The present invention relates to equipment and systems for a floating fish farm in the sea or ocean. Particularly, the invention relates to a water shield system in a floating fish farm. The invention concerns also a system for collection of fish waste and/or food / feed waste and/or dead fish. Furthermore, the invention teaches a securing system for preventing the farmed fish from escaping into the sea or ocean during different operations with the fish or for other purposes or due to damage(s) of a main net in a net cage in the fish farm.
The present invention is advantageous, because areas having vulnerable or valuable coral reefs at the bottom and where conventional net cages are not allowed, can now be utilized and at the same time protected.
One concept of the invention is to provide, by pumping, sea water from a certain depth and/or fresh water from land to a traditional 3D (three dimensional) net cage having a net.
Another concept of the invention is to provide a waste collecting equipment adapted for collecting feed residues and/or faeces / feces from farmed fish and/or dead fish that sink down in a net cage of a fish farm.
Yet another concept of the invention is to provide a securing equipment adapted for preventing farmed fish from escaping from a net cage in a fish farm.
The invention teaches a system for creating a water shield in a floating fish farm. The water shield can have, but is not limited to, at least one of the mentioned purposes: i) to keep the fish within the fish farm warm during the winter or when it is cold for the fish; ii) to keep the fish within the fish farm cool during the summer or during very hot weather with respect to the fish; iii) to relieve or reduce or moderate the stream force(s) of tide water(s) or other water stream(s); iv) to combat or struggle against fish louse; and v) to protect the fish in the fish farm from the surrounding sea or ocean and all diseases therefrom, and/or vice versa.
The invention teaches also a system for collection of fish waste, such as faeces / feces, and/or food / feed waste or residues and/or dead fish. The main purpose here is to protect the environment. The waste can be pumped to a collecting tank or container. The tank or container can be on land or floating on the water surface or arranged on a barge or platform floating on the sea surface.
Furthermore, the invention teaches a securing system for preventing the farmed fish from escaping into the sea or ocean during different operations with the fish or for other purposes or due to damage(s) of a main net in a net cage of a fish farm. At least one of the purposes here is: i) to prevent losing some or lots of the farmed fish under different manipulations of the farmed fish (e.g. if the main net cage gets broken or damaged at one or several places); ii) to prevent farmed fish from pairing with wild fish of the same art; and iii) to prevent diseases on the farmed fish from infecting wild fish, and/or vice versa.
The invention can be adapted and used in already existing fish farm(s) or when building new ones.
The main features of this invention are given in the independent claims. Additional features of the present invention are given in the dependent claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other aspects of the invention are apparent from and will be further elucidated, by way of example(s), with reference to the drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 shows a side view of a fish farm according to the present invention.
Fig. 2 illustrates a top view of the fish farm according to the invention.
Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the fish farm according to the invention.
Fig. 4 illustrates the fish farm according to the invention with several additional elements.
Fig. 5A-5B show a part of a peripheral pipe arrangement in a water shield equipment for the fish farm, the peripheral pipe having holes and/or nozzles.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
Fig. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate different views of a floating fish farm according to the present invention. The fish farm can have at least one net cage (7).
A water shield system according to the present invention is also shown on the drawings. The water shield system is adapted for the net cage (7). The water shield system comprises a first peripheral pipe arrangement (2) of the net cage (7). The first peripheral pipe arrangement (2) can be in the form of a ring. Other forms of the first peripheral pipe arrangement or frame (2) are also possible, such as, but not limited to, triangle, quadratic / quadrilateral, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon, etc. The first peripheral pipe arrangement or frame (2) is adapted for the net cage (7) and is arranged around the net cage (7). The net cage (7) comprises a first or main closing net (7). The first peripheral pipe arrangement or frame (2) comprises further a peripheral pipe (20). The peripheral pipe (20) can have a predetermined number of holes (21) and/or nozzles (22). The holes (21) and/or the nozzles (22) can be peripherally arranged with a predetermined distance (A, A1, A2) from each other. In new fish farms the first peripheral pipe arrangement or frame (2) can be a part of the net cage (7) onto which the main closing net (7) is arranged and hanging down. In old fish farms the first peripheral pipe arrangement or frame (2) can be arranged adjacent to the frame of the net cage (7) onto which the main closing net (7) is arranged and hanging down. The first peripheral pipe arrangement (2) can also have the same form as the frame of the net cage (7). The first peripheral pipe arrangement (2) can further be firmly fixed to the frame of the net cage (7).
Fig. 5A and 5B show that there could be holes (21) and/or nozzles (22) in the peripheral pipe ring (20). It is further shown that the predetermined number of holes (21) and/or nozzles (22) can be arranged to be facing in at least one of: upward direction (see fig. 5B), downward direction (see fig. 5A, 5B) and with a certain angle (alpha / α) with respect to a vertical axis (V) (see fig. 5B). The predetermined number of holes (21) and/or nozzles (22) can be arranged to discharge (through a hole) and/or to spay (through a nozzle), in said at least one direction. As it is clear from those drawings the distance between the holes (21) and/or the nozzles (22) on the peripheral pipe ring (20) can be constant (A), for example, but not limited to, e.g. A = 50 cm or somewhere inbetween 10 - 100 cm, or it can vary (A1, A2) possibly in a certain configuration, for example, but not limited to, e.g. A1 = 50 cm, A2 = 60 cm, A3 = 40 cm, etc.
Sea water from a certain depth (D) in the sea and/or fresh water from land can be delivered to the water shield system. When sea water from a certain depth (D) shall be used, it can be delivered to the water shield system by means of a hose or pipe (60) having one end open at a certain depth (D); see fig. 4. The depth (D) can be near the sea bed.
The first peripheral pipe arrangement (2) can be adapted to discharge and/or spay said water, through said at least one of holes (21) and nozzles (22), in the entire periphery of the net cage (7) or in a certain part of the periphery of the net cage (7).
Discharging and/or spaying water from one side or area (a certain part) of the net cage (7) may be applicable in order to protect the net cage (7) and/or the fish therein from strong water currents or streams.
The first peripheral pipe arrangement (2) can be adapted to be placed at the water surface. It can also be adapted to be arranged submerged at a certain depth less than or at the bottom of the closing net (7).
The water shield system can further comprise a second peripheral pipe arrangement (25). The second peripheral pipe arrangement (25) can be in the form of a ring. Other forms of the second peripheral pipe arrangement or frame (25) are also possible, such as, but not limited to, triangle, quadratic / quadrilateral, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon, etc. The second peripheral pipe arrangement (25) is arranged to be submerged at a certain depth less than the bottom of the closing net (7) and under the first peripheral pipe arrangement (2).
The second peripheral pipe arrangement (25) is adapted to be placed at the water surface or to be arranged submerged at a certain depth less than or at the bottom of the closing net (7).
The second peripheral pipe arrangement (25) can further comprise at least one line or wire (8). Said at least line or wire (8) has one of its ends connected to the second peripheral pipe arrangement (25) and the other end can be arranged to be on net cage (7) at the sea surface and to be easy accessible by a person. Said at least line or wire (8) can be adapted for regulating the depth of the second peripheral pipe arrangement (25) and for pulling the second peripheral pipe arrangement (25) up to the surface.
A water hose or pipe (11) is used for connecting together the first (2) and the second (25) peripheral pipe arrangement in order to secure water exchange therebetween.
The water shield system can further comprise a main water hose or pipe (6) connected to the peripheral pipe arrangement(s) (2, 25) in each net cage (7) of the floating fish farm. Several net cages (7) can be used in one floating fish farm. The main water hose or pipe (6) is adapted for delivery of said water by means of a pump (30).
A barge or floating platform (70) can be used, as shown in fig. 4, in order to coordinate said water to several net cages (7) in the floating fish farm. The barge or floating platform (70) can function and serve as a pump station in the fish farm. The water pump (30) can be mounted on the barge or floating platform (70). Other necessary equipment can be arranged on said barge or floating platform (70).
Discharging and/or spaying water is believed to have a beneficial effect in reducing sea lice infestation and can be used to protect the biomass from special conditions, such as algal attack.
The water shield system can also be used to increase or decrease the temperature in the net cage (7) at extra cold or hot conditions. For example, when the weather is hot, e.g. during the summer, the water near the water surface, respectively in the net cage (7), will be warmer than the water at said certain depth (D), possibly near the sea bed. Then the discharged colder water will of itself fall down from the hole(s) (21) in the peripheral pipe ring (20) of the peripheral pipe arrangement(s) (2, 25). When the weather is cold, e.g. during the winter, the water near the water surface, respectively in the net cage (7), will be colder than the water at said certain depth (D), possibly near the sea bed. Then the discharged warmer water will of itself go up from the hole(s) (21) in the peripheral pipe ring (20) of the peripheral pipe arrangement(s) (2, 25).
The drawings show also a system for collection of at least one of: fish waste, food / feed waste and dead fish. This waste collection system comprises a fabric arrangement (9) arranged under the net cage (7) with its main closing net (7). The fabric arrangement (9) can have own securing net being adapted to be able to encompass or surround at least a part of the main closing net (7). The fabric arrangement (9) comprises a predetermined number of peripheral fabric steps (9). Each peripheral fabric step (9) comprises a peripheral fabric having inward and downward inclination with respect to a horizontal line or axis. Each peripheral fabric step (9) is adapted for catching waste and directing it towards the center and the bottom of the fabric arrangement (9), which is approximately beneath the center and the bottom of the closing net (7). Each peripheral fabric step (9) is arranged with a certain distance in a vertical direction from each adjacent peripheral fabric step (9) in order to create free water flow (10), in a horizontal direction, through two adjacent peripheral fabric steps (9). Each peripheral fabric step (9) overlaps each adjacent peripheral fabric step (9). The perimeter of a peripheral fabric step (9) is bigger than the perimeter of the adjacent peripheral fabric step (9) arranged there-beneath.
The waste collection system can further comprise a waste basket (4). The waste basket (4) is arranged at or near the center and the bottom of the fabric arrangement. The waste basket (4) is adapted to collect said waste.
The waste collection system can further comprise a pump (40), which is adapted for pumping said waste from the waste basket (4) to at least one tank or container (50) via a draining hose or pipe (5). Said at least one tank or container (50) can be arranged on the barge or floating platform (70); see fig. 4. The waste pump (40) can be, but is not limited to, a screw pump. The pump (40) can be mounted in the bottom of the waste collection system. The pump (40) can be arranged in the waste basket (4) or onto the waste basket (4), e.g. under / at the bottom of the waste basket (4) or on one side of the waste basket (4).
The waste collection system can further comprise a sorting arrangement arranged before said at least one tank or container (50). The sorting arrangement can be adapted for sorting said waste into fish waste, food / feed waste and dead fish and then placing each waste into a respective one of said at least one tank or container (50).
The waste collection system can further comprise a peripheral securing arrangement (3). The peripheral securing arrangement (3) is adapted for and arranged around the net cage (7) at a certain depth less than the bottom of the closing net (7). An additional or second securing net (1) is fastened to and beneath the peripheral securing arrangement or frame (3). The peripheral securing arrangement (3) further comprises at least one line or wire (8) being adapted for regulating the depth of the peripheral securing arrangement (3) and for pulling the peripheral securing arrangement (3) up to the surface, thus providing a double netting, e.g. for securing fish from escaping in case the main net (7) is damaged. The main net (7) can be damaged for example due to fish net biting and/or due to net drying.
In one embodiment of the invention, the peripheral securing arrangement (3) can be and constitute the second peripheral pipe arrangement (25).
The drawings show also a separate securing system for securing and preventing farmed fish from escaping from the net cage with the main closing net (7), when or if the main net (7) gets damaged. The securing system comprises a peripheral securing arrangement (3) adapted for and arranged around the net cage (7) at a certain depth less than or at the bottom of the closing net (7). An additional or second securing net (1) is fastened to and beneath the peripheral securing arrangement (3) thus surrounding at least a part of the net cage (7) with its closing net (7). The peripheral securing arrangement (3) comprises at least one line or wire (8) adapted for regulating the depth of the peripheral securing arrangement (3) and for pulling the peripheral securing arrangement (3) up to the surface, thus providing a double netting in case the main net (7) gets damaged.
The additional or second securing net (1) can be tied together at the bottom side and beneath the main or first net (7), in order to constitute a closing net (1).
The peripheral securing arrangement (3) can be drawn or pulled up in order to dry off the main closing net (7), thus preventing the so-called net drying.
Additional modifications, alterations and adaptations of the present invention will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed and stated in the following patent claims.