WO2016063033A1 - Procédé et appareil pour l'alimentation en aquaculture - Google Patents
Procédé et appareil pour l'alimentation en aquaculture Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2016063033A1 WO2016063033A1 PCT/GB2015/053121 GB2015053121W WO2016063033A1 WO 2016063033 A1 WO2016063033 A1 WO 2016063033A1 GB 2015053121 W GB2015053121 W GB 2015053121W WO 2016063033 A1 WO2016063033 A1 WO 2016063033A1
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- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- float
- air
- buoyancy
- feeding apparatus
- feed
- Prior art date
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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
- A01K61/00—Culture of aquatic animals
- A01K61/80—Feeding devices
-
- 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
- A01K61/60—Floating cultivation devices, e.g. rafts or floating fish-farms
-
- 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 invention relates to methods and apparatus for aquaculture feeding, with particular applicability to salmonid farming.
- Sea lice are a major problem in the fish farming industry. Sea lice belong to the copepod family, and are found naturally throughout the northern hemisphere. Sea lice have affected salmon fishing for a long time. For example, the salmon louse, Lepeophtheirus salmonis was described by the zoologist Henrik Nikolai Krayer in 1837. Sea lice are host-specific, and depend on their host (e.g. salmonids) to complete their life cycle.
- the problem is not limited to farmed fish. Increases in sea lice numbers pose a threat to wild salmon as the lice can transfer from fish pens to wild fish. Although the main impact of sea lice is reduced growth, in the worst case scenario, reduced growth in vulnerable wild populations can harm their reproductive potential.
- a recent trial used a funnel that forced the fish to stay lower in the cage and resulted in a reduction of infestation by 66 to 84%. This trial suggests that keeping the fish lower in the water may reduce the infestation by reducing the time that the fish stay in the area where infestation typically takes place.
- the cage environment is the key to good fish production.
- the density may be increased at these depths by a factor of 1.5 to 5, or in some cases up to 20. Thus the whole cage is not being used and the increased density may be detrimental to the fish, for example it may facilitate the transfer of sea lice between hosts, increasing infection levels.
- the invention provides an aquaculture feeding apparatus comprising: a feed supply attached to a float of variable buoyancy.
- the invention provides an aquaculture feeding apparatus comprising: a feed supply attached to a float of variable buoyancy; and a flexible element connected between the variable buoyancy float and a mount structure, the flexible element being arranged to hang in an arc between the variable buoyancy float and the mount structure.
- a feeding apparatus with adjustable buoyancy allows feed to be distributed to farmed aquatic animals (including fish, shellfish, molluscs, etc. but in most preferred cases farmed fish such as salmon) at a variable depth within the water.
- the system may be used in either freshwater or salt water environments, but will gain particular benefit in sea farms where sea lice are more problematic.
- the buoyancy of the variable buoyancy float can be adjusted so as to control the floating depth of the float, i.e. the depth below sea level.
- As the feed supply is attached to the float varying the depth of the float also varies the depth of the feed supply.
- the availability of food is one of the major factors that affects the preferred depth at which fish swim.
- feed is supplied close to the sea surface which is also where the conditions are ideal for sea lice to breed. The fish are thus drawn closer to the surface in order to feed and are thus more susceptible to sea lice infestation.
- the fish can be adjusted so as to control the floating depth of the float, i.e. the depth below sea level.
- the feed supply depth can be combined with other environmental factors to influence the preferred swim depths and optimize the conditions for maximum health and growth of the animals.
- a deep feed supply is not necessarily an ideal solution. While this may draw the animals away from the surface regions (where lice are present) in order to feed, if the feed level is uncomfortable, e.g. due to non-optimal temperature and light levels, the animals will simply return to the surface after feeding.
- the adjustable depth feed supply can be adjusted regularly (or continually) so as to maintain optimal conditions for the animals.
- the surface temperature may be colder than the temperature at a depth of, e.g. 10 metres. Where the surface is uncomfortably cold, the animals may then prefer to swim at this greater depth and avoid rising to the surface. With a traditional surface feed supply the animals will simply wait for the feed to descend down to their preferred swimming depth.
- feed supply attached to a float of variable buoyancy the feed supply can be lowered to supply feed at, or closer to, the preferred swim depth, increasing efficiency of feed supply and facilitating increased growth and health by increasing feed uptake.
- the water level (with respect to the land) can vary e.g. with tides and this will in turn affect the preferred swim height (with respect to the land) for aquatic animals.
- the buoyancy of the float may be varied in different ways. For example it can be varied by adjusting the mass while keeping the volume constant or it can be adjusted by adjusting the volume while keeping the mass constant, or a
- a fluid with a different density to that of the ambient water is used to adjust the buoyancy.
- the fluid may be of a greater or lesser density or fluid of one density could be replaced with fluid of a different density so as to alter the buoyancy of the float.
- the float may comprise a fluid chamber or reservoir to contain the fluid of different density to the ambient water.
- the chamber may be an expandable chamber, e.g. a chamber that can be inflated and deflated by adding and removing fluid.
- the chamber may be a fixed volume and the amount of a fluid within the chamber can be adjusted by adding or removing that fluid to change the mass within the chamber.
- the fluid supplied to the chamber is gas, more preferably air.
- the quantity of air held within the float determines its buoyancy either by water replacement (forcing water out or drawing water into the chamber) so as to alter the mass or by inflating and deflating the chamber to change its volume.
- the volume of the chamber may be adjusted by compressing and decompressing gas, e.g. using a compressor or a pneumatic cylinder without requiring any external supply.
- the aquaculture feeding apparatus may further comprise a fluid supply line arranged to supply fluid of different density to the ambient water so as to vary the buoyancy of the float.
- the float may further comprise a fluid outlet through which fluid may be expelled so as to change the buoyancy. This may be to reduce the volume of an expandable chamber.
- a fluid less dense than water (preferably air) is supplied to and drawn from the chamber through an upper opening.
- Supply of the less dense fluid through the upper opening forces water out of a lower opening thus decreasing the mass within the chamber.
- Drawing the less dense fluid from the upper opening draws water in through the lower opening thus increasing the mass within the chamber.
- the feed supply could be from a feed reservoir held on the float and which requires periodic restocking.
- the feeding apparatus further comprises a feed supply line attached to the float.
- the feed supply line can deliver feed from a much larger reservoir or store, e.g. on nearby land or on a nearby floating vessel such as a barge which is easier and less expensive to restock.
- a plurality of supply lines could be used or a single supply line (or multiple supply lines) may branch to provide a plurality of outlets so as to provide a more even distribution of feed.
- the aquaculture feeding apparatus may further comprise a fixed buoyancy float in addition to the variable buoyancy float.
- the fixed buoyancy float may be designed to support the majority of the weight of the underwater part of the system so that the variable buoyancy float only needs to overcome a small portion of the total weight in order to adjust the height.
- the aquaculture feeding apparatus preferably further comprises a flexible element connecting between the variable buoyancy float and a separate mount structure.
- the flexible connecting element is preferably made from a material of a different density to the ambient water.
- the flexible connecting element is preferably more dense than the ambient water so that it sinks and provides a downwards force on the variable buoyancy float and on the mount structure. The downward force helps to stabilize the feeding apparatus in the water.
- the use of a flexible connecting element means that as the end points are moved to different relative vertical positions, the weight distribution between the different support structures (the variable buoyancy float and the mount structure) is changed so that the different supports have to support different weights.
- the flexible element is preferably arranged to hang in an arc between the variable buoyancy float and the mount structure at certain depths of the variable buoyancy float.
- the mount structure could be fixed relative to the land, e.g. it could be mounted to a jetty or pier or to the land itself, or to the seabed.
- the separate structure is a floating structure.
- This floating structure floats on the surface of the body of water and thus moves up and down with the tides and with waves.
- the oscillatory vertical movement of the floating structure caused by waves causes movement and a change in the relative weight distribution of the connecting element between the floating mount structure and the submerged float
- the frequency of oscillation is sufficiently high in relation to the movement rate of the submerged float that it does not cause any substantial movement of the submerged float which thus remains at a relatively stable depth even during periods of high waves.
- An alternative arrangement is to have the mount structure mounted (e.g. anchored) to the seabed.
- the flexible connecting elements can partially rest on the seabed when the feeding device is in a lowered position, thus adjusting the weight distribution of the flexible element between the variable buoyancy float and the seabed.
- the flexible connecting element preferably comprises at least one rope, cable, chain or similar.
- the material of the connecting element is preferably a dense and/or heavy material compared to the ambient water, such as a metal.
- the connecting element may comprise different sections of different construction, for example a length of heavier chain to provide weight, connected to the separate structure via a length of lighter weight rope.
- a single connecting element may suffice in some circumstances.
- two or more connecting elements attached to different positions on the variable buoyancy float are used to provide balance and stability. These plurality of connecting elements may be attached at the other ends to a common attachment point on the mount structure or to different points.
- the flexible connecting element may pass through an aperture in the variable buoyancy float.
- This has the advantage that the variable buoyancy float and the separate structure on or near the water surface can be kept substantially in line with one another and thus provides an easy way of controlling and/or monitoring the lateral position of the variable buoyancy float.
- the aperture may also be formed in the fixed buoyancy float if used and, depending on structure, through a feed supply chamber.
- variable buoyancy float By having a plurality of connecting elements attached to the variable buoyancy float and connected to different positions on the mount structure (or structures) can provide stability by holding the float in a balanced position between the attachment points and thus holding the float stable against currents. At the same time, as the flexible elements hang in an arc, there is slack in the system such that waves do not cause high tensions which could snap the flexible elements if they were already taut. This is important as the float and feeding device are located within the cage. If the float and feeding tube, or severed cables/ropes were able to drift to the edge of the cage, there would be a risk that they could catch and/or tear the cage netting allowing the farmed animals to escape.
- the aquaculture feeding apparatus may further comprise an air retaining structure on the variable buoyancy float, the air retaining structure having a roof and side wall and being open at the bottom so that air can be retained within the air retaining structure while underwater to create an underwater air/water interface.
- the provision of an air water interface underwater that can be depth adjusted (by adjusting the buoyancy of the float) is advantageous because it provides a local source of air for aquatic animals, e.g. for fish to gulp air so as to fill the swim bladder. Normally, animals would have to return to the surface to do this, but as described above, the surface may not be optimal in other respects, particularly due to the presence of sea lice larvae or lower temperatures.
- the provision of an air/water interface underwater and at variable depth can improve the environment by reducing the necessity to return to non-optimal conditions.
- air is supplied to the air retaining structure via an air supply line that also supplies the variable buoyancy float.
- a single supply can then be used for both purposes and can be controlled simply by different valves.
- the invention provides a method of supplying feed in aquaculture, comprising: adjusting the buoyancy of a variable buoyancy float so as to adjust the floating depth of said float; and supplying feed through a feed supply attached to said variable buoyancy float.
- the invention provides a method of supplying feed in aquaculture, comprising: adjusting the buoyancy of a variable buoyancy float so as to adjust the floating depth of said float and thus changing the distribution of weight of a flexible element connected in an arc between the variable buoyancy float and a mount structure; and supplying feed through a feed supply attached to said variable buoyancy float.
- said adjusting step may comprise: supplying fluid of different density to the ambient water through a fluid supply line so as to vary the buoyancy of the float.
- Said adjusting step may comprise: expelling fluid through a fluid outlet of said float.
- Said supplying step may comprise: supplying feed through a feed supply line attached to the float.
- a flexible connecting element may be provided between the variable buoyancy float and a separate structure and said adjusting step may comprise: changing the distribution of weight of the flexible connecting element between the variable buoyancy float and the separate structure.
- the separate structure may be a floating structure.
- the flexible connecting element may comprise at least one rope, cable, chain or similar.
- the method may further comprise supplying air to an air retaining structure on the float, the air retaining structure having a roof and side wall and being open at the bottom, so that air is retained within the air retaining structure creating an underwater air/water interface.
- the air may be supplied to the air retaining structure via an air supply line that also supplies air to the variable buoyancy float.
- the aquaculture feeding apparatus may further comprise a winch arranged to be able to raise or lower the variable buoyancy float.
- the winch may act on the flexible connecting element to reel in or pay out the flexible connecting element, thus adjusting the weight distribution between the variable buoyancy float and the mount structure.
- the winch may be connected to the variable buoyancy float by a separate line and be capable of directly raising and/or lowering the variable buoyancy float and hence the feeding device.
- the winch is preferably provided on a mount structure floating on the sea surface.
- the adjustment of the weight distribution of the flexible elements by reeling them in and paying them out (or otherwise adjusting their length) from the mount structure can also be used with a fixed buoyancy attached to the feed supply.
- the fixed buoyancy can be arranged to support the weight of the feed supply and a certain length of flexible element(s). Adjusting the length of the flexible element connected between the mount structure(s) and the fixed buoyancy will therefore adjust the depth of the fixed buoyancy and thus the depth of the feed supply.
- Using a fixed buoyancy simplifies the system a little and is particularly suited to situations where adjustment is required relatively infrequently e.g. once a week or less rather than more dynamic systems which will likely benefit more from a variable buoyancy implementation.
- the invention provides an aquaculture feeding apparatus comprising: a feed supply attached to a float of fixed buoyancy; and a flexible element connected between the fixed buoyancy float and a mount structure; wherein the length of the flexible element connected between the fixed buoyancy float and the mount structure is adjustable.
- the preferred features described above in relation to the variable buoyancy arrangement also apply to this aspect of the invention.
- the flexible element is arranged to hang in an arc between the fixed buoyancy float and the mount structure.
- the aquaculture feeding apparatus preferably further comprises a winch on said mount structure arranged to reel in and pay out said flexible element.
- a method of supplying feed in aquaculture comprising: adjusting the floating depth of a fixed buoyancy float by adjusting the length of at least one flexible element attached between said fixed buoyancy float and a mount structure; and supplying feed through a feed supply attached to said fixed buoyancy float.
- the adjusting step preferably comprises: changing the distribution of weight of the flexible element between the fixed buoyancy float and the mount structure.
- the adjusting step preferably comprises winching said flexible element.
- two or more flexible elements and mount structures may be provided.
- a winch may be provided for each flexible element, e.g. at each mount structure.
- the invention provides an apparatus for feeding aquaculture fish at various depths comprising: a feeding device that distributes feed in the cage, said device containing a possibility to displace water with gas to allow raising or lowering the device (feed spreader) in the water; a floating element; and a connection between the feeding device and the floating element, the connection having a specific weight not equal to water, the floating element holding the weight of the feed spreader and the connection, and wherein the feeding device can be inflated with gas to an amount that relates to a specific water depth .
- Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a variable buoyancy feeding system
- Fig. 2 shows a detail of the feeding system of Fig. 1 ;
- Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment of a variable buoyancy feeding system
- Fig. 4 shows a third embodiment of a variable buoyancy feeding system
- Fig. 5 shows a detail of the embodiment of Fig. 4.
- Figs. 6 and 7 show a fourth embodiment of a variable buoyancy feeding system.
- Fig. 1 shows an aquatic feeding system that is suitable for salmon farming amongst other applications.
- the feeding system comprises a submerged feeding device 10 that includes a fixed buoyancy float 11 , an air container 12 that provides an adjustable buoyancy and a feed container 13 from which feed is supplied to aquatic animals such as farmed salmon.
- Feed is supplied to the feed container 13 via feed supply line 14 that is connected to a feed source or feed store (not shown) on land or on a nearby vessel such as a barge. Feed is distributed to the aquatic animals through a plurality of feed outlets 15 from the feed container 13.
- Air or other gas is supplied to the air container 12 via supply line 16.
- air container 12 may have a variable volume that depends on the quantity of gas held within it. However, as shown in Fig.
- the air container 12 has a fixed volume and the buoyancy is altered by changing the ratio of air to water within the container 12.
- air e.g. pumped in through supply line 16 connected to upper inlet/outlet (upper valve) 18
- water in the container 12 is forced out through lower inlet/outlet (lower valve) 17 thus increasing the buoyancy of submerged feeding device 10 so that the feeding device 10 rises in the water.
- air container 12 acts as a variable buoyancy float that can be used to adjust the overall buoyancy of the submerged feeding device 10.
- Air (or other gas) can also be vented from the air container 12 back up through line 16. When air is vented up line 16, water is drawn in through lower inlet/outlet (lower valve) 17 into the air container 12 so as to decrease the buoyancy of air container 12.
- a surface floating device 20 floats on top of the surface of the water. This floating device 20 moves along with the waves.
- two flexible connecting elements 21 are connected at one end 22 to the submerged feeding device 10 and at the other end 23 to the surface floating device 20 which serves as a mount structure. The use of more than one connecting element 21 helps to keep the feeding device 10 horizontal.
- the flexible connecting elements 21 include a relatively heavy chain 24 that is connected to the submerged feeding device 10.
- the chains 24 are then both connected to a common rope 25 of lighter weight material that connects the chains 24 to the surface floating device 20.
- lead rope may be used. In some examples, lead rope with a weight of approximately 2 kg / m may be used.
- the rope 25 extends from the surface floating device 20 through an aperture 26 in the submerged feeding device 10 (in fact through apertures in each of the fixed buoyancy 1 1 , variable buoyancy 12 and feed container 13). This keeps the submerged feeding device 10 in line with the surface floating device 20.
- the submerged feeding device 10 will start to sink. As the submerged feeding device 10 sinks, more of the weight of the chains 24 is transferred over to the surface floating device 20.
- the overall buoyancy of the submerged feeding device 10 should be adjusted so that it will keep the feeding device 10 at the maximum recommended feeding depth for the aquatic animals.
- the maximum depth at which the animals (e.g. fish) are happy to feed is preferred so as to minimize the chances of sea lice infection which tends to occur closer to the surface.
- Cages can be constructed in a large variety of sizes with varying depths. For example some cages may have a depth of 50 metres.
- the feeding device 10 may be adjusted so as to provide feed at any depth within the cage or it may be restricted to a certain range of depths within the cage. For example, it may not be necessary to deploy the feeding device 10 to the very bottom, particularly in very deep cages. Therefore the feeding device may be restricted e.g. to 70% of the cage depth.
- a winch or similar may be provided on the floating device 20 that can draw in or let out the rope 23 and thus can be used to raise or lower the feeding device. This provides an alternative mechanism for depth adjustment that can be utilized in addition to or instead of using air supply to the air container 12 through the line 16.
- the submerged feeding device 10 will become lighter (more buoyant) and will start to pick up weight from the chains 24.
- the submerged feeding device 10 will at some stage come to an equilibrium at a water depth that relates to the amount of air held within the air container 12.
- the surface floating device 20 can move up and down with the waves. This motion will move the weight of the chains 24 back and forth between the surface floating device 20 and the submerged feeding device 10. This will not cause the submerged feeding device 10 to move up and down significantly since the movements of the floating device 20 caused by the waves are rapid in comparison to the sluggishness of the feeding device 10. Therefore the feeding device 10 remains quite steady in the water with regard to vertical movements.
- the response of the feeding device 10 to the driving force of the waves will depend on many factors, including the size of the cage, the weight of the chains 24 and the size and frequency of the waves.
- waves of a few metres in amplitude may result in movement of the feeding device 10 with an amplitude of only a few tens of centimetres.
- the submerged feeding device 10 will float all the way to the surface and stay under the surface floating device 20. This provides an upper level for the feed supply that is close to the surface (which will sometimes be the optimal feeding level) and also allows for easy access to and maintenance of the submerged feeding device 10.
- the farmer can regulate the feeding depth continuously according to the varying ambient environmental conditions and accordingly a degree of influence can be had on the preferred swim depths of the farmed aquatic animals.
- salmon can be influenced to swim deeper when a high concentration of sea lice is present near the surface. This will not only benefit the farmed fish by reducing infestation, but will also reduce the breeding of sea lice and their potential to infest wild fish that pass near to the farm.
- the benefits of this system are not limited solely to the reduction in sea lice infestation, but also extend to more sophisticated control of feeding behavior and fish density within the farm cages.
- the farmer can detect abnormal behavior and adjust the feeding height to alleviate stresses for the animals so as to promote health and growth, thus increasing production.
- Fig. 2 shows an alternative view of the submerged feeding device 10, in particular showing the rope 25 passing through an aperture 19 in the centre of the feeding device 10, passing through all of the fixed buoyancy unit 11 , the air container (variable buoyancy) 12 and feed container 13.
- Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment of a variable depth aquatic feeding system that is similar in operation to that shown in Fig. 1 , but also showing the boundary of cage 150.
- this embodiment provides two (or more) spatially separated structures 120 (for the purpose of illustration, these may be fixed relative to land or they may be floating structures).
- a chain 124 and rope 125 is connected between each structure 120 and the submerged feeding device 110. The symmetry of the system keeps the submerged feeding device generally centrally positioned with respect to the structures 120.
- the air supply 116 in addition to being used to adjust the buoyancy of submerged feeding device 110 is also used to supply air to a conical structure 130 which is open at the bottom and closed at the top. This provides a localized air/water interface 131 lower than the air/water interface at the sea surface 140. This localized air/water interface 131 allows fish to gulp air to fill their swim bladders without having to visit the upper region of the cage 150 which may be sub-optimal, e.g. due to an abundance of seal lice larvae.
- Fig. 4 shows a third embodiment of the system. Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 3, showing the cage walls 250 and sea surface 240.
- a feeding device 210 is connected to each of two (or more, not shown in the Figure) spatially separated surface structures 220 (which may be fixed relative to the land or seabed or may be floating on the sea surface) by chains 224 and ropes 225 (together forming flexible connecting elements 221).
- a feed supply unit 260 (this may be a buoy or similar) is also shown, floating on the sea surface 240 with a first feed supply line 261 that supplies feed (generally in the form of pellets) to the feed supply unit 260.
- a second feed supply line 214 then supplies feed to the feeding device 210 from the barge 260.
- a water supply line 262 provides water to the feed supply unit 260 for hydrating and softening the feed pellets.
- Fig. 5 illustrates the operation of the third embodiment in more detail.
- Feed pellets are supplied through supply line 261 by blowing air through the line 261. As the pellets reach the feed supply unit 260, they fall to the bottom of the unit 260 while the air from supply line 261 is vented through an opening in the top of supply unit 260. Meanwhile, compressed air is supplied through pipe 263 to the bottom of water supply line 262. As the compressed air rises up water supply line 262, water is carried with it. Upon reaching the feed supply unit, the compressed air is released through the opening in the top of supply unit 260, while the water is delivered to the base of the unit 260. As the feed pellets are delivered into water within the feed unit 260 they absorb water, becoming softer and more easily digestible by the animals in the cage 250.
- Submerged feeding device 210 has a fixed buoyancy part 211 that supports some (but not all) of the weight of the feeding device 210.
- the rest of the support comes from the variable buoyancy air container 212.
- the ratio of air 212a to water 212b can be varied by supplying air or drawing air back through an air supply pipe (not shown in this figure).
- the submerged feeding device may of course be provided with sensors so as to sense the depth and/or the amount of air 212a and/or water 212b present within the air chamber 212.
- the sensed data may be fed back to a controller (along with other useful information such as temperature, salinity, current direction and velocity data and other indicators of animal wellbeing or stress that may be useful for controlling and adjusting the depth of feeding device 210.
- Figures 6 and 7 show a fourth embodiment of a variable depth aquatic feeding system that is similar in operation to that shown in Figs. 1 and 3.
- the boundary of cage 350 is shown.
- a surface floating device 320 is shown in the form of a floating ring (best seen in Fig. 7 which shows a top view). This floating surface device may be fixed relative to land, e.g.
- Two flexible connecting elements 321 are provided, each comprising a weighted part such as a chain 324 and a lighter part such as rope 325. Each is connected to the surface ring 320 and the submerged feeding device 310. The symmetry of the system keeps the submerged feeding device generally centrally positioned with respect to the structure 320. In particular, the two flexible elements 321 are connected to points on the ring about 60 degrees apart so as to form a triangle. Opposite these two connections on the structure 320 is the feeding hose 314. This is typically a strong plastic hose, e.g. made from polyethylene and extends in the opposite direction to the two flexible elements 321. Together these three connections hold the feeding device 310 stably in
- FIG. 7 shows the system from above and illustrates several feeding outlets 315.
- Figure 6 shows the system from the side and also shows the air hose 316 and a camera 370 which hangs below the cage to monitor feeding activity.
- the camera 370 is adjustable in height by adjusting the length of camera line 371 which runs round a pulley 372 on feeding device 310 to keep it vertically underneath the feeding device 310 for best monitoring.
- Line 373 is also connected to camera 370 to allow the camera 370 to be pulled up easily for cleaning or maintenance.
- a data connection cable may also be integrated with either one of lines 371 or 373 or may be provided separately. Lines 371 and 373 connect back to a camera operation point 374 which may be located on the floating ring 320 or on a barge.
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Marine Sciences & Fisheries (AREA)
- Zoology (AREA)
- Animal Husbandry (AREA)
- Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
- Farming Of Fish And Shellfish (AREA)
Abstract
La présente invention concerne un appareil d'alimentation en aquaculture (10, 110, 210, 310) comprenant : une alimentation (16, 116, 214, 314) fixée à un flotteur à flottabilité variable (12, 212) et un élément flexible (21, 125, 221, 321) raccordé entre le flotteur à flottabilité variable (12, 212) et une structure de montage (20, 120, 220, 320), l'élément flexible (21, 125, 221, 321) étant agencé de manière à être suspendu dans un arc entre le flotteur à flottabilité variable (12, 212) et la structure de montage (20, 120, 220, 320). Un appareil d'alimentation (10, 110, 210, 310) à flottabilité réglable permet de distribuer de la nourriture à des animaux aquatiques d'élevage (parmi lesquels poissons, crustacés, mollusques, saumons, etc.) à une profondeur variable dans l'eau (212B). Un procédé de distribution d'aliments en aquaculture comprend le réglage de la flottabilité d'un tel flotteur (12, 212) de manière à ajuster la profondeur de flottaison dudit flotteur (12, 212) tandis que la répartition du poids de l'élément flexible (21, 125, 221, 321) raccordé dans un arc entre le flotteur (12, 212) et la structure de montage (20, 120, 220, 320) est modifiée.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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NO20170825A NO346410B1 (en) | 2014-10-20 | 2015-10-20 | Method and apparatus for aquaculture feeding |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB1418624.1 | 2014-10-20 | ||
GBGB1418624.1A GB201418624D0 (en) | 2014-10-20 | 2014-10-20 | Method and apparatus for aquaculture feeding |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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WO2016063033A1 true WO2016063033A1 (fr) | 2016-04-28 |
Family
ID=52013295
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB2015/053121 WO2016063033A1 (fr) | 2014-10-20 | 2015-10-20 | Procédé et appareil pour l'alimentation en aquaculture |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (1) | GB201418624D0 (fr) |
NO (1) | NO346410B1 (fr) |
WO (1) | WO2016063033A1 (fr) |
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CN107223620A (zh) * | 2017-08-04 | 2017-10-03 | 郭伟锋 | 基于贝类养殖的水处理系统及水处理方法 |
CN109162264A (zh) * | 2018-11-02 | 2019-01-08 | 广州市卓源机电科技有限公司 | 一种取水口无动力自动拦污装置 |
NO20171813A1 (en) * | 2017-11-15 | 2019-05-16 | Nippon Steel & Sumikin Eng Co | Feeder, Aquaculture system and feeding method |
WO2020072438A1 (fr) * | 2018-10-05 | 2020-04-09 | X Development Llc | Système de positionnement de capteur |
WO2020167134A1 (fr) * | 2019-02-13 | 2020-08-20 | Stingray Marine Solutions As | Unité d'observation immergée pour un réservoir à poissons |
CN111955400A (zh) * | 2020-08-28 | 2020-11-20 | 衡东县新旺种养农民专业合作社 | 一种水产养殖喂食机用喂食机构 |
WO2021006744A1 (fr) * | 2019-07-05 | 2021-01-14 | Hxsengineering As | Système et procédé de positionnement d'un épandeur d'aliments dans un enclos d'aquaculture pour l'élevage d'organismes marins |
CN112385590A (zh) * | 2020-11-19 | 2021-02-23 | 张飞杰 | 一种带有投料功能的水产养殖装置 |
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WO2021113265A3 (fr) * | 2019-12-02 | 2021-09-23 | Gary Schaffer | Système et procédé pour commander le transport de systèmes d'alimentation d'aquaculture |
US11594058B2 (en) | 2019-11-12 | 2023-02-28 | X Development Llc | Entity identification using machine learning |
WO2023196750A3 (fr) * | 2022-04-04 | 2023-11-09 | Climate Foundation | Procédé et appareil de culture de plantes marines et de macroalgues |
PL442864A1 (pl) * | 2022-11-16 | 2024-05-20 | Instytut Zootechniki - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy | Uchwyt pływakowy |
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CN107223620A (zh) * | 2017-08-04 | 2017-10-03 | 郭伟锋 | 基于贝类养殖的水处理系统及水处理方法 |
NO344706B1 (en) * | 2017-11-15 | 2020-03-16 | Nippon Steel Eng Co Ltd | Feeder, Aquaculture system and feeding method |
NO20171813A1 (en) * | 2017-11-15 | 2019-05-16 | Nippon Steel & Sumikin Eng Co | Feeder, Aquaculture system and feeding method |
WO2020072438A1 (fr) * | 2018-10-05 | 2020-04-09 | X Development Llc | Système de positionnement de capteur |
CN113260253A (zh) * | 2018-10-05 | 2021-08-13 | X开发有限责任公司 | 传感器定位系统 |
US11659819B2 (en) | 2018-10-05 | 2023-05-30 | X Development Llc | Sensor positioning system |
JP7194815B2 (ja) | 2018-10-05 | 2022-12-22 | エックス デベロップメント エルエルシー | センサ位置決めシステム |
JP2022501021A (ja) * | 2018-10-05 | 2022-01-06 | エックス デベロップメント エルエルシー | センサ位置決めシステム |
CN113260253B (zh) * | 2018-10-05 | 2023-08-15 | X开发有限责任公司 | 传感器定位系统 |
CN109162264B (zh) * | 2018-11-02 | 2023-10-31 | 广州市卓源机电科技有限公司 | 一种取水口无动力自动拦污装置 |
CN109162264A (zh) * | 2018-11-02 | 2019-01-08 | 广州市卓源机电科技有限公司 | 一种取水口无动力自动拦污装置 |
CN113660858A (zh) * | 2019-02-13 | 2021-11-16 | 斯丁格雷海洋解决方案公司 | 一种用于鱼缸的潜入式观察单元 |
CN113660858B (zh) * | 2019-02-13 | 2023-08-22 | 斯丁格雷海洋解决方案公司 | 一种用于鱼缸的潜入式观察单元 |
JP7408672B2 (ja) | 2019-02-13 | 2024-01-05 | スティングレイ・マリン・ソリューションズ・アーエス | 水槽の水中観察ユニット |
WO2020167134A1 (fr) * | 2019-02-13 | 2020-08-20 | Stingray Marine Solutions As | Unité d'observation immergée pour un réservoir à poissons |
WO2021006744A1 (fr) * | 2019-07-05 | 2021-01-14 | Hxsengineering As | Système et procédé de positionnement d'un épandeur d'aliments dans un enclos d'aquaculture pour l'élevage d'organismes marins |
US11983950B2 (en) | 2019-11-12 | 2024-05-14 | X Development Llc | Entity identification using machine learning |
US11594058B2 (en) | 2019-11-12 | 2023-02-28 | X Development Llc | Entity identification using machine learning |
WO2021113265A3 (fr) * | 2019-12-02 | 2021-09-23 | Gary Schaffer | Système et procédé pour commander le transport de systèmes d'alimentation d'aquaculture |
CN111955400A (zh) * | 2020-08-28 | 2020-11-20 | 衡东县新旺种养农民专业合作社 | 一种水产养殖喂食机用喂食机构 |
CN112385590A (zh) * | 2020-11-19 | 2021-02-23 | 张飞杰 | 一种带有投料功能的水产养殖装置 |
CN112544527A (zh) * | 2020-12-04 | 2021-03-26 | 浙江海洋大学 | 一种精准投饵装置 |
CN112715452A (zh) * | 2020-12-29 | 2021-04-30 | 安徽省黄雀畈现代农业开发有限公司 | 一种水产养殖用饲料流动投喂装置 |
WO2023196750A3 (fr) * | 2022-04-04 | 2023-11-09 | Climate Foundation | Procédé et appareil de culture de plantes marines et de macroalgues |
PL442864A1 (pl) * | 2022-11-16 | 2024-05-20 | Instytut Zootechniki - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy | Uchwyt pływakowy |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
NO20170825A1 (en) | 2017-05-19 |
GB201418624D0 (en) | 2014-12-03 |
NO346410B1 (en) | 2022-07-11 |
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