GB2473648A

GB2473648A - An open water fish farming system

Info

Publication number: GB2473648A
Application number: GB0916477A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy Erez
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-09-21
Filing date: 2009-09-21
Publication date: 2011-03-23
Also published as: GB0916477D0

Abstract

An open water fish farming system 1 comprises one or more fish cages 4 placed within an elongated, cylindrically-shaped structure with one or two conically-shaped ends. The structure is surrounded by a net (43, figure 2), has one or more buoys 84 connected and an anchor 72 connected by means of an anchor rope 71, and further comprises one or more openings 211, 260 and one or more weights 61, 66 to provide balance against water currents. The buoys may be connected to one or more air tubes 82, 83 for the entry or release of air into or out of the system. The elongated shape of the structure is preferably provided by tubes or frame rings (11, 21, 31 figure 1). The structure may rotate fully through 360 degrees and may tilt when acted upon by water currents. The structure may be floated to sea level by the provision of air into buoyancy compensators.

Description

Open water fish farming system This invention relates to fish farming systems, and more specifically to fish farming systems immersed in sea and having dynamic capabilities.

Fish farming systems allow growing fish, such as within the sea. There are however several problems with existing fish farming systems. On one hand, these systems should keep the fish safe within. On the other hand fish farming systems should cope with the sea having sometime extreme conditions and currents. It is preferred that such a system will not be too expensive and would not wear out too soon and at the 10 same time safely harbor the fish within.

Existing fish farming systems may be difficult to operate, such as because they are immersed deep within the sea and/or some of their components (such as anchors) are placed relatively deep, such as in a depth of 60 meters.

Divers required to feed or access the fish would find it difficult and sometimes even 15 dangerous, accessing and operating such fish farming systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a novel fish farming system, which can be 20 relatively cheap, simple, easy to operate and durable to sea conditions is provided.

The system can be implemented by simple components, such as by PVC frame rings having standard fish cages within, surrounded by a net forming a cylindrical conically shaped structure at its front and back ends. The conically shaped front and back ends -can be formed by the net, holding PVC frame rings of different sizes, which are 25 connected along the system with ropes and bar members.

The number of PVC frame rings can be implemented according to need.

An anchor is connected through a rope and adapted to cope with the farming system's overall load, such as when it is pulled by water current.

The unique shape and structure of the fish farm may allow dramatically smaller load 30 by currents-thus the farming system provides friction with water current, slowing down the water, rather than totally blocking water flow, thus the system is more robust and can last longer.

The system can ensure minimal harm to the fish, which might not be provided by known open water farming systems in use today, such as by: isolating the fish cage by the nets, slowing down water currents entering the cages, ensuring the system is 5 moved with the current adjusted to its direction and providing more stability and safer place to the fish cages. Thus the system combines several novel principles, which enable better coping with open water and strong deflected currents, prevention of vermin from harming the fish, such as sharks and jellyfish, by the net, at the same time the unique shape and structure of the fish farm may allow dramatically smaller 10 load by currents.

Some benefits may be concluded as follows: Easy sinking in stormy weather -as the system can be controlled lifted or lowered simply by letting air in/out through buoys.

Large gap between sea floor and frame -the system can preferably be stabled at a 15 fixed accessible by divers depth, and not too close to sea floor.

The system is dynamic-automatically adjusting its placement to currents.

The net is used both to slow currents and to block access to sharks.

Since the system is dynamic and rather slows or redirects currents -it is able to sustain massive currents. This may also provide low tear and wear by deflected 20 currents. The system implementation is relatively cheap and simple, and it is easier to operate, thus low maintenance can be achieved.

The system is designed to support minimum fatal damage to the fish inside the cages.

Air-controlled buoyancy within the system, allow simpler control of its placement.

Maximum feed and better feeding conditions can be offered, as this can be done when 25 the system is lifted to sea level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 details a side view of open water fish farming system immersed 30 Fig. 2 illustrates exterior side view of open water fish farming system Fig. 3 details a cross-sectional top view of open water fish farming system Fig. 4 illustrates exterior top view of the system angular movement Fig. 5 illustrates exterior front view of the system angular tilt movement Fig. 6 details a side view of open water fish farming system afloat

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings. 10 Fig. 1 details a side view of an open water fish farming system 1 without its surrounding net, forming a cylindrical conically shaped structure at its front and back ends.

In one embodiment, the open water fish farming system 1 (also referred herein as "the system") can be immersed to float at a depth of about 40 meters below sea level 8, and 15 be accessed such as by a boat 81 reaching one or more buoys 84 allowing access to one or more air tubes, such as for entering air into the system through an inlet air tube 82 or releasing air through outlet air tube 83. Preferably these tubes can be about 200 meters long, not interfering with the system's movements. Purge air valves can be combined as well to provide air in/out preferably for setting the amount of air held 20 within buoyancy compensators combined in the system and placing the system at a selected height above sea floor 7.

The system is connected to an anchor 72 by an anchor rope 71 connected to massive 360 degrees axle 70 for anchor and an additional axel 73, supporting system's rotational movement around it. 25 The anchor rope 71 is partially shown and is long enough to allow the system 1 to be lifted to sea level without disconnecting the anchor rope 71 from the axle 70.

The outer shape of the system 1 can be determined by arbitrary number of PVC tubes, designed by measure, such as: front PVC frame rings 11-16 having plurality of sizes, 30 main PVC frame rings 21-26 of fixed sizes and rear PVC frame rings 31-36 having plurality of sizes. Fish cages 4 designed by measure can be placed within the main PVC frame rings 2 1-26.

Varied ropes and/or bar members 5 in an arbitrary number (three are shown in this example) for structure support can be connected to the PVC tubes so that the system structure will not collapse and especially to firmly hold the PVC tubes when currents 5 pull the system; vertical ropes and/or bar members 51, 52 secure the cages to the PVC tubes and prevent cages' vertical collapse against the system as well.

Weights 6 1-66 in an arbitrary number provide balance to the system and the fish cages. The weights can be placed as demonstrated, one below each of the main PVC 10 frame rings 2 1-26 and the fish cages 4. A stern weight 67 may provide additional balance at the stern of the system.

The PVC tubes/main frame rings of the cages can be made of rigid plastic. The number of PVC frame rings can be implemented according to need. 15 The anchor is connected through a rope and adapted to cope with the system's overall load, resulted by currents. The unique shape and structure of the fish farm may allow dramatically smaller load by currents. Connections of air tube components to buoyancy compensators can be implemented at several locations within the system and in particular at the fish farm's stern and bow and/or at the PVC frame rings. 20 Upon sinking the system within the sea, the air tubes 82, 83 remain connected to one or more of the buoys 84, which float over the sea level 8.

When the system is immersed within the sea it has better capabilities to cope with storms. The system can be recovered from the sea, such as when the sea is calm by 25 accessing it such as using the boat 81 having an air compressor to insert air to the fish farm buoyancy compensators through one or more of the air tubes and thus float the fish farm to the see level 8. When the fish farm is floated to sea level, it is easier to access the fish cages 4 and feed the fish within.

Fig. 2 illustrates exterior side view of the open water fish farming system 1, surrounded by a net 43, and coping with water currents 41, 42.

The fish farm system is very durable, thanks to its unique shape and structure, the system may protect the fish cages within and partially shift and/or slow the sea currents 41, 42. The net 43 may also prevent vermin from harming the fish, such as 5 sharks and jellyfish.

The fish farm system can preferably be mostly made of rigid plastic, which is known to be durable to sea for long time periods. It can be also be easily combined and operated with air tubes.

Fig. 3 details a cross-sectional top view of an open water fish farming system 1.

When the fish farm is floated to sea level, it is easier to access the fish cages 4 and feed the fish within, such as by opening the net and/or the fish cages 4, and providing food into the cages from above. Prior art fish farms may require feeding by divers and opening food sacks underwater which may endanger the divers. The new fish farm 15 need not require staff feeding the fish getting off the boat. Many existing fish farms related accidents occur within the water, such as upon getting from the boat into the water or getting from the water up to the boat. Experience tells that some divers were squashed by existing fish farms, miraculously not severely injured. The system is easy to operate. 20 Fig. 4 illustrates exterior top view of the system angular movement 45 resulted by water currents 44. The fish farm system can fully circulate for 360 degrees by the axle to which it is connected by the anchor rope 71. Together with angular tilt movement support, the fish farm dynamically adjusts itself to water currents and to 25 their direction and can withstand extreme sea conditions. The anchor 72 can be placed within the sea floor, such as at a depth of 40-45 meters, so that it would be relatively easy to operate by a diver in deep dive, when required. Existing sea farms' anchors might be placed in a depth of 60 meters, which makes it more difficult to access by divers. 30 Fig. 5 illustrates exterior front view of the system angular tilt movement 46 resulted by water currents 47. The system may be capable to provide gradual/partial shifting andlor slowing of the water currents 47, to protect the fish cages 4. The system may be balanced by the weights 6 1-67 for reducing the tilts.

The additional axel 73 supports the tilt movement so that the rope 71 is not twisted or 5 curled, reducing its erosion. In particular, the additional axel 73 may be a 360 degrees axle similar to the axle 70 for anchor. One or more openings 260 can be at the sides of the system, next to the top, or just above the cages 4.

The varied ropes and/or bar members 5 can preferably include rings 53 surrounding 10 the cages, such as for continuing the ropes and/or bar members 5 lines around the cages, further securing and preventing the cages horizontal collapse along the system.

The bar members can be rounded so as to implement the rings 53 around the cages. In a preferred embodiment, there is a ring 53 around each cage for each of the ropes and/ or bar members 5, such as three rings for each of the bar members shown in Fig. 1. 15 The vertical ropes and/or bar members 51, 52 can further include bars 54 for additional vertical strength to the cages and their construction between the rings 53.

It is preferred that the spatial construction of the systeni, and especially of the cages surrounded by the rings and containing the fish within, would stay fixed as much as 20 possible, so as to allow comfort and security for the fish.

Fig. 6 details a side view of another embodiment of the open water fish farming system 1 afloat. In this embodiment, the system is afloat, such as within a depth of 2-3 meters, allowing feeding the fish and easy and simple access, such as by divers 2, 25 which may access the fish cages 4 within the system 1 through one or more openings 261, 251, 241, 231, 221 and 211, which can be placed above or near the cages.

There may be one or more additional/alternative openings 260, such as at the sides and/or at the bow or the stern of the system 1. The openings may be implemented by zippers, lids etc. 30 7 -The one or more openings of the system may allow feeding the fish, maintaining the system from within, and optionally taking out or inserting fish. In case there is a storm or bad whether, the system can be immersed such as detailed with reference to Fig. 1.

The system of Fig. 1 can similarly have one or more openings as well.

The one or more openings of the system may be sufficiently big such as to allow the diver 2 pass through and enter into the system. The openings may possibly allow the diver 2 to open and shut the openings from within the system as well, so as to prevent vermin from getting in and protecting the diver.

The one or more divers, may access a hose 87 connected to a pump 86 for drawing the 10 fish from their cages 4, through the hose 87, into one or more containers 85 placed on a boat 81. Preferably, the hose may be entered by the diver through one of the openings, such as opening 211, and placed in the fish cage. The diver may supervise and/or control the process of taking out the fish from the cage through the hose.

In another embodiment, any of the bar members 5, frame rings, cages and/or any of the system 1 components may be implemented using reinforced steel.

It will be recognized that the foregoing is but one example of a system within the scope of the present invention, and that various modifications will occur to persons 20 skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure set forth hereinbefore.

Claims

Claims 1. An open water fish farming system comprised of: one or more fish cages placed within an elongated cylindrical conically shaped structure at least on its front or back ends, the structure surrounded by a net and adapted to gradually 5 slow and shift water currents and protect the fish within the fish cages, one or more buoys connected to the structure, an anchor connected to the structure by anchor rope, one or more weights adapted to balance the structure and one or more openings.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the buoys are connected to one or more air tubes adapted to allow entering air into the system or releasing air from the system and wherein the system further comprising tubes or frame rings adapted to provide the elongated structur& s shape.
3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the structure is adapted to fully circulate by currents for 360 degrees around the anchor and support angular tilt movement.
4. The system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the structure is adapted to 20 float to sea level by providing air into buoyancy compensators within the structure, and wherein the anchor rope is long enough to allow the structure float to sea level without disconnecting it from the anchor.
5. An open water fish farming system generally as described herein with 25 reference or as illustrated in Figs 1-5 of the drawings attached.