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
  • A01K63/06—Arrangements for heating or lighting in, or attached to, receptacles for 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
  • A01K61/00—Culture of aquatic animals
  • A01K61/10—Culture of aquatic animals of 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
  • A01K61/00—Culture of aquatic animals
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02A40/00—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production
  • Y02A40/80—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production in fisheries management
  • Y02A40/81—Aquaculture, e.g. of fish

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device in connection with aquaculture facilities for exposing marine organisms to light.
• light sources of this type do not allow for the fact that the light has different penetration power in water depending on its wavelength, and that the pineal gland of fish reacts differently to different wavelengths of light.
• metal halogen vapour lamps which are used also have a shorter lifetime and poorly withstand the movement they are subjected to during installation under water in fish farming facilities.
• Metal halogen vapour lamps require AC voltage in the range of 230/240 V which may be a risk if the equipment is not handled in a prudent and safe manner.
• a device and a method in connection with aquaculture facilities for exposing marine organisms to light as disclosed in the independent claims, 1 and 6 respectively is characterised in that it comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes.
• Advantageous features of the device according to the invention are set forth in dependent claims 2, 3, 4 and 5.
• the method is characterised in that it comprises exposing marine organisms to light emitted from light-emitting diodes.
• Advantageous features of the method according to the invention are set forth in dependent claims 7, 8 and 9.
• One advantage of the device according to the invention is that a far higher proportion of the input power is transformed into light. This results in cost savings compared with the prior art.
• the device comprises encapsulated light-emitting diodes having a higher efficiency than metal halogen light sources. These light diodes emit light in a narrower part of the visible spectrum, preferably from 380 - 600 nm wavelength range. This light has greater penetration power in water than wavelengths in lower and higher parts of the spectrum.
• the light has a greater capacity to suppress melatonin production in light-sensitive marine organisms such as salmon and cod.
• Manipulation of melatonin production is advantageous since it has an effect on the sexual maturation process. Furthermore, such effect results in increased growth rate and better feed utilisation.
• Light-emitting diodes can be dimmed, i.e., light intensity can be adjusted in relation to the natural incoming light in the same part of the spectrum. This contributes to a reduction in energy consumption. By gradually dampening the light in relation to the incoming light from the surroundings, it will be possible to reduce energy consumption by fading out artificial light when daylight arrives.
• the invention contributes to a substantial reduction in energy costs in connection with light control of marine organisms, e.g., fish.
• Figure 1 shows plasma melatonin level in salmon post-smolt exposed to different types of light from light-emitting diodes.
• Figure 2 shows the penetration power in seawater for different wavelengths of light.
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention.
• Figure 4 shows a longitudinal section of the device in Fig. 3.
• Figure 1 shows the plasma melatonin level (pg/ml) at different times (+ 30 min) in salmon post-smolt in saltwater tanks exposed to different types of light from light- emitting diodes.
• the figure shows the melatonin level on exposure to either dark or light blue, green, yellow or red light at night from a light diode-based underwater light.
• the figure shows that blue and green light are most efficient at suppressing the production of melatonin. Values were also measured at 10.00 hours which show the same level in all groups as at 16.30 hours, i.e., no differences between the groups (data not shown in the figure).
• Figure 2 shows the penetration power in seawater for different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation from the sun, including visible light.
• the figure shows that the relative reduction in the penetration power on increasing water depth is least for light in the blue-green range with wavelengths from about 450 nm to about 540 nm (blue and green light).
• FIG 3 is a perspective view of the device 1 according to the invention.
• the device 1 comprises a housing 2 with connector 3 for power supply and sinker 4.
• the device 1 further comprises an element 5 on which light-emitting diodes 6 are mounted.
• the element 5 and the diodes 6 are enclosed by a glass housing 7 which is filled with silicone oil 8.
• the element 5 surrounds a transformer (not shown).
• the glass housing 7 may be made of glass, but it is also possible to use other materials. It is important that the material is clear and lets light through in an amount as close to 100% as possible.
• An advantageous material for the glass housing 7 is acrylic, as this also has the advantage of greater mechanical strength.
• the glass housing 7 encapsulates the element 5 and the light-emitting diodes 6.
• the glass housing 7 is filled with silicone oil to ensure that the light-emitting diodes operate in the correct temperature range, i.e., below 65 - 70°C.
• Silicone oil has a high thermal capacity and ensures that the temperature does not become too high. Furthermore, the silicone oil acts as leak-proofing as water can barely penetrate it. It is also an advantage that silicone oil is not toxic. Since silicone oil is environment-friendly, an accident resulting in a leakage of silicone oil will not be harmful to the marine organisms.
• Figure 4 shows a longitudinal section of the device 1.
• the element 5 may advantageously be configured as a cylinder with an octagonal cross- section. However, many other configurations may be possible.
• the element 5 may be spherical or be configured as a flat element.
• the housing 2 may be made of materials having a high specific gravity, thereby rendering a separate sinker unnecessary.
• Results from a full-scale experiment in commercial offshore salmon farming show the following effects of illumination using the device 1 according to the invention compared with traditional metal halogen lighting and with a control group:
• the control group had natural light from January until June, and in this group 13% sexually mature fish were registered.
• Sexually mature salmon is of such poor quality that it must be discarded or sold at a lower price.
• the experiment shows that a better effect, i.e., a smaller proportion of sexually mature fish, can be obtained by using just 13% of input power when the device with diodes according to the invention is used than when traditional metal halogen lighting is used.
• the device 1 also comprises a sensor which measures light in the desired spectrum and which, via feedback, regulates the light intensity from the light-emitting diodes by means of voltage regulation.
• the light intensity from the diodes is regulated automatically in relation to the incoming light from the surroundings. Thus, energy consumption is further reduced.
• the sensor may be arranged on the device 1. It is also possible to mount the sensor above the water surface or at another point on the pen or cage. Tests have shown that biomass consisting of salmon in a bounded volume of water such as in aquaculture pens follow the light in the water. By using several devices and a means for controlling the position of the devices in the water and the intensity of the emitted light, it is possible to reduce the biomass density in the pen. This will result in better oxygen availability and thus better well-being of the fish.
• sea lice remain in the upper water layers. By using lighting devices in deeper water, it has been seen that it is possible to have a lower build-up of sea lice than if light is used above the water or high up in the water mass.

Landscapes

• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Marine Sciences & Fisheries (AREA)
• Animal Husbandry (AREA)
• Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
• Zoology (AREA)
• Farming Of Fish And Shellfish (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=35295114

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (7)

Citations (4)

• 2005
  • 2005-06-21 NO NO20053039A patent/NO20053039L/no unknown
• 2006
  • 2006-06-20 WO PCT/NO2006/000231 patent/WO2006137741A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2006-06-20 GB GB0800266A patent/GB2442642A/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2006-06-20 CA CA002612379A patent/CA2612379A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2008
  • 2008-01-21 NO NO20080390A patent/NO20080390L/no not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (4)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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