EP1545193A1 - A method and apparatus for simulating tide ebbs and tide flows in a container for marine species such as shellfish - Google Patents

A method and apparatus for simulating tide ebbs and tide flows in a container for marine species such as shellfish

Info

Publication number
EP1545193A1
EP1545193A1 EP03794048A EP03794048A EP1545193A1 EP 1545193 A1 EP1545193 A1 EP 1545193A1 EP 03794048 A EP03794048 A EP 03794048A EP 03794048 A EP03794048 A EP 03794048A EP 1545193 A1 EP1545193 A1 EP 1545193A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
container
housing
tide
fluid
flow
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP03794048A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Asle Tomren
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Saeplast ehf
Original Assignee
Saeplast ehf
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Saeplast ehf filed Critical Saeplast ehf
Publication of EP1545193A1 publication Critical patent/EP1545193A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K63/00—Receptacles for live fish, e.g. aquaria; Terraria
    • A01K63/02—Receptacles specially adapted for transporting live fish
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K63/00—Receptacles for live fish, e.g. aquaria; Terraria
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K63/00—Receptacles for live fish, e.g. aquaria; Terraria
    • A01K63/04—Arrangements for treating water specially adapted to receptacles for live fish
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A22—BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH
    • A22C—PROCESSING MEAT, POULTRY, OR FISH
    • A22C29/00—Processing shellfish or bivalves, e.g. oysters, lobsters; Devices therefor, e.g. claw locks, claw crushers, grading devices; Processing lines
    • A22C29/04—Processing bivalves, e.g. oysters
    • A22C29/043—Cleaning operations on bivalves, e.g. evisceration, brushing, separation of meat and shell material

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for simulating tide ebbs and tide flows in a container for storing live marine animals, and in particular for maintaining a sufficient muscle movement of shellfish in the form of opening and the closing of the shell following the tide ebbs and tide flows, with the aim of retaining the shellfish in a good condition.
  • Farming of marine species such as shellfish usually takes place at sea. When the shellfish has reached a desired size it must often be transported for some hours to a processing station where it is processed and prepared for pre-packing. During this transportation a number of shellfish die, depending strongly on the transportation distance. Often, a portion of the shellfish is weak as it arrives to the processing station, which lowers the value of the product and sometimes such shellfish is discarded. Furthermore, when the shellfish enters the processing station it must be processed almost immediately, due to how sensitive it is and how difficult it is to retain alive. It is consequently difficult to control the processing.
  • a solution to the above problem is provided herein by devices and methods to maintain a sufficient muscle movement of stored shellfish such as to obtain cyclic opening and the closing of the shell.
  • Such movement may be obtained through simulating tidal ebb and flow cycles in the storage container where the shellfish is stored and/or transported, which causes cyclic opening and closing the shell.
  • Such a movement may be regarded as an exercise for the shellfish, which improves its condition and keeps it healthier and alive longer and therefore increases its value.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a method and device for maintaining marine animals, such as in particular shellfish in good condition, by effecting tide ebbs and tide flows in a storage container where the marine animals are stored. Due to such simulated ebb and flow cycles the shellfish closes the shell when the water level in the container is low, and open the shell when the water level in the container is high. This cycle of opening and closing the shell of shellfish has the effect on the shellfish that their condition is maintained or improved, their life prolonged and their quality as food product thus improved.
  • the present invention relates to a device for improving the storage conditions for marine animals such as in particular shellfish by means of simulating tide ebbs and tide flows in a container containing the marine animals, thus enabling tide-dependent reactions and movement of the animals, such as a muscle movement of shellfish in the form of closing and opening the shell, and thereby improving or maintaining the condition of the marine animals.
  • the invention may, however, find use for other marine animals as well, that are stored and transported submerged in water, and in particular those animals where cyclic draining by a simulated flood and ebb system is desired.
  • Such marine animals may include crustaceans such as shrimp, lobster, crayfish and crabs; and molluscs such as bivalves including mussels, clams, oysters, and cockles.
  • the device according to the invention comprises:
  • an inlet and an outlet arranged in said at least one container the inlet being adapted to allow the flow of fluid to enter the container and the outlet for releasing fluid from the container, a housing that is open in one end and closed in the other end and is arranged such that the open end is within said at least one container and adjacent to the bottom of the container, providing an access for air and fluid flow in the housing near the bottom of the container,
  • a pipe arranged within the housing, the pipe being connected to the outlet of the container, and adapted to evacuate air from the housing through the outlet and further adapted to guide a flow of fluid from the housing through the outlet .
  • the container comprises four sidewalls and a bottom, wherein the outlet is arranged by the bottom of the container and the open end of the container defines the inlet, or the inlet is provided as a hole or valve on a lid of the container or by its top edge.
  • the flow of fluid into the container is a constant flow, such as provided by a conventional water source, where the fluid may suitably be selected from seawater, freshwater, saline solutions, regular "tap" water or any combination of these.
  • the shape of the housing is not essential for the present invention. However, whereas the pipe has typically a cylindrical shape, the housing has therefore preferably also a cylindrical shape. Furthermore, for facilitating the removing of the housing and the pipe from the container, the housing and the pipe are preferably attached together as a single unit, wherein the individual components are preferably detachable.
  • the present invention further comprises in another preferred embodiment an additional bottom layer, suitably arranged with support members, e.g. a plurality of supporting feet or pins mounted to it such that by resting on the container bottom an intermediate space is formed between the container bottom and the additional bottom layer, where said additional bottom is adapted for disposal of waste from the marine animals towards the bottom of the container through holes provided in the additional bottom unit so that the waste is collected in said intermediate space, thus reducing pollution of the marine animals, such as by their own ordure.
  • the animals are thus contained in a cleaner environment, further enhancing their quality.
  • the container may be formed and sized in accordance with the specific storage and transport demands for any given settings.
  • Plastic containers, tubs or vats e.g. about 500-1000 L can be useful in this regard, however, larger containers, such as 2-10 m 3 tanks can as well be used.
  • the containers can be made from any suitably material, plastic materials are preferred, such as polyethylene, which can readily be molded into durable containers of a desired shape, such as to facilitate stacking and fork-lifting.
  • polyethylene can have single-layer of doubly layered walls, with our without insulation (e.g. air pockets and/or polyethylene foam).
  • the container is preferably equipped with a lid, in such case the inlet can be provided as a hole or port on the lid or on a sidewall of the container, close to the upper edge of the container.
  • the evacuation of air through the outlet of the container has the functionality in conducting tide ebbs and tide flows, that the height of the fluid column in the housing follows the height of the water column in the container as the flow of fluid flows into the container. Accordingly, filling the container of increases the height of the fluid column in the container as well as in the housing, which fluid columns are substantially the same.
  • the maximum height level of the fluid column in the container corresponds to the height of the pipe in the housing and therefore the fluid column in the housing. This upper height level corresponds to tide flows.
  • the height level of the fluid column in the container decreases and at a later time point reaches the level of the housing opening, at which time air enters into the housing and disrupts the fluid column in the housing and the fluid column in the container.
  • This lower height level of the fluid column in the container corresponds to the tide ebbs simulated in the container.
  • the cycle is then automatically repeated, as long as there is constant input of water, and forms therefore cycles of tide ebbs and tide flows of fluid in said container.
  • a plurality of containers are arranged in a stacked fashion.
  • the flow of fluid provided into the top-most containers is typically provided as a constant flow of fluid from an external source, while the flow of fluid into the underlying container or containers is provided through the outlet from the above lying container(s).
  • each of them must be provided with said housing and said pipe, which in one preferred embodiment are mounted together as a single unit. Accordingly, by arranging a plurality of containers together in a stacked way, cycles of tide ebbs and tide flows are conducted in consecutive order in all containers.
  • the present invention relates to a method for improving storage conditions of marine animals by means of conducting tide ebbs and tide flows in a container containing the marine animals, enabling tide-dependent reactions and movement of the marine animals, such as in particular muscle movement of shellfish, and thereby improving or maintaining the condition of the marine species.
  • the marine animals is a shellfish species, such as a bivalve species, e.g. mussel species, such as blue mussel, in which case tide-dependent muscle movement causes closing and opening the shell of the shellfish.
  • a shellfish species such as a bivalve species, e.g. mussel species, such as blue mussel, in which case tide-dependent muscle movement causes closing and opening the shell of the shellfish.
  • a further embodiment of the present invention provides a method for improving the storage condition for marine animals such as in particular shellfish, by means of simulating tide ebbs and tide flows in a container for storing the marine animals, enabling tide-dependent reactions and movement such as in particular closing and opening the shell of shellfish, thereby improving or maintaining the condition of the marine animals.
  • the method preferably comprises the steps of:
  • each of the at least one container(s) being provided with an inlet for allowing a flow of fluid to enter the container, and an outlet for releasing a flow of fluid from the container,
  • a housing in each container the housing being open in one end and closed in the other end and is arranged the container such that the open end is adjacent to the bottom of the container providing an access for air and fluid flow to the housing, the housing being adapted to provide an interactive function between a water column built up in the housing and a water column in the container,
  • tide ebbs and tide flows is conducted by the self-acting (automatic) cycles of:
  • the housing and the pipe are attached together as a single unit as described above, this enables the unit to be removed easily, such as for cleaning.
  • the housing may be a hollow cylinder and the access/entrance a plurality of holes bored in the cylinder.
  • an additional bottom unit is provided in each of said at least one container, as described above. The shellfish is thus maintained in a clean area. Further, by removing the bottom unit and the housing and the pipe unit, the container can easily be cleaned.
  • the fluid may be pure water (e.g. regular tap water), seawater, a saline solution or any mixture of those.
  • the cycles of tide ebbs and tide flows causes muscle movement of the shellfish, which as mentioned may be a blue mussel, such that the shell is opened when the water column height in the container corresponds to tide flows, and vice versa, when the water column height in the container corresponds tide ebbs, the shell is closed.
  • This keeps therefore the opening muscle in shape and ensures that the shellfish can stay closed when it is not immersed in water, which is important for keeping the cape water within the shellfish intact.
  • the weight of the shellfish depends on the amount of water enclosed in the shell.
  • an important parameter that must be considered is the oxygen content in the container. A high and evenly distributed oxygen content is ensured by the constant flow of fluid that enters the container, and by the cyclic emptying of the container.
  • the time of each cycle of tide ebb and tide flow can be controlled through parameters such as the flow of water/see into the container (volume per time), and the flow speed through the housing and pipe, governed by the diameter of the housing, the size of the entrance, and the diameter of the pipe.
  • the time for one cycle of tide ebb and tide flow can thus be adjusted to any desired length of time, such as about 24 hours, or such as about 12 hours, or even shorter, such as in the range of 3- 6 hours.
  • a plurality of containers are arranged in a stacked way defining at least one or more upper container and at least one or more lower containers and optionally one or more intermediate containers, wherein the flow of fluid from the outlet of an upper container enters an inlet in a lower positioned container and thereby causes tide cycles in said lower container.
  • Figure 1 shows a container for simulating cycles of tide ebbs and tide flows in accordance within the invention
  • Figure 2 (a)-(f) illustrates one tidal cycle of ebb and flow being simulated in a container
  • Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a part of a container and the tide flow and ebb mechanism
  • Figure 4 illustrates one cycle of tide ebb and flow for two containers arranged one on top of the other
  • Figure 5 shows a plurality of containers arranged in a stacked fashion, one on top of another.
  • a container 1 for simulating a cycle of tide ebbs and tide flows is shown in Figure 1.
  • the housing 6, which encloses a pipe 4 (not shown), which is connected to the outlet 12 of the container and is adapted to release a flow of fluid, which is typically fresh water but could be seawater or a saline solution, from the housing and the container after the fluid column in the housing reaches the top end of the pipe.
  • An additional bottom plate 8 is shown with a plurality of supporting feet 10 mounted to it such that by resting on the container bottom an intermediate space is formed between the container bottom and the additional bottom plate.
  • This additional bottom is perforated with a plurality of holes 11 such that waste (e.g. dirt or ordure) from the shellfish is washed of collects in said intermediate space.
  • Figure 2 (a)-(f) illustrates a single cycle of tide ebbs and tide flows, through a cross- sectional view of the container 1 , showing the housing 6 that surrounds the pipe 4, which is connected to the outlet 12 of the container.
  • a constant flow of water 2 flows into the main container 1 and starts slowly to fill the main container and the housing.
  • the height of the water column in the housing follows the height of the water column in the main container because the air in the housing is evacuated through the pipe as shown in Figure 2 (a).
  • the height of the water in the main container and the housing can be defined as a tide ebb level. At this point, the shell of healthy shellfish should be closed.
  • This entrance may be a plurality of holes that are bored into the housing at some predefined distance from the bottom end of the containers. This distance defines lower water level height that defines the tide ebbs. If the entrance is close to the bottom 7 of the container the height of the water column in the container defining the tide ebbs is low, and vice versa, if the height is high the water level of the water column defining the tide ebbs is raised.
  • the simulated tide enables tide-dependent physical reactions of the contained animals, and in particular maintains the muscle movement of shellfish, and therefore the storage time. Further, shellfish that after long transport is weak and in bad condition may be activated and re-conditioned again through such "exercise", and its quality and value hence increased.
  • Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a part of the device, showing a side-wall of the container 1 as being doubly layered, the bottom 7 is shown as having a strengthened support units (16) that he container rests on.
  • the housing 6 is fastened to the bottom 7 and has perforations providing the entrance 5.
  • the extra bottom plate 8 is shown (resting feet 10 and perforations 11 not shown).
  • the housing 6 encloses the pipe 4 as well as an optional additional pipe 13 that serves as a drainpipe that can release the container from liquid in case it overflows and is connected to a drain 15, shown having a screw cap inserted, to open and close the drain.
  • the pipe 4 connects to the outlet 12 in the bottom 7, such that water from the outlet can enter another container situated below the container shown.
  • An additional air or oxygen source 14 can be suitably led into the container, or as shown, to the intermediate bottom space, ensuring that air/oxygen such provided is distributed through the whole depth of the container.
  • Figure 4 shows one cycle of tide ebbs and tide flows for two containers arranged in a stacked way.
  • the main difference between this arrangement and the arrangement described in Figure 2, which is for a single container, is that that the outlet 12 of an upper container (see Figure 2 (c)) is adapted to fill the underlying container.
  • the function of tide ebbs and tide flows cycles in the both containers is the same as described above for Figure 2.
  • Figure 5 shows four containers arranged in a stacked way.
  • the fluid flows through the outlet 12 of the second uppermost container, which after reaching its maximum level flows through the outlet of the second upper most container into the third uppermost container etc.
  • tide ebb and tide flow cycles are effected in all containers, generally as described for Figure 2.

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Marine Sciences & Fisheries (AREA)
  • Animal Husbandry (AREA)
  • Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Zoology (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Farming Of Fish And Shellfish (AREA)
  • Processing Of Meat And Fish (AREA)

Abstract

A method and a device are provided for effecting simulated tide ebb and flow cycles in a container for storing and transporting live marine animals such as shellfish, in particular bivalves such as mussels, clams, oysters and cockles. The cycle enables tide-dependent reaction and movement by the animals, such as in particular the muscle movement of bivalves, which opens and closes the shells of the bivalves, and thereby prolongs the life of the animals, extends possible storage time and enhances the quality and value of the animals as food products.

Description

A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIMULATING TIDE EBBS AND TIDE FLOWS IN A CONTAINER FOR MARINE SPECIES SUCH AS SHELLFISH
Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for simulating tide ebbs and tide flows in a container for storing live marine animals, and in particular for maintaining a sufficient muscle movement of shellfish in the form of opening and the closing of the shell following the tide ebbs and tide flows, with the aim of retaining the shellfish in a good condition.
Background
Farming of marine species such as shellfish usually takes place at sea. When the shellfish has reached a desired size it must often be transported for some hours to a processing station where it is processed and prepared for pre-packing. During this transportation a number of shellfish die, depending strongly on the transportation distance. Often, a portion of the shellfish is weak as it arrives to the processing station, which lowers the value of the product and sometimes such shellfish is discarded. Furthermore, when the shellfish enters the processing station it must be processed almost immediately, due to how sensitive it is and how difficult it is to retain alive. It is consequently difficult to control the processing.
There is therefore a need for a method and device for maintaining shellfish live and in good health during or after transporting it and for retaining it such that the processing may be better controlled.
Description of the invention
A solution to the above problem is provided herein by devices and methods to maintain a sufficient muscle movement of stored shellfish such as to obtain cyclic opening and the closing of the shell. Such movement may be obtained through simulating tidal ebb and flow cycles in the storage container where the shellfish is stored and/or transported, which causes cyclic opening and closing the shell. Such a movement may be regarded as an exercise for the shellfish, which improves its condition and keeps it healthier and alive longer and therefore increases its value.
The object of the present invention is to provide a method and device for maintaining marine animals, such as in particular shellfish in good condition, by effecting tide ebbs and tide flows in a storage container where the marine animals are stored. Due to such simulated ebb and flow cycles the shellfish closes the shell when the water level in the container is low, and open the shell when the water level in the container is high. This cycle of opening and closing the shell of shellfish has the effect on the shellfish that their condition is maintained or improved, their life prolonged and their quality as food product thus improved.
According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a device for improving the storage conditions for marine animals such as in particular shellfish by means of simulating tide ebbs and tide flows in a container containing the marine animals, thus enabling tide-dependent reactions and movement of the animals, such as a muscle movement of shellfish in the form of closing and opening the shell, and thereby improving or maintaining the condition of the marine animals. The invention may, however, find use for other marine animals as well, that are stored and transported submerged in water, and in particular those animals where cyclic draining by a simulated flood and ebb system is desired. Such marine animals may include crustaceans such as shrimp, lobster, crayfish and crabs; and molluscs such as bivalves including mussels, clams, oysters, and cockles.
The device according to the invention comprises:
- at least one container,
- means for providing a flow of fluid into said at least one container,
- an inlet and an outlet arranged in said at least one container, the inlet being adapted to allow the flow of fluid to enter the container and the outlet for releasing fluid from the container, a housing that is open in one end and closed in the other end and is arranged such that the open end is within said at least one container and adjacent to the bottom of the container, providing an access for air and fluid flow in the housing near the bottom of the container,
a pipe arranged within the housing, the pipe being connected to the outlet of the container, and adapted to evacuate air from the housing through the outlet and further adapted to guide a flow of fluid from the housing through the outlet .
In one embodiment the container comprises four sidewalls and a bottom, wherein the outlet is arranged by the bottom of the container and the open end of the container defines the inlet, or the inlet is provided as a hole or valve on a lid of the container or by its top edge. Preferably, the flow of fluid into the container is a constant flow, such as provided by a conventional water source, where the fluid may suitably be selected from seawater, freshwater, saline solutions, regular "tap" water or any combination of these. The shape of the housing is not essential for the present invention. However, whereas the pipe has typically a cylindrical shape, the housing has therefore preferably also a cylindrical shape. Furthermore, for facilitating the removing of the housing and the pipe from the container, the housing and the pipe are preferably attached together as a single unit, wherein the individual components are preferably detachable.
The present invention further comprises in another preferred embodiment an additional bottom layer, suitably arranged with support members, e.g. a plurality of supporting feet or pins mounted to it such that by resting on the container bottom an intermediate space is formed between the container bottom and the additional bottom layer, where said additional bottom is adapted for disposal of waste from the marine animals towards the bottom of the container through holes provided in the additional bottom unit so that the waste is collected in said intermediate space, thus reducing pollution of the marine animals, such as by their own ordure. The animals are thus contained in a cleaner environment, further enhancing their quality.
The container may be formed and sized in accordance with the specific storage and transport demands for any given settings. Plastic containers, tubs or vats, e.g. about 500-1000 L can be useful in this regard, however, larger containers, such as 2-10 m3 tanks can as well be used. The containers can be made from any suitably material, plastic materials are preferred, such as polyethylene, which can readily be molded into durable containers of a desired shape, such as to facilitate stacking and fork-lifting. Such polyethylene can have single-layer of doubly layered walls, with our without insulation (e.g. air pockets and/or polyethylene foam). The container is preferably equipped with a lid, in such case the inlet can be provided as a hole or port on the lid or on a sidewall of the container, close to the upper edge of the container.
The evacuation of air through the outlet of the container has the functionality in conducting tide ebbs and tide flows, that the height of the fluid column in the housing follows the height of the water column in the container as the flow of fluid flows into the container. Accordingly, filling the container of increases the height of the fluid column in the container as well as in the housing, which fluid columns are substantially the same. The maximum height level of the fluid column in the container corresponds to the height of the pipe in the housing and therefore the fluid column in the housing. This upper height level corresponds to tide flows. When the container has been filled, the fluid subsequently flows through the pipe and out through the outlet. The flow into the container is adjusted such that it is less than the flow out of the outlet. If follows therefore that the height level of the fluid column in the container decreases and at a later time point reaches the level of the housing opening, at which time air enters into the housing and disrupts the fluid column in the housing and the fluid column in the container. This lower height level of the fluid column in the container corresponds to the tide ebbs simulated in the container. The cycle is then automatically repeated, as long as there is constant input of water, and forms therefore cycles of tide ebbs and tide flows of fluid in said container.
In a preferred embodiment a plurality of containers are arranged in a stacked fashion. The flow of fluid provided into the top-most containers is typically provided as a constant flow of fluid from an external source, while the flow of fluid into the underlying container or containers is provided through the outlet from the above lying container(s). When arranging a plurality of containers in a stacked way, each of them must be provided with said housing and said pipe, which in one preferred embodiment are mounted together as a single unit. Accordingly, by arranging a plurality of containers together in a stacked way, cycles of tide ebbs and tide flows are conducted in consecutive order in all containers.
According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a method for improving storage conditions of marine animals by means of conducting tide ebbs and tide flows in a container containing the marine animals, enabling tide-dependent reactions and movement of the marine animals, such as in particular muscle movement of shellfish, and thereby improving or maintaining the condition of the marine species.
In one embodiment of the invention the marine animals is a shellfish species, such as a bivalve species, e.g. mussel species, such as blue mussel, in which case tide-dependent muscle movement causes closing and opening the shell of the shellfish.
A further embodiment of the present invention provides a method for improving the storage condition for marine animals such as in particular shellfish, by means of simulating tide ebbs and tide flows in a container for storing the marine animals, enabling tide-dependent reactions and movement such as in particular closing and opening the shell of shellfish, thereby improving or maintaining the condition of the marine animals. The method preferably comprises the steps of:
- providing at least one container for the marine species, each of the at least one container(s) being provided with an inlet for allowing a flow of fluid to enter the container, and an outlet for releasing a flow of fluid from the container,
- arranging a housing in each container, the housing being open in one end and closed in the other end and is arranged the container such that the open end is adjacent to the bottom of the container providing an access for air and fluid flow to the housing, the housing being adapted to provide an interactive function between a water column built up in the housing and a water column in the container,
- arranging a pipe within the housing, the lower end of the pipe being connected to the outlet of the container, and adapted to release a flow of fluid from the housing and the container through the outlet, after a fluid column in the housing reaches the top end of the pipe,
wherein the tide ebbs and tide flows is conducted by the self-acting (automatic) cycles of:
a) providing a flow of fluid into each of said at least one container, causing fluid to fill the housing until the height level of the fluid column in the housing reaches the top of the pipe, at which moment the height level of the fluid column in the container corresponding to a tide flow level,
b) releasing a flow of fluid through the pipe and through the outlet causing the height level of the fluid column in the container to decrease until the height level reaches the entrance level of the housing, at which moment the height level of the fluid column in the container corresponds to a tide ebb level,
c) allowing an air into the fluid column in the housing through the entrance in the housing which results in a break in the bounding between the fluid column in the housing and the fluid column in the container, wherein subsequently the steps a)- c) are automatically repeated.
In a preferred embodiment the housing and the pipe are attached together as a single unit as described above, this enables the unit to be removed easily, such as for cleaning. The housing may be a hollow cylinder and the access/entrance a plurality of holes bored in the cylinder. In another preferred embodiment an additional bottom unit is provided in each of said at least one container, as described above. The shellfish is thus maintained in a clean area. Further, by removing the bottom unit and the housing and the pipe unit, the container can easily be cleaned. The fluid may be pure water (e.g. regular tap water), seawater, a saline solution or any mixture of those.
When adapted to the storage and/or transportation, the cycles of tide ebbs and tide flows causes muscle movement of the shellfish, which as mentioned may be a blue mussel, such that the shell is opened when the water column height in the container corresponds to tide flows, and vice versa, when the water column height in the container corresponds tide ebbs, the shell is closed. This keeps therefore the opening muscle in shape and ensures that the shellfish can stay closed when it is not immersed in water, which is important for keeping the cape water within the shellfish intact. Also, the weight of the shellfish depends on the amount of water enclosed in the shell. Furthermore, an important parameter that must be considered is the oxygen content in the container. A high and evenly distributed oxygen content is ensured by the constant flow of fluid that enters the container, and by the cyclic emptying of the container.
The time of each cycle of tide ebb and tide flow can be controlled through parameters such as the flow of water/see into the container (volume per time), and the flow speed through the housing and pipe, governed by the diameter of the housing, the size of the entrance, and the diameter of the pipe. The time for one cycle of tide ebb and tide flow can thus be adjusted to any desired length of time, such as about 24 hours, or such as about 12 hours, or even shorter, such as in the range of 3- 6 hours.
In a useful embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of containers are arranged in a stacked way defining at least one or more upper container and at least one or more lower containers and optionally one or more intermediate containers, wherein the flow of fluid from the outlet of an upper container enters an inlet in a lower positioned container and thereby causes tide cycles in said lower container.
Detailed description
In the following the present invention, and in particular preferred embodiments thereof, will be described in greater details in connection with the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 shows a container for simulating cycles of tide ebbs and tide flows in accordance within the invention,
Figure 2 (a)-(f) illustrates one tidal cycle of ebb and flow being simulated in a container, Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a part of a container and the tide flow and ebb mechanism,
Figure 4 illustrates one cycle of tide ebb and flow for two containers arranged one on top of the other, and
Figure 5 shows a plurality of containers arranged in a stacked fashion, one on top of another.
A container 1 for simulating a cycle of tide ebbs and tide flows is shown in Figure 1. The housing 6, which encloses a pipe 4 (not shown), which is connected to the outlet 12 of the container and is adapted to release a flow of fluid, which is typically fresh water but could be seawater or a saline solution, from the housing and the container after the fluid column in the housing reaches the top end of the pipe. An additional bottom plate 8 is shown with a plurality of supporting feet 10 mounted to it such that by resting on the container bottom an intermediate space is formed between the container bottom and the additional bottom plate. This additional bottom is perforated with a plurality of holes 11 such that waste (e.g. dirt or ordure) from the shellfish is washed of collects in said intermediate space.
Figure 2 (a)-(f) illustrates a single cycle of tide ebbs and tide flows, through a cross- sectional view of the container 1 , showing the housing 6 that surrounds the pipe 4, which is connected to the outlet 12 of the container. A constant flow of water 2 flows into the main container 1 and starts slowly to fill the main container and the housing. The height of the water column in the housing follows the height of the water column in the main container because the air in the housing is evacuated through the pipe as shown in Figure 2 (a). In Figure 2 (a) when the water level is low (at level with the entrance of the housing), the height of the water in the main container and the housing can be defined as a tide ebb level. At this point, the shell of healthy shellfish should be closed. As the water continues to flow the height of the water surface in the container 1 and the housing 6 rises as shown in Figure 2 (b) and the shell of shellfish contained in the container is slowly closed. In Figure 2 (c) the height of the water column in the container has reached its maximum height, which may be defined as a tide flow level. At this position muscle movement of shellfish contained in the container has opened the shell. Here the water level has reached the top of the pipe 4 and starts to flow down through the pipe. In this position, a siphon-function is created, i.e., the water is pulled out of the container resulting in that the height of the water column in the container 1 decreases. The height of the water column in container 1 decreases until its height reaches an entrance height 5 corresponding to the height of the entrance of the housing. This entrance may be a plurality of holes that are bored into the housing at some predefined distance from the bottom end of the containers. This distance defines lower water level height that defines the tide ebbs. If the entrance is close to the bottom 7 of the container the height of the water column in the container defining the tide ebbs is low, and vice versa, if the height is high the water level of the water column defining the tide ebbs is raised.
Accordingly, as the water level height reaches the entrance level, air flows through the entrance and disrupts the water column in the housing, as shown in Figure 2 (e), and thereby the connection between the water column in the housing and the container. The result is that the procedure as described at the beginning (Figure 2 (a) ) is repeated as shown in Figure 2, and the whole cycle is repeated.
The simulated tide enables tide-dependent physical reactions of the contained animals, and in particular maintains the muscle movement of shellfish, and therefore the storage time. Further, shellfish that after long transport is weak and in bad condition may be activated and re-conditioned again through such "exercise", and its quality and value hence increased.
Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a part of the device, showing a side-wall of the container 1 as being doubly layered, the bottom 7 is shown as having a strengthened support units (16) that he container rests on. The housing 6 is fastened to the bottom 7 and has perforations providing the entrance 5. The extra bottom plate 8 is shown (resting feet 10 and perforations 11 not shown). The housing 6 encloses the pipe 4 as well as an optional additional pipe 13 that serves as a drainpipe that can release the container from liquid in case it overflows and is connected to a drain 15, shown having a screw cap inserted, to open and close the drain. The pipe 4 connects to the outlet 12 in the bottom 7, such that water from the outlet can enter another container situated below the container shown. An additional air or oxygen source 14 can be suitably led into the container, or as shown, to the intermediate bottom space, ensuring that air/oxygen such provided is distributed through the whole depth of the container.
Figure 4 shows one cycle of tide ebbs and tide flows for two containers arranged in a stacked way. The main difference between this arrangement and the arrangement described in Figure 2, which is for a single container, is that that the outlet 12 of an upper container (see Figure 2 (c)) is adapted to fill the underlying container. In other aspects, the function of tide ebbs and tide flows cycles in the both containers is the same as described above for Figure 2.
Figure 5 shows four containers arranged in a stacked way. As the constant flow of fluid into the uppermost container 1 has reached the maximum level (just as in Figure 2 (c) ) the fluid flows through the outlet 12 of the second uppermost container, which after reaching its maximum level flows through the outlet of the second upper most container into the third uppermost container etc. Thus, tide ebb and tide flow cycles are effected in all containers, generally as described for Figure 2.

Claims

Claims
1. A device for improving the storage conditions for marine animals such as shellfish by means of simulating tide ebbs and tide floods in a container for storing the marine animals, enabling tide-dependent reactions and movement of the marine animals and thereby improving or maintaining the condition of the marine animals, said device comprising:
at least one container (1),
means for providing a flow of fluid (2) into each of said at least one container,
- an inlet and an outlet (12) arranged in said at least one container, the inlet being adapted to allow the flow of fluid to enter the container and the outlet (12) for releasing fluid from the container,
- a housing (6) that is open in one end and closed in the other end and is arranged such that the open end is within the container adjacent to the bottom (7) of the container, providing an access for air and fluid flow in the housing near the bottom of the container,
- a pipe (4) arranged within the housing, the pipe being connected to the outlet of the container, and adapted to evacuate air from the housing through the outlet and further adapted to guide a flow of fluid from the housing through the outlet.
2. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one container (1) comprises four sidewalls and a bottom (7), wherein the outlet (12) is adjacent to the bottom (7) of the container and the open end of the container defines the inlet.
3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the means for providing a flow of fluid into the container provides a constant flow.
4. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (6) and the pipe (4) have a cylindrical shape.
5. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (6) and the pipe (4) are attached together as a single unit.
6. A device according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising an additional bottom layer (8) with support members (10) mounted to it such that by resting the additional bottom (8) on the container bottom (7), an intermediate space is formed between the container bottom and the additional bottom, said additional bottom being adapted for disposal of waste from the shellfish towards the bottom of the container through holes (11) provided in the bottom unit so that the waste is collected in said intermediate space.
7. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the height level of the fluid column in the container (1) corresponding to the upper height level of the pipe (4) defines a tide flow level.
8. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the height level of the fluid column in the container (1) corresponding to the level of the entrance (5) in the housing (6) corresponds to the tide ebbs.
9. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of containers are arranged in a stacked way having upper containers and lower containers, and wherein the outlet of the upper containers are connected to the inlets of the lower containers to fill the lower containers, thereby creating a plurality of tide ebb and tide flow cycles.
10. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fluid is water and/or seawater.
11. A method for improving the storage conditions of marine animals in a container by means of simulating tide ebbs and tide flows in said container storing the marine animals, enabling tide-dependent reactions and movement of the marine animals and thereby improving or maintaining the condition of the marine species.
12. A method according to claim 11 , wherein the marine animals is a species selected from a crustacean species including shrimp, lobster, crayfish and crab species, and bivalve species including mussels, clams, oysters, and cockles.
13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the marine animal species is a mussel species, including blue mussel.
14. A method for improving the storage condition for marine animals such as shellfish species by means of conducting tide ebbs and tide flows in a container containing the marine animals enabling a tide-dependent muscle movement of the marine animals, said method comprising:
- providing at least one container (1) for the marine animals, the container being provided with an inlet for allowing a flow of fluid to enter the container, and an outlet (12) for releasing a flow of fluid from the container,
- arranging a housing (6) in each of said at least one container (1), the housing being open in one end (5) and closed in the other end and is arranged in said container such that the open end is adjacent to the bottom (7) of the container providing an access (5) for air and fluid flow to the housing, the housing being adapted to provide an interactive function between a water column built up in the housing (6) and a water column in the container (1),
- arranging a pipe (4) within the housing (6), the lower end of the pipe being connected to the outlet (12) of the container, and adapted to release a flow of fluid (2) from the housing and the container through the outlet (12), after a fluid column in the housing (6) reaches the top end of the pipe (4),
wherein tide ebbs and tide flows are maintained by the self-acting cycles of:
a) providing a flow of fluid into each of said at least one container, causing fluid to fill the housing (6) until the height level of the fluid column in the housing reaches the top of the pipe (4), at which moment the height level of the fluid column in the container (1) corresponds to a tide flow level, b) releasing a flow of fluid through the pipe (4) and through the outlet causing the height level of the fluid column in the container to decrease, until the height level reaches the entrance (5) level of the housing (6), at which moment the height level of the fluid column in the container (1 ) corresponds to a tide ebb level,
c) allowing air into the fluid column in the housing (6) through the entrance (5) in the housing which disrupts the fluid column in the housing (6) and the fluid column in the container (1), wherein subsequently the steps a)-c) are automatically repeated.
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the housing (6) and the pipe (4) are attached together as a single detachable unit.
16. A method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein waste such as ordure from the marine animals collects in an intermediate spacing between the bottom (7) of the container (1) and an perforated bottom plate (8) arranged on top of the container bottom (7).
17. A method according to any of the claims 14-16, wherein the fluid is selected from seawater, fresh water, saline solutions or any combination thereof.
18. A method according to any of the claims 14-17, wherein through said constant flow of fluid, and cyclic emptying the container during the cycle, a high oxygen content in the container is maintained.
19. The method of any of the claims 14-18, wherein a plurality of containers are arranged in a stacked way defining at least one or more upper container and at least one or more lower containers and optionally one or more intermediate containers, wherein the flow of fluid from the outlet of an upper container enters an inlet in a lower positioned container and thereby effects tide cycles in said lower container.
EP03794048A 2002-09-03 2003-09-03 A method and apparatus for simulating tide ebbs and tide flows in a container for marine species such as shellfish Withdrawn EP1545193A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IS654002 2002-09-03
IS6540 2002-09-03
PCT/IS2003/000027 WO2004021774A1 (en) 2002-09-03 2003-09-03 A method and apparatus for simulating tide ebbs and tide flows in a container for marine species such as shellfish

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1545193A1 true EP1545193A1 (en) 2005-06-29

Family

ID=36701433

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03794048A Withdrawn EP1545193A1 (en) 2002-09-03 2003-09-03 A method and apparatus for simulating tide ebbs and tide flows in a container for marine species such as shellfish

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1545193A1 (en)
AU (1) AU2003256066A1 (en)
CA (1) CA2497424A1 (en)
IS (1) IS7783A (en)
NO (1) NO20051634L (en)
WO (1) WO2004021774A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR100921535B1 (en) 2008-01-21 2009-10-12 부경대학교 산학협력단 Tide Simulating Apparatus for Intertidal Sessile Organism
NL2006360C2 (en) * 2010-03-09 2013-03-12 Murre Techniek Holding B V Water tank and method for preserving shellfish.
ES1072423Y (en) * 2010-05-07 2010-10-06 Rotogal S L CONTAINER FOR CLEANSING OF MOLLUSCS
GB2476524B (en) * 2010-08-16 2011-11-16 Zulkar Abdulla Containers and filters for ponds or aquatic tanks
DE102013010828B4 (en) * 2013-06-19 2015-01-08 Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung Method for obtaining a water exchange and aquatic animal rearing device for carrying out the method
CN103766269B (en) * 2014-01-21 2015-06-17 中国水产科学研究院淡水渔业研究中心 Double-circulation cultivation system for early baby clam of purple-black wing clam
NL2013090B1 (en) * 2014-06-30 2015-10-14 Sybe Smit Octrooi B V Device for diluting crustaceans and / or shellfish
DE102015011264B3 (en) * 2015-08-27 2016-09-22 Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung Device for simulating ebb and flow.
FR3064884B1 (en) * 2017-04-05 2019-07-26 Normandie Appats VIVIER FOR LIVE AQUATIC ORGANISMS
CN111751503B (en) * 2020-07-09 2022-12-02 南宁师范大学 Red tide toxin food chain accumulation and transmission simulation method

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4966096A (en) * 1988-08-04 1990-10-30 Ecological Systems Technology, L.P. Water purification system and apparatus
US5467739A (en) * 1994-08-25 1995-11-21 Boschert; Jeff D. Apparatus for simulating a tide pool in an aquarium
JP2002095381A (en) * 2000-09-21 2002-04-02 Takashi Sato Ebb and flow aquarium automatically controlling water level

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2004021774A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO20051634D0 (en) 2005-04-01
NO20051634L (en) 2005-06-03
WO2004021774A1 (en) 2004-03-18
IS7783A (en) 2005-04-01
CA2497424A1 (en) 2004-03-18
AU2003256066A1 (en) 2004-03-29

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
DK2760282T3 (en) Fish farming facility, module, method and application
EP1545193A1 (en) A method and apparatus for simulating tide ebbs and tide flows in a container for marine species such as shellfish
US5220880A (en) Method and apparatus for maintaining live fish during transportation and storage
JPS60133820A (en) Method and apparatus for sustaining life of crastaceans
JP2021524754A (en) A ship that cultivates marine life
Harboe et al. Design and operation of an incubator for yolk‐sac larvae of Atlantic halibut
US9814225B2 (en) Minnow container
US4815411A (en) Container for carrying live fish
KR20200098498A (en) Devices for farming aquatic organisms in the sea
CN108124812A (en) A kind of crab cultivation case and its cultural method
US20050086851A1 (en) Mesh liner for live bait containers
US3696788A (en) Method and apparatus for hatching crustacea
AU2015245364A1 (en) Module for storing and transporting live sea products, in particular lobsters, and device including at least one such module
JP2012244960A (en) Apparatus for rearing aquatic organism, and rearing container
CN111278279B (en) Device for feeding aquacultural animals at sea
US9173382B1 (en) Water changing and cleaning system and device for bowl, aquarium or pond kept pet fish
JP3887320B2 (en) Seafood culture system
KR20090037213A (en) Shellfish culturing apparatus
KR20200098489A (en) Devices for farming aquatic organisms in the sea
JP3739960B2 (en) Hatching tank and aquatic animal breeding tank
CN219762236U (en) fry incubator
JP3887319B2 (en) Seafood culture system and seafood culture method
CN219500238U (en) A drainage soil pick-up device for aquaculture
CN2461284Y (en) Supper efficiency shrimp catching cage
RU2114530C1 (en) Crawfish rearing apparatus

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20050401

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL LT LV MK

DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: TOMREN, ASLE

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20080723