WO2006043116A1

WO2006043116A1 - Technical-technological and ecological solution for tuna farms

Info

Publication number: WO2006043116A1
Application number: PCT/HR2004/000060
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frano Zanki
Original assignee: Frano Zanki
Priority date: 2004-10-21
Filing date: 2004-11-26
Publication date: 2006-04-27
Also published as: HRP20040986A2; HRPK20040986B3

Abstract

The outside elliptical ring of the cage made of plastic pipes is narrower in the front part and by that gives the form to the net in the sea. Two main inside rings of the cage keep the elliptical form. The inside arches in the ends which ensure the firmness of a cage. The middle ring which consists of 4 arches joined in a circle to keep form of the middle part of a cage. A net of the cage and the weight on the net keep the net stretched. The float of the anchorage which carries the central disc which is the junction of 12 anchors in a regular pattern. The central chain which connects the float and the disc which has, on itself, the rotating join which enables the float, on which cages are tied, to rotate -.round its axis for 360 degrees. The bumper-ring to prevent cages to come to the central chain, and at the same time also the carrier of the central disc, so to enable the central chain to rotate easily when it needs. The join of the central disc carrier from the bumper to the disc over 12 thinner chains, and at the same time it can be a reserve tie for cages, over the ring which is on the join of the carrier. The central disc which is the junction of 12 anchors in a regular pattern. Anchoring line which consists of a sinking rope 100m long, chain of 2t and the anchor of 2t. The bumper for parallel and joined cages which bounces off cages from the central chain of the anchorage. Farm-raising cages.

Description

TECHNICAL-TECHNOLOGICAL AND ECOLOGICAL SOLUTION

FOR TUNA FARMS

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION FIELD RELATED TO THE INVENTION

This invention is relative to the field of mariculture with reference to the way of anchoring of a cage for tuna farming, and also the form of the cage for tuna farming, on open sea and on channels between islands.

First cages for tuna farming were made in Japan, and first application of such cages was practiced on a tuna farm in Australia. Those cages are circular in ground-plan form or cylinder in an angle projection. They are in usual size of 50m in diameter and 20m deep. New cages for tuna farming would be in changeable forms.

Also, this invention treats the way of anchoring of cages for tuna farming, on open sea or on channels between islands. Existing anchoring system of farms for any kind of fish is the same and it has not been changed, and the nature of the problem is security, practicality and ecology.

TECHNICAL PROBLEMS OF CAGESANDANCHORAGES

As those cages are filled with live tuna fish from fishing nets 500 nautical miles far away from a farm, it is always problem with towing such cages where the front and the back side of a cage create big resistance because of the width of a cage of 50m. The other problem concerns a capacity of cages what requires strong towboats to tow two cages, one after the other, and that way it creates resistance of 4 nets in tow. and consequently need big consumption of fuel causing problems to engines for creating big resistance.

Existing anchoring system, in relation to the new invention, has disadvantages: It occupies bigger area for arrangement of anchors and cages on a location.

There are many more critical points (joins and bindings) that should be permanently controlled diving every day in an area of 37.000 m2 for a farm capacity of 70Ot. Fixed farm produce pollution always on the same place while, in the new form of a farm anchoring, cages change their places more times a day and so enabling natural predators to clean easer a polluted area , because a surplus of food for tuna do not pile on the very same place.

With fixed farm, it is more difficult to perform all forms of activities, because there are more cages that should be serviced in bad weather conditions, what is not easy job. As the existing form of cage anchoring is fixed, and it cannot adopt by itself to weather conditions and directions of the sea currents, that problem is solved by this invention in a new way creating mobile farm for production of tuna fish.

STATE OF TECHNICS OF CAGES AND ACHORAGES

Existing circular cages started to be used ten years ago and nothing have been changed since then. Circular form of cages (which are produced of plastic pipes for their floating characteristics and ability to carry nets and the weight of cages) is the best solution because the circular form does not allow a cage to be flattened and in such case kill fish. Working for 8 years, as a diver and leader of works on such cages, I have come up to an idea of a new form of the cage, which is narrower in the front side to make towing easer. and longer, so to enlarge the capacity of a cage twice as much of the existing cage, and at the same time there is no risk of flattening it for I have put three round rings in the join similar to the Olympic symbol to get the firm form. At the same time this cage does not cost more, and it is more solid and easer for towing.

Now the way of anchoring of cages includes anchoring of a cage with at least 12 anchors tied in one knot at a depth of 30m what makes easer approach of the cage to the farm, because a towing boat does not need to look for the place between two anchors, as it is in the former system of anchoring, and this also reduce the risk of a possible massive death of fish when making wrong approach with cages to anchorage. In this new way of anchoring, a cage is accepted on the central float and than it is pulled to a defined and necessary distance and there is no danger for the cage to get stuck to any port of an anchorage, because all is deeper than the deepest point of the cage. ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW CAGE FORM AND ANCHORAGE

Primary aim of the invention is easer towing of a cage of the new form, on long distances, in relation to capacity, as the resistance is less than when towing one of cages of existing form, and capacity is doubled, which is equal to two former cages of 50m in diameter. With substantial saving of fuel it reduces possibly mechanical breakdown of a boat engines, what has been often case up to now. The cage is more solid safer on waves in extreme weather conditions on the sea. because of the improved construction from inside. More rings on the surface of the cage, for the firmness of the form, do not cause any bigger towinq problem, because the greatest resistance of 90% is caused by a net below surface, but in this case the resistance is the same as of one smaller cage 45m in diameter, but the capacity is of two cages each 50m in diameter. This way the invention gives practical, bigger in capacity, in form better cage for towing, which can be produced on economical basis including essential advantages in relation to former known cages.

Also, primary aim of the invention is to improve security of cages, which is solved by this invention. It is proved that cages have never any problem in towing position when they are tied with 5 ropes fronially joined in one spot on a distance of about 60m away from a cage. Further aim of the invention has a practical nature as it serves only two cages which, always in the back part, have a lee-side, enabling easer approach for working boats while feeding and for other works. The most important aim of this invention is its ecological characteristics, because in this system cages change their position many times a day in radius of 160m or on a circular surface of 32m in diameter. That is a surface area of 80.384m2. but cages take a surface area of only 8.000 m2, what means 10% of the surface area. Changing positions, less pieces of refuse are concentrated on different places what is easer for natural predators to eat all those eventual pieces of refuse and clean pollution produced of food scraps, which is not piled always on one place as in the former system. In this way of anchoring, it is possible to control security of an anchorage by only one diving activity to control that disc 30m deep. The length of tied ropes, from a cage to a float or a buoy, is just of thai size not Io allow free aside approach of the cage to the float or buoy. For the security reason, a ring of 30m in diameter, made of the same pipes as a cage, is placed as a bumper so to enable cages, carried by the sea currents, to come up on the chain of an anchorage, but simple touching the bumper, they float on the side of the farm, there where they are placed by the sea currents. All tying ropes must be floatable, the same way as in towing, so to move freely on the surface passing freely over the smooth pipe of the bumper ring. It is normal that, in a strong stormy weather, the main chain will be burdened, but as soon as direction of wind or the sea currents start to change the chain become loose and turns as much as it needs. This system of anchoring with 12 anchors enable to cages to be always safe burdening 5 anchors at least.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Fig. l . From angle projection, it is evident that the cage is of elliptic form which Improves towing conditions, and also increases capacity compared to existing forms.

Fig.2. Ground-plan view shows ring-like holders of the cage form and all joins.

Fig.3. Join of the first and the last arches of pipes which is fixed on outside of perimeter of the cage.

Fig.4. Join of the middle ring to two basic round rings, first and the last which keep the elliptic form.

Fig.5. Join of all arches and rings at middle part of the cage where both pipes are loose, that is flexible because of bigger diameter of the metal ring coupling.

Fig.6. Join of the outside perimeter with inside rings on places where pieces of a pipe are put in-between to have a double pipe all over the perimeter. That join is of a joint form, which means flexible to the inside pipe on the right. The Joint connection is not visible on the drawing for it is hidden by the pipe. Other metal joins which join 2 pipes are flexible and loose, that is bigger in diameter for the inside and outside pipe to prevent free movement on sea waves.

Fig.7. Arrangement of towing ropes inside and outside of the cage for the sake of an additional firmness in towing.

Fig.8. The angle projection in the space clearly shows possibility for free regulation of the cage in space conditioned by sea currents and winds. On the float with the little house, the main anchoring chain hangs, which weights 2 toes, and can be turned around for 360 degrees.

Fig.9. Ground-plan of a farm shows constructions of all possible bindings. Fig.10. Side view clearly shows that depth of the anchoring rope and the join in one knot is deeper than the deepest point of the cage, so there is not danger that the bottom of the cage get stuck on a part of an anchorage. Fig.1 1. Junction of the cylindrical disc, throughout which the central chain passes.

And serves as carrier of lower main disc, that is, junction of anchoring ropes so that the central chain can rotate. This junction on the drawing hangs on the ring 30m in diameter made of the same pipes as the cage, and it serves as a bumper of the cages not to come to the central chain by the sea currents. The junction at a depth of 6-7m and it has a metal ring in the middle from which both cages can be tied as a reserve tying also for the upper part of the cage, also for the weights of the net if necessary.

Fig.12. Main disc heavy up to 1000 kg which hangs with 12 ropes is of round form 30m in diameter, and connected over the junction of the cylindrical disc which is on a depth of 6-7m. The rotating joint is seen on the drawing, and also the join of the central chain to the disc, which is flexible because there is a ball on the lower side which has bigger diameter than the hole in the centre so in that way it has the same possibility to rotate in the hole of the disc.

DETAILD DESCRIPTION OF AT LEAST ONE OF THE WAYS OF REALIZATION OF THE INVENTION

New cages have oval, elliptical form which is narrower in the frontal part and longer than existing cages, what makes towing easer. So capacity is increased, now equal to 2 existing cages, and at the same time there is no danger from getting flattened, because three round rings are placed in the join, similar to the Olympic symbol, to get firmness of the forms. At the same time production costs of cages is not higher, but it is more solid and bigger, and it is easer in towing. It is also firmer and safer on waves in extreme weather conditions on the sea, due to the improved construction from inside This invention is also applicable in the anchoring system of a farm in capacity of 700 tones of tuna fish in farming. Two elliptical cages (what was 6 cages before) capacity of 350 tons each, wide 46m and long 86m are tied together (see Fig.8.), and they are tied frontally, each by 5 ropes to one point (central anchor). That can be either a float or a buoy 5 tone of their carrying capacity.

That float or buoy can rotate each around its axis for 360 degrees. On the float or buoy, there is a 2-tone heavy chain hanging down 30m deep, which has two rotating joins. At depth of 30m, deeper than the deepest points on cages, there is a hanging disc of 1 ,6m with 12 connections for tying 12 anchoring ropes arranged in a circle.

The invention also increases security of anchoring of cages, because when cages are tied in a towing position, with 5 ropes frontally joined to one point at a distance of about 60m from cages, they have much better characteristics and they also function better then the existing anchoring system because they are adoptable to weather conditions and the sea currents. In this way of anchoring, it is possible to inspect the security of a anchorage in only one diving, where that disc with 12 anchoring ropes is controlled at depth of 30m, and cages are tied to the surface float or buoys, so that it is easy to control those ropes because all is at one place. Length of the tying ropes from a cage to a float or a buoy is just of that length to enable side approach of a cage to a float or a buoy. For security reasons, it is necessary to put a ring 30m in diameter, which is made of the same pipes as the cage to serve as a bumper, so to protect cages, carried by the sea currents, to come on the anchoring chain, but simple touching the bumper they float to the other side of a farm, there where it is placed by the sea currents. AU tying ropes should be floatable, the same as in towing, so to move freely on the surface and over the smooth pipe of the bumper ring. Bumper-ring is tied, with 12 ropes, to one ring-like disc with the hole through which the central chain passes at the dept of 6-7m, and that finger- like disc is further tied with 12 chains to the big anchoring disc, so that big disc hangs on the ring-like bumper, but the main heavy chain is free that way and easily goes around as the sea current change, that is, the position of cages. That rotation is enabled by two rotating joints (see Fig.12). It is normal that the main chain will be burdened in a strong storm, but as soon as the wind or the sea currents start changing their directions, the chain becomes loose and turns as needed. This system of anchoring, with 12 anchors, enables cages to be always safe, burdening at least 5 anchors. Each anchor weighing two tones plus 30m of a chain weighing 2 tones. HOW TO APPLY THE INVENTION

This invention is applicable for tuna farming on tuna farms. The process of tuna farming includes towing tunas in cages with live tunas taken from fishing nets at distances up to 500 nautical miles far away from farms. There is always a problem in towing such cages because the frontal and the back side of cages produce big resistance with cages of 50m. and which is solved by this invention, because of this form of the cages and the way of towing it results with big savings and improvements, as in this way by this big cages which are of bigger capacity and by form better for towing, cages can be towed faster and economically to an other location. The production of cages includes essential advantages in relation to the existing cages, by firmness, form, capacity and practicality.

The application of the invention is in the new way of anchoring of a farm for tuna farming, capacily of 700 tones, where two elliptical cages, each 46 wide and 86 long, are tied together, side by side, parallel, each with 5 ropes in one point on the central anchor (the same way as in towing), and in that way they have a possibility to move in space of a circle of 320m in diameter, depending on directions of the sea currents and winds.

Claims

PATENT CLAMES

1. Cage for tuna farming which consists of plastic pipes, on which hangs the net with its weights, wherein having oval, elliptic form which gives an advantage in towing and also in capacity, that is, in volume.

2. The cage according to the claim 1. wherein its frontal oval (elliptical) part in direction of towing or against the sea currents is narrower, than usual existing cages of half capacity.

3. The cage according to the claim 2. wherein demand for - because of the oval, elliptical form and increased capacity- 3 round rings, made of plastic pipes (Fig.2), which are interwoven in the form of the Olympic symbol, to give the firmness and resistance to forces of waves and the sea currents from all directions, that lias been only one round ring, up to now.

4. Anchorage for tuna cages wherein consisting of 12 anchors of 2 tones, 12 chains of 2 tones and 12 ropes of 100m long which are tied to the centra! disc at depth of 30m, deeper than any of the deepest points on cages there is 1.6m disc hanging with 12 connections for tying 12 anchoring ropes. That disc hangs on the chain of two tones connected to the float of 10 tones carrying capacity with rotating joint, so to enable the float to move around its axis for 360 degrees.

5. Anchorage according to the claim 4. wherein functioning so that two elliptical cages, total capacity from 600 to 700 tones of tuna fish, are connected to be parallel and frontally tied to the float with 10 towing ropes, and so always taking positions against the sea currents and strong winds, that is, waves, what ensures the safest position and has the possibility to rotate cages, around central anchorage, for 360 - degrees, depending on the direction of the sea currents.