure operatively connected to the frame assembly.

3. A fish pen module for offshore aquaculture, the fish pen module including: a buoyancy assembly; and a frame operatively connected to the buoyancy assembly, the frame including: one or more connectors for connecting to buoyancy elements; and one or more coupler elements for coupling to cooperating coupling elements on fish pen modules; and a fish enclosure operatively connected to the frame assembly.

4. An offshore fish pen including: a buoyancy assembly for floating in a surface region of an offshore water body; a frame operatively mounted on the buoyancy assembly, at least a portion of the the frame disposed above the water surface; and one or more fish enclosures operatively connected to the frame assembly.

5. The offshore fish pen in accordance with claim 4 wherein the frame and/or the fish enclosures are operatively mounted to move between an upper position in which the frame and/or the one or more fish enclosures are disposed in a position adjacent the water surface, and a lower position in which the frame and/or the one or more fish enclosures are disposed below the water surface, up to about 5m to 40m.

6. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the coupling elements are self-aligning.

7. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the coupling elements include damping material such as rubber fenders.

8. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the coupling elements include male and female elements to interconnect.

9. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the coupling elements include a male D and a female V for ready interconnection from a misaligned position.

10. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the male element includes a resilient coating such as rubber.

11. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein there is provided a coupling plate on one frame element which includes one male element and one female element.

12. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the buoyancy assembly includes one or more buoyant elements which facilitate flotation in water.

13. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims I to 12 wherein the one or more buoyant elements include an element constructed from one or more buoyant materials such as wood, or a rigid hollow element, or a flexible hollow element.

14. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims I to 13 wherein the buoyant element is elongate or in the form of a collar or includes a plurality of elongate buoyant elements.

15. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims I to 14 wherein the one or more buoyant elements are of fixed buoyancy or of variable buoyancy.

16. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein the buoyancy assembly includes depth indicators.

17. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 16 wherein the buoyant elements or bodies include inlets and outlets for receiving and releasing gas and/or liquid.

18. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims I to 17 wherein the depth indicators are pivotally connected to the frame such that they extend vertically when the frame is disposed in the descended position and they lie horizontally when the frame is disposed in the ascended position.

19. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 18 wherein the frame includes one or more gantries for supporting elevated working areas and/or machine or infrastructure or services mounts clear of ocean waves.

20. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 19 wherein the gantries are in the form of a catenary, an arch, a semicircle, an A-frame or like form, or trusses or prefabricated wall elements tilted into position to form a working platform for services about 1Om above the ocean waves.

21. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 20 wherein the one or more gantries include upwardly-extending legs mounted on a portion or element of the buoyancy assembly and a connecting overhead bridge element extending between the legs.

22. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 21 wherein the elevated working area includes a working platform operatively or otherwise connected to the gantry.

23. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims I to 22 wherein the frame includes one or more elevated working areas for working clear of ocean waves.

24. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 23 wherein the operative connection to the working platform includes a carriage for moving along the overhead bridge element of the gantry.

25. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 24 wherein the operative connection to the working platform includes a crane winch for raising and lowering the working platform from the overhead bridge element of the gantry.

26. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 25 wherein the or each module includes a rail which facilitates connection to other rails disposed on other modules, in use for the gantry carriage to extend along from one module to another, carrying the working platform from one end or side or zone of the offshore fish pen to another.

27. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 26 wherein the carriage includes onboard power.

28. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 27 wherein the onboard power is a supercapacitor.

29. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 28 wherein the rail provides power to the carriage at discrete stations or from a live rail.

30. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 29 wherein there are services provided and operatively or otherwise mounted to the gantry, including power services, including power storage, power distribution and/or power generation services.

31. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 30 wherein the power generation services include electrical generators and distributors of electrical power including solar panels, and/or wind turbines, batteries and/or other onboard power storage elements.

32. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 31 wherein the frame includes a dock for docking a supply vessel.

33. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims I to 32 wherein the gantry includes a davit for loading and unloading feed and equipment from a docked vessel.

34. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 33 wherein the gantry includes lights.

35. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 34 wherein the power services provide power to the crane winches and carriages.

36. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 35 wherein the fish enclosure includes one or more layers of material, which may be flexible, in the form of netting, mesh, membrane.

37. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 36 wherein the fish enclosure includes rigid material including a tank, including one of concrete, thermoset polymer, moulded polymer, or other kind of suitable tank material.

38. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims I to 37 wherein there are two layers provided, and one may be separated from the other by a selected or predetermined separation distance.

39. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 37 wherein the separation distance is variable.

40. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 39 wherein the enclosure is in the form of two nets, to inhibit predator attack and to inhibit fish escape.

41. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims I to 40 wherein the one or more layers of material provide enclosure walls, a base, and a top closure.

42. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims I to 41 wherein there is provided a ring weight to weigh down the flexible material to form a fish enclosure of a selected or predetermined volume.

43. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims I to 42 wherein there is provided a substantially impermeable membrane as a base wall to collect waste.

44. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 43 wherein there is provided a vacuum cleaning system for removing waste from the enclosures.

45. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 44 wherein there is provided a bathing system for the fish, which includes a pump and a pipe system, to draw fish from the enclosure, so as to move them into a bathing reservoir.

46. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 45 wherein the bathing system includes a bathing reservoir.

47. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 46 wherein the bathing reservoir includes a fresh water inlet.

48. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 47 wherein the bathing reservoir includes a water inlet from outside the fish enclosure.

49. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 48 wherein the module includes a robotic cleaning brush for removing bio-waste and feed and other marine organism buildup from the enclosure material.

50. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 49 wherein there is provided one or more automated feeding systems mounted on the gantry.

51. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 50 wherein the automated feeding systems include pipes and manifolds for distributing the feed to different parts of the enclosure.

52. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 51 wherein one or more modules includes a deflector mounted on the frame for deflecting ocean-going predators or refuse including containers and heavy flotsam and jetsam.

53. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims I to 52 wherein the module includes a floating platform for anchoring or mooring.

54. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 53 wherein the floating platform includes services such as onboard power storage or generation and like useful systems to support the one or more modules.

55. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 54 wherein the floating platform includes one or more lines extending to the module frames, and one or more lines extending to mooring systems on the sea floor.

56. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 55 wherein the frame is configured to be at least partially disposed in the upper layer of the ocean at all times.

57. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 56 wherein the frame is movable to a descended position, below the surge and heave and other effects, for protection when strong ocean waves are predicted or actually incident on the fish pen.

58. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 57 wherein the frame is operatively connected to a buoyancy assembly so that it moves between the elevated and descended positions.

59. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 58 wherein the stroke of the movement between elevated and descended positions is approximately 15m.

60. The fish pen, module or fish pen frame in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 59 wherein the stroke is 3m, 4m, 5m, 6m, 7m, 8m, 9m, 1Om, 11m,12m, 13m or 14m.