CA2310163A1

CA2310163A1 - Artificial seaweed bed

Info

Publication number: CA2310163A1
Application number: CA002310163A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Seiji Kikuchi
Original assignee: TOKYO OFFICE SERVICE Ltd
Current assignee: TOKYO OFFICE SERVICE Ltd
Priority date: 2000-01-14
Filing date: 2000-05-30
Publication date: 2001-07-14
Also published as: JP2001190177A

Abstract

The object of the invention is to provide an artificial seaweed bed with tide and scour resistance, and is used for a long period of time. An artificial seaweed bed installed at any depth of water is submerged at a distance close enough from the water surface to enable photosynthesis and brings good results in fish gathering.
An artificial seaweed bed submerged in water at a distance close enough from the water surface to enable photosynthesis forms a fishing bank. An artificial seaweed bed is comprised of a floating object 2 with cordage 7 extending from it to tie it to weights 5 installed at the bottom of the sea GL. Artificial seaweed 3 is comprised of numerous fronds 3a implanted on a floating object 2.

Description

ARTIFICIAL QED BED
Technical field to which the invention pertains The invention is directed to the artificial seaweed bed installed at the distance close to the water surface to enable photosynthesis. The multi-purpose seaweed bed provides marine life with food source and fry rearing base, also marine plants grown on the artificial seaweed is effectively utilized as food and medicine.
Prior art Prior art undersea structure using artificial seaweed element was invented by the present inventor as is seen in the Patent Publication Nos. 2634660, 2697784, 2726115, and so on.
The present inventor also proposes in the Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-237843 the reticular solid structure using artificial seaweed for use as fishing grounds.
Usually artificial fishing banks are made utilizing concrete, waste plastics and tires.
However it was not possible to uplift fishing banks from the bottom of the sea by the conventional art. The heavy constructions either fell down by scouring of the seabed or sank to the bottom due to the heavy weight. To maintain the stable condition of the prior fishing banks for a long time was extremely di~cult.
Though a scrapped ship is also used as a fishing bank, it only suite in the deep sea but not in the shallow water.
With the artificial seaweed, the inventor presents in the Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-111658 installation of a fishing bank 20 - 40m below sea level surrounded by a frame structure to protect the undersea environment. The inventor's presentation made it possible to place an artificial fishing bank in rather shallow depth of water, which was not able by the conventional art. The inventor's further study lead to the result that a fishing bank can be constructed in any place, any depth, or any water where there is a favorable environment as a fishing bank, i.e., 5 - lOm below sea level with good water visibility for photosynthesis. Now the depth-adjustable seaweed bed is installed in any water depending on the purpose of the installation.
Problems to,be solved by the invention As can be seen in the foregoing, the object of the invention is to offer an effective fishing bank by a depth-adjustable seaweed bed to enable photosynthesis, which is both scour and current resistant.
Means for solving the problem Hence, an artificial seaweed bed to form a fishing place comprised of a floating object with cordage, pole, or other structures extending from it to tie it to weights installed at the bottom of the sea is submerged at a distance close enough from the water surface to enable photosynthesis. Numerous fronds are implanted on the floating object to form an artificial seaweed bed.
In accordance with the present invention, an artificial seaweed bed submerged in water with artificial seaweed implanted on it for the formation of a fishing bank.
The artificial seaweed bed is comprised of a floating object with the first cordage extending from it to tie it to weights installed at the bottom of the sea. Numerous fronds are implanted on the floating object, which is submerged at a distance close enough from the water surface to enable photosynthesis.
In accordance with the present invention, an artificial seaweed bed submerged in water with artificial seaweed implanted on it for the formation of a fishing bank is comprised of floating objects with cordage extending from it to tie it to weights installed at the bottom of the sea. Each floating object is in parallel with the other and has a pair of floats tied to it. The floating unit is submerged at a distance close enough from the water surface to enable photosynthesis.

Aforementioned possible depth for photosynthesis means generally about 5 - lOm below the sea level but it depends on the water visibility.
Consequently, the fishing bank with use of the present invention creates a new fishing ground in the appropriate depth for photosynthesis, 5 - lOm from the water surface.
Natural seaweed and seagrass grow on the artificial seaweed and provide food source and habitat for marine life.
Furthermore, spores of natural seaweed stuck to the artificial seaweed grow on it and make it longer in length. The result contributes to broaden the total area as a fishing bed.
The present invention needs no solid construction installed in the seabed. The flexible seaweed bed waves in the sea that causes neither change in the tides or any scouring occurs.
Embodiment of the invention Referring to the drawings, following are embodiments of the present invention.
FIG 1 is the first embodiment of the present invention. The whole structure of an artificial seaweed bed 1 is comprised of a pair of block weights 5, 5, first pair of cordage 7, 7, box-shaped floating object 2, artificial seaweed 3, second cordage 8 and a buoy 10.
A pair of weight 5, 5, are block anchors made of concrete or metal, and are installed in the seabed to fasten an artificial seaweed bed 1.
The first pair of cordage 7 are made of metal chain or waterproof rope, fastened one end to weight 5 and the other end to a floating object 2 so that a floating object stays in a certain depth of water. A pair of weights 5 and cordage 7 can be multiplied depending on the size of floating object 2 and its buoyancy.
A floating object 2 is a box-shaped abject made of buoyant material such as Styrofoam worked in FRP processing to reinforce the strength and endurance. The buoyancy of the object uplifts the first pair of cordage ?, ?, and an artificial seaweed 3 to the direction of water surface.
The preferred material of frond 3a is ribbon-shape polypropylene, for example, with the gravity level 0.1 -0.4, which is non-toxic and seawater-resistant. One end of each multiple frond 3a is clipped to the surface of a floating object 2. The suggested installation method of frond 3 to a floating object 2 is described in the Patent Publication No. 269?784, however, other publicly known installation method can be used as well.
The second cordage 8 is also made of seawater-resistant rope, one end fixed to a floating object 2 and the other end to a buoy 10. A buoy 10 is made of buoyant material shaped as a marker with an appropriate function.
When installing the aforementioned artificial seaweed bed 1, the prior investigation of the depth and the visibility of water are necessary. On the basis of the result of the investigation, the whole device can be prepared in advance. Preparing a floating object so that it stays 5 - lOm under the sea level, and then carry to a certain place in the ship and sink in the sea. If the visibility and the depth from the sea level is not appropriate, the depth of a floating object 2 is adjusted by the first cordage ?.
Another embodiments of the installation of an artificial seaweed bed using a pillar and structures instead of cordage are shown in FIG. 2, to 4. FIG. 2 is an embodiment of a floating object 2E using iron pole 7E. FIG. 3 is a floating object 2F
supported by iron structure 7F.. Waste plastic material ?G is also used as is shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is an embodiment of the installation of an artificial seaweed bed lA
comprised of a floating object 2A with floats 10A, 10B tied to a floating object by means of the second cordage 8A, 8A. When buoyancy of a floating object is not enough, in case when water plants luxury grow on an artificial seaweed, a heavy floating object 2A is supported by floats l0A and lOB. A float l0A also has a function as a buoy. two 5As are weights, two 7As are cordage. The operation and effect of the whole device lA is just same as in the FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is an embodiment of mufti-layer artificial seaweed beds. Each floating object 2B and 2C with artificial seaweed 3B is tied with cordage 8B and is in parallel with the other. Floats are attached to each floating object 2B and 2C. The floating 2B
(C) can be laid more than two, i.e., three, four, or more layers for an effective use.
The lower floats 21A, 21A are tied to a floating object 2B by cordage 21, 21, the upper float 20A and 20B are fixed to a floating object 2C by cordage 8C, 8C. Total 4 floats, 21A, 21A, 20A, 20B, support the whole artificial seaweed device with their buoyancy. A
float 20A has a function as a buoy. Two 5Bs are weights, two 7Bs are cordage..
Compared to the examples shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, the aforementioned mufti-layer artificial seaweed beds 1B can be used twice as much in its effectiveness as the surface area is simply twice than one level seaweed bed. Moreover, the length of seaweed frond 3B is made to fit the layer unit, fronds 3B, natural seaweed and sea grass grow on it do not entangle with one another. Though large-size natural seaweed does not grow well on the middle and lower seaweed bed, the mufti-layer seaweed beds are expected to achieve good results as fishing grounds. Not only surface fish but also midwater fish or demersal fish gather around this mufti-layer seaweed bed.
FIG.7 is an embodiment that presents the effectiveness of the present invention. A
floating object 2D with frond 3C implanted on it is submerged 1 - 2m from the bottom GL of 5m depth of water. Natural ribbon weed K grows on fond 3C droop to the seabed and eventually sea urchin U and abalone shell live on it. Natural ribbon weed continue growing by metabolism even when the sea urchin U and abalone shell feed on top part of it. They do not creep up to the root of natural ribbon weed to eat it up which cause no harm to ribbon weed and that a fishing bed is protected. Sea urchin climbed a floating object 2D mostly drop through a mesh of a net of 2D.
Advantageous effect of the invention Operation and Effect of the present invention are listed below.
(1) With the present invention, a fishing ground is newly formed in the circumstances where natural seaweed or sea grass grow on artificial seaweed bed which is installed within 5 - lOm from the water surface to enable photosynthesis.
(2) The present invention enabled to form a fishing ground in any depth of water or even off the coast.
(3) With the present invention, natural seaweed spores stuck to artificial seaweed fronds grow and form a fishing ground that provide abundant food supply for marine life and also acts as a bed for fiy rearing. Just like natural seaweed, artificial seaweed plays a role to lead and gather marine life to a fishing ground, also provide a breeding bed.
(4) With the present invention; the area of a fishing ground can be effectively broadened by lengthening artificial seaweed.

(5) To support artificial seaweed bed by cordage needs no construction on the bottom of the sea. Thus the artificial seaweed bed is flexible with tides and, therefore, causes no tide change in surroundings that do not bring about scouring problem.

(6) The present invention helps purify water and air because the rich nutrition for marine life such as phosphorus and nitrogen are condensed in water, also carbon dioxide is absorbed and oxygen is increased under the effective photosynthesis. ' Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an artificial seaweed bed embodying to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of an artificial seaweed bed supported by a pole.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of an artificial seaweed bed supported by structure.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a structure in another form.
FIG. 5 is also a perspective view of the embodiment of an artificial seaweed bed in another form.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment of an artificial seaweed bed in another form.
FIG. ? is an illustration showing effectiveness of the present invention.
Explanation of letters or numerals GL Bottom (seabed) SL Surface 1, lA, 1B Artificial seaweed bed 2, 2A, 2B Floating objects 3, 3A, 3B Artificial seaweed 3a, 3C Frond 5, 5A, 5B Weights 7, 7A, 7B First cordage 8, 8A, 8B Second cordage 8C Third cordage Buoy 10A, lOB, 20A, Floats 20B, 21A

Claims

Claim 1 The invention relates to an artificial seaweed bed submerged in water with artificial seaweed implanted on it for the formation of a fishing bed. The artificial seaweed bed is comprised of a floating object with cordage, pole, or other structure extending from it to tie it to weights installed at the bottom of the sea. Numerous fronds are implanted on the floating object to form an artificial seaweed bed. The artificial seaweed bed is characterized by the fact that the floating object is submerged at the distance close enough from the water surface to enable photosynthesis.

Claim 2 The invention relates to an artificial seaweed bed submerged in water with artificial seaweed implanted on it for the formation of a fishing bed. The artificial seaweed bed is comprised of a floating object with cordage extending from it to tie it to weights installed at the bottom of the sea, and floats attached to a floating object.
Numerous fronds are implanted on the floating object to form an artificial seaweed bed.
The artificial seaweed bed is characterized by the fact that the floating object is submerged at the distance close enough from the water surface to enable photosynthesis.

Claim 3 The invention relates to an artificial seaweed bed submerged in water with artificial seaweed implanted on it for the formation of a fishing bed. The artificial seaweed bed is comprised of plural floating objects tied with cordage each other, and cordage of a lower object is tied to weights installed at the bottom of the sea. Each of a floating object with a pair of floats tied to it is in parallel with other objects.
Numerous fronds are implanted on each of a floating object to form artificial seaweed beds.
The artificial seaweed beds are characterized by the fact that the floating objects are submerged at the distance close enough from the water surface to enable photosynthesis.