WO2017216512A1

WO2017216512A1 - Method and apparatus for controlling fish

Info

Publication number: WO2017216512A1
Application number: PCT/GB2017/051163
Authority: WO
Inventors: Elizabeth MARTIN CHILDS; Darius Alan Martin
Original assignee: Atlantic Lionshare Ltd; BEATTIE, Alex T. S.
Priority date: 2016-06-16
Filing date: 2017-04-26
Publication date: 2017-12-21
Also published as: GB201610520D0; GB2551495A; GB2551495B

Abstract

A method, submersible and system of controlling a target species using an submersible (20), wherein the method comprises the steps of: manoeuvring an submersible (20) to position a tube mouth (32) mounted on the submersible around the body of an individual of a target species; activating an impeller (30) to produce a pressure potential which sucks the individual through the tube (31) and into a container (34) attached to the tube end (33) opposite and distal from the mouth; and deactivating the impeller. The submersible for controlling and capturing a target species comprises: a tube having a tube mouth and a tube end, distal from the tube mouth, a container removably attached to the tube end, a flap (35) moveable between a closed and an open position, the flap arranged within the tube to control movement of objects though the tube; and an impeller in communication with the tube, at a location between the flap and the tube mouth, to create a pressure potential between the tube mouth and the distal end when activated. According to the system, the submersible is deployed in a target area for capturing individuals of the target species.

Description

Method and apparatus for controlling fish

Description of Invention

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling fish and in particular, a method of capturing invasive species of fish, such as lionfish, with virtually no by-catch.

Invasive species of fish are proving to be devastating to the local environment and impact on the local economy. For example, in the west Atlantic, lionfish have been introduced from their native region of the Indian and Pacific oceans around the Philippians. In the west Atlantic, the species has no natural predators and is thriving in the new habitat.

In recent times, lionfish are reported as a problem in Bermuda, the Caribbean, USA and parts of the Gulf of Mexico and South America, and the population spread and population density continue to grow rapidly. Lionfish populations may be found in large numbers at depth as well as in shallower waters and they are happy in a range of habitats such as coral reefs, artificial reefs, mangroves and sea grass beds. The fish are having a big impact on the native species and coral reef, on which they feed. The lionfish are also impacting on commercial interests and represent a risk to health, as the lionfish have venomous spines. This affects recreational and commercial fishing, the tourist industry, divers, snorkelers, and swimmers. Lionfish are also having an impact around oil rigs. Accordingly, there is a need to mitigate the negative impacts of the lionfish by continuous management of their population, by monitoring and removal of the fish. Management of their population is difficult because of the risk from their venomous spines.

Spear fishing techniques are used but the small numbers of fish that are killed and the level of safety equipment required means that such methods are inadequate to effectively manage the population growth. Other diving techniques include use of a syringe-type slurp-gun to trap and bag fish, typically for collecting tropical fish species. Lobster trappers report that lionfish are often caught in small numbers in lobster traps but this is incidental and is not enough to control their population in the diverse habitats that they populate. There are not currently commercial viable fishing techniques.

GB1505074.3 and US application no. 14/691447 are directed to a method and apparatus for controlling fish. These present the first attempt to automate fishing for specific invasive species of fish using two ROVs working together from a surface vessel.

There is a need to develop technology to efficiently manage the fish population using trapping, deep water culling, and shallow water culling solutions while minimising the risk to health and by-catch.

The present invention aims to provide a more efficient system of automated fishing which requires fewer people needed to handle equipment, which is cheaper and more efficient. Using smaller and more efficient machines may provide an improved system.

Summary of the invention

Aspects of the invention are set out in the accompanying claims. One embodiment provides a method of controlling a target species using a submersible, wherein the method comprises the steps of: manoeuvring a submersible to position a tube mouth mounted on the submersible around the body of an individual of a target species; activating an impeller to produce a pressure potential which sucks the individual through the tube and into a container attached to the tube end opposite and distal from the mouth; and deactivating the impeller.

Once the submersible is in the water, and an operator has manoeuvred the submersible into position, in-line with a target species of fish, using a remote submersible controller, the operator activates an impeller in communication with the tube. This creates enough suction in the tube to force the fish into the tube mouth, through the tube and then into a container. Once the fish is captured, the impeller is deactivated.

Further, the pressure potential may cause a flap to move from a closed position to an open simultaneously with sucking the individual through the tube. The flap may be biased to the closed position by a resilient member. Thus, the flap may move in response to the impeller action. When the impeller is activated, the flap opens to allow the fish to move through the tube. When the impeller stops in deactivated the flap closes and the fish is trapped in the container i.e. the flap assists with containing the fish and prevents the captured fish from escaping.

According to the method two or more submersibles may be deployed from a surface vessel. Optionally four submersibles may be deployed from a single surface vessel. Each submersible may be operated from the surface vessel to clear a harvest area.

The submersibles may be controlled via a tether connected to the surface vessel, by an operator in the surface vessel. The submersible may be powered via a tether connected to a surface vessel or batteries carried on the submersible.

In order to identify harvest areas, in addition, the operation may use one or more scout boats to locate an area containing a target species.

When one or more individuals are captured in the container the submersible may be returned to the surface vessel. A sensor may be used indicate that the container is full, and therefore when there is a need for the submersible to return to the surface vessel.

Once the submersible has returned to the surface vessel, the submersible may be lifted or hoisted to the deck of a surface vessel and the container removed. Then the removed container may be replaced with an empty container and redeploying the submersible. Thus, the method works efficiently to clear an area of a target species.

Meanwhile, any captured individual(s) may be prepared for packaging and shipping.

Thus, the method may be used for collecting and processing captured fish to be later sold. The method is both efficient and cost effective. Furthermore, the method minimises the impact on the environment while targeting particular species of fish.

A submersible for controlling and capturing a target species, and suitable for use in the method, comprises: a tube having a tube mouth and a tube end, distal from the tube mouth, a container removably attached to the tube end, a flap moveable between a closed and an open position, the flap arranged within the tube to control movement of objects though the tube; and an impeller in communication with the tube, at a location between the flap and the tube mouth, to create a pressure potential between the tube mouth and the distal end when activated.

Thus, a modified submersible is provided suitable for carrying out the method. Typically the submersible is a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV).

Further, the ROV flap may be biased by a resilient member in a closed position. Therefore, if the impeller is activated to provide a pressure potential the flap may be caused to open and simultaneously suck water and an individual of the target species through the tube to the container. Thus, the flap assists with containing the captured individual.

The container may be a mesh bag or a cage. The container may be attached to the tube with an O-ring seal, clips or a draw string. The container may hold up to 50kg of the target species. In some arrangements the container may hold more than 50kg of the target species. Thus, the container may contain many individuals of the target species. Therefore, the ROV will only have to return to the surface vessel periodically, when the container is full or when an area has been cleared.

The tube and container arrangement may be removably attached to the ROV with straps. The tube may be a telescopic tube 31 that may be moved between a retracted position and an extended position. Thus, the mouth of the tube may be extended to reach an individual of the target species which is located in a position that would be inaccessible to the ROV.

The impeller may be located on the bottom surface of the ROV and the tube and container arrangement may be attached to the bottom of the ROV. Overall, a system for controlling a target species is provided. The system comprises: an ROV; and deploying the ROV in a target area for capturing individuals of the target species. Further the system may comprise a surface vessel, wherein the submersible may be connected to the surface vessel by a tether, and the submersible may be powered and or controlled via the tether. The submersible may be controlled by an operator to manoeuvre the submersible to position the mouth of the tube around a body of an individual. If the impeller is activated to provide a pressure potential, the flap may open and simultaneously suck water and an individual through the tube to the container.

In the system, two or more submersibles may be deployed from the surface vessel. Optionally up to four submersibles may be deployed from a single surface vessel. Further comprising one or more scout boats may be employed to locate a harvest area. At least one deck-hand may assist in the use of the apparatus.

Thus, a method, submersible and system are provided to address the problems with the known art in the pursuit of controlling a marine target species.

Brief description of the drawings Further advantages of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art with the benefit of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and upon reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a known ROV;

Figure 2 is a simplified diagrammatic illustration of a known ROV; Figure 3 illustrates a front view of a modified ROV suitable for carrying out the method;

Figure 4 illustrates a side view of the modified ROV of figure 3;

Figure 5 illustrates the method; and

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of the method.

Description of the invention

Referring to the drawings, like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding features throughout the views.

In overview, the invention relates to a method of catching and killing an individual of a target species using a submersible. A submersible may be a Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicle (ROV), a submersible robot, a manned submersible, a hand-held scuba-scooter, a ride-on scuba-scooter, a sea-glider and other types of diver propulsion vehicles that are capable of being modified for the purpose of the invention. There are many types of submersibles available today. ROVs are particularly useful. There are many types of ROVs available today. According to the invention, one submersible is used. The submersible used described herein can be readily modified from basic models in order to carry out the specific tasks required in the

environment in which it operates. Although the description is with reference to an ROV the skilled reader will understand that the ROV could be substituted for any suitable marine submersible.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a known ROV 10 suitable for modification for carrying out a method of collecting a target species. The ROV is a relatively light and manoeuvrable model of ROV that is able to accelerate and turn quickly. Figure 2 is a simplified diagrammatic version of figure 1 . The ROV 10 has a frame 1 1 which surrounds the other components of the ROV 10. Lights 12 and a camera 13 are mounted on the front of the ROV 10. One or more thrusters 14 are mounted at the back or sides of the frame 1 1 , and the one or more thrusters 14 are used to manoeuvre the ROV 10. On the upper surface of the ROV 10, a handle 15 is located. The handle 15 is used to secure a tether 16 and may also be used for attaching a hoist for deploying the ROV.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a modified ROV 20 suitable for operation between depths of 0m to 1 100m and is a machine that is agile and able to be

manoeuvred to find a targeted species. Similarly to the known ROV 10, the modified ROV 20 has a frame 21 which surrounds some or all of the other components of the ROV 20. Lights 22 and a camera 23 are mounted on the front of the ROV 20. One or more thrusters 24 are mounted at the back or sides of the frame 21 , and the one or more thrusters 24 are used to

manoeuvre the ROV 20. On the upper surface of the ROV 20, a handle 25 is located. The handle 25 is used to secure a tether 26 and may also be used for attaching a hoist for deploying the ROV. The lights 22 and camera 23 may be used together by an operator in order to quickly and effectively locate an individual fish of a target species in a designated area. The locating equipment is suitable for use over the full depth range (typically up to 1 100m) and in a diverse range of habitats. The ROV 20 is typically a small machine that is capable of moving relatively quickly around reef habitats and other habitats which are likely to be identified as harvest areas for the targeted fish.

The thrusters 24 are mounted towards the back and on the sides of the ROV 20 that may be controlled by an operator for manoeuvring the ROV 20.

Additional cameras may be mounted at other locations on the ROV to provide a wider field of view. Control signals are preferably received by the ROV 20 via the tether 26 cable. Other components of the ROV 20, such as an arm may be mounted on the ROV 20. Typically an arm is used for relocating and untangling the tether 26 if it becomes tangled around the ROV 20, such components will be known to those skilled in the art. Power is preferably supplied to the ROV 20 via the tether 26 connected to a surface vessel. The frame 21 surrounds the components of the ROV 20 so that they do not become damaged during use, and to provide strength and stability to the structure.

The ROV 20 is modified from a standard ROV 10 to include a suction tube 31 and impeller 30 for providing suction in the tube 31 . The impeller 30 may be an additional auxiliary thruster mounted on the bottom of the ROV 20. The impeller 30 is in communication with the interior of the tube 31 to provide a pressure potential when it is activated (i.e. to reduce the pressure in the tube). The suction tube 31 is preferably mounted on the bottom of the ROV 20 and includes a funnel shaped mouth 32 opening at the front end to direct targeted fish into the main body of the tube 31 . Attached to the rear end 33 of the tube

30 is a releasable holding bag 34 for retaining captured fish. Between the tube opening 32 and the holding bag 34 is a flap 35 which in a closed position retains captured fish in the releasable container or holding bag 34. The tube

31 may have a diameter of approximately 12cm. The tube 31 is of suitable size to allow the targeted fish to easily pass through the tube body from the opening to the holding bag 34. Relative to the flap 35 and the mouth opening 32, the impeller 30 is therebetween. The funnel arrangement around the opening 32 of the tube 31 assists in directing the fish into the tube 31 . Of course, other arrangements of the suction tube 31 are anticipated by the applicant. For example, the suction tube 31 may be positioned on one side of the ROV 20 with the impeller 30 mounted on the side of the ROV 20 also. Typically, the suction tube 30 will be made from a plastic or metal material that is suitable for use in salt water conditions.

The holding bag 34 attached to the rear end 33 of the tube 31 may be attached using a O-ring clamp. Typically, the bag 34 will be a mesh material that allows water to pass through the bag 34. Alternatively, the bag 34 may be attached to the ROV by a "drawstring method" and metal fasteners. The bag 34 may be suitably sized to hold approximately 50kg, or more of fish. The flap 35 inside the suction tube 31 can be made of any suitable material. The flap 35 is attached to the suction tube 34 with a hinge arrangement. The flap 35 may move between an open and closed position in order to control movement of captured fish. The flap 35 opens in one direction. In an open position, fish may pass freely from the opening of the suction tube 31 into the collection bag 34. With the flap 35 in a closed position the fish that have already been captured will be retained in the suction bag 34. Movement of the flap 35 is preferably controlled by the impeller 30, i.e. the flow of water created by the impeller may cause the flap to open. The flap 35 is biased to the closed position with a resilient member, or may return to a closed position under the influence of gravity.

As noted above, the impeller 30 is mounted the bottom surface of the ROV 20. The impeller 30 may be controlled via the tether 26 by an operator on board of a surface vessel. When the impeller 30 is activated it creates a pressure potential in the suction tube 31 , by generating a flow of water which directly or indirectly causes a flow of water within the tube 31 in the direction passing from the mouth 32 next to the rear end 33. The flap 35 is sucked or pushed open as a result. Water is drawn along the tube 31 from the opening 32 of the suction tube 31 to the collection bag 34. As a result, if any fish are positioned in or near to the tube opening 32 they will be drawn through the tube 31 with the water. When the impeller 30 is turned off, the bias of the flap returns the flap 35 to the closed positon, thus, captured fish are trapped and retained in the collection bag 34.

When the collection bag 34 is full the ROV 20 returns to a surface vessel and the ROV 20 is hoisted from the water onto the deck of the surface vessel. The collection bag 34 may be removed and replaced with an empty collection bag 34.

To carry out a method of collecting and catching a target species, one or more ROVs 20 are taken, in a surface vessel, to a fishing site and deployed to work under water. The ROVs 20 are used to harvest the target species from the fishing site. The ROVs 20 are operated from the surface vessel (or another location). Each of the ROVs 20 may operate using an independent operating system. The ROVs 20 are independently manoeuvrable relative to each other and to the surface vessel, however, they are preferably each attached to the surface vessel with a tether 26. Typically the tethers 26 will have a length of approximately 1 100m to allow for a suitable range of movement by the ROV 20 according to their depth range. The surface vessel may have additional equipment for assisting and identifying the location of the target species.

In order to find a harvesting location for the target species, the surface vessel may be in communication with a number of scout boats which takes images of the ocean floor. This information is relayed to the operator on board the surface vessel to identify areas that contain the targeted species.

When the surface vessel arrives at a location for harvesting the targeted species, a hoist is attached to the ROVs 20 and the ROVs 20 are deployed from the surface vessel, for instance by lowering the ROVs into the water by a crane. The ROVs 20 are then manoeuvred to the ocean floor or another target site by an operator while a deckhand manages the tethers 26. Figure 5 illustrates the steps of the method. More details of the method will become apparent to the skilled person from the subsequent description of the systems apparatus.

Focussing now on just one ROV 20, once deployed 50 the ROV 20 is used to locate a specific individual fish of the target species 51 using the on board camera 23. The ROV 20 is agile and manoeuvrable and responds to commands provided by the operator from the surface vessel. The lights 22 and camera 23 are used to provide the operator with an image of the area around the ROV 20. Other sensors may also be used by the ROV 20 to identify the fish. These may be mounted on the ROV 20 and used in combination with the lights 22 and camera 23. Once a fish is located by the operator, the ROV 20 is manoeuvred into position with the mouth opening of the tube close to the location of the fish 52. The operator may receive confirmation 53 that the fish is in the correct position relative to the ROV 20 with a hair-trigger or laser site overlay on the camera image.

When in position, the operator activates 54 the suction impeller 30. This sucks the fish through the tube 31 and into the collection bag 34. The suction impeller 30 may be manually disabled 55 after the fish has been collected or the impeller 30 may operate for a predetermined set time.

The operator may determine when the collection bag 34 is full, or this may be determined by a sensor 56. If the bag is not full, the process of identifying fish and capturing them with the ROV 20 continues until the area is cleared. If the bag is full or there is a need for the ROV 20 to return to the surface vessel for another reason, the ROV returns to the surface 57. When the ROV 20 is at the surface, a crane hook is attached to the ROV 20 and the ROV 20 is lifted to the deck of the surface vessel with the collection bag 34 attached. The collection bag 34 is removed 58 by deck hands, and replaced with an empty collection bag 59.

The ROV 20 can be immediately returned to the ocean 50 to continue collecting more fish of the target species.

Meanwhile, the deck hands can process the fish to prepare them for packaging. After the target species have been boxed, the fish may be processed for storage packaging and shipping for sale. If the target species is a venomous species, e.g. lion fish, the deck hands may take appropriate precautions, such as wearing protective clothing and removing the venomous part of the fish before shipping.

The impeller 30 may generate 3.8 kPa - 4.7 kPa to suck the fish into the collection bag 34. Typically, only three or four rotations of the impeller 30 are required to open the flap 35 and suck the fish into the bag 34.

To collect a fish will take approximately five seconds or less. Figure 6 illustrates diagrammatically the steps of locating the tube mouth 32 around a fish 52 (figure 6a), activating the impeller 30 to suck the fish through the tube 54 (figure 6b) resulting in the fish being captured in the bag 34 (figure 6c). As noted above, several ROVs 20 may be operated in the same harvesting area or adjacent harvesting areas from the same surface vessel.

The ROVs 20 may be powered and controlled from the surface vessel via the tether 26. Thus, the ROVs 20 can effectively operate for extended periods of time. When a particular location has been cleared of the target fish species, the ROVs 20 may be returned to the surface and hoisted onto the deck of the surface vessel so that the whole operation may relocate.

As the fish are identified by an operator, the system can be used to collect a specific fish species and thereby manage their population effectively.

Where the harvest area is in a location where there are crevices and other features that the target species could hide in, the suction tube 31 described above may be replaced with a telescopic suction tube 31. Thus, the tube 31 may be extended from the ROV 20 to locate the mouth of the suction tube in a location where the ROV 20 is not able to fit. A telescopic suction tube 31 would be extendable using cables to extend and retract the tube 31 . The cables could be rope, chain or wire. In an alternative method, in depths which are accessible by divers, the ROV 20 may be accompanied by a diver. The diver may operate the ROV 20 from under water and visually identify the target species. In another arrangement, the ROV may be substituted for a manned vehicle operated by an in-vehicle diver. In some circumstances it may be unnecessary to tether the ROV to a surface vessel.

In alternative arrangements, the impeller 30 may be replaced with a venturi- pump or an air-lift pump. These may be powered by hydraulic fluid or water. A venturi-pump and or air-lift pump could be mounded in place of the impeller 30 or could be mounted in communication with the tube in addition to the impeller 30. Air-lift pumps are particularly effective in shallow waters. If an airlift pump or venture-pump is mounted in addition to an impeller 30, the operator could choose the most appropriate device for the location and depth of the ROV 20. In an alternative arrangement, the container or holding bag 34 may be replaced by a cage. This arrangement would be particularly useful in situations where the bag 34 presents a hazard, for example by potentially becoming tangled in the ROV thrusters or with vegetation and other environmental features in the harvesting area.

The ROV 20 may be modified to include additional tools, such as sensors and/or sonar. These could be used to assist with the method. For example, sonars could be used to assist with locating the target species. Once the ROV 20 arrives at the identified location, the fish could then be verified using visual identification.

Alternatively, to visual confirmation, object identification software could be used to locate and confirm the identity of the target species.

In an alternative arrangement, the ROVs 20 may carry battery packs and be operated by a remote control means rather than being tethered to the surface vessel. Compared with ROVs used in previous automated fishing systems, the ROVs according to the present application may be significantly smaller. Accordingly, in order to operate the ROVs, a smaller area of deck is required. Furthermore, smaller generators to provide power to the ROVs may be used. Accordingly, it is possible to use up to four machines from a single surface vessel whereas, by comparison, only one pair of ROVs could be used previously. This represents a significant advantage and gain in efficiency and use of resources compared with prior systems.

When used in this specification and the claims, the term "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that specified features, steps or integers and included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or compounds.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilized for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1 . A method of controlling a target species using a submersible , wherein the method comprises the steps of:

manoeuvring an submersible to position a tube mouth mounted on the submersible around the body of an individual of a target species;

activating an impeller to produce a pressure potential which sucks the individual through the tube and into a container attached to the tube end opposite and distal from the mouth; and

deactivating the impeller.

2. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the pressure potential causes a flap to move from a closed position to an open

simultaneously with sucking the individual through the tube.

3. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the flap is biased to the closed position by a resilient member.

4. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the submersible is controlled via a tether connected to a surface vessel, by an operator in a surface vessel.

5. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the submersible is powered via a tether connected to a surface vessel or batteries carried on the submersible.

6. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising the step of deploying two or more submersibles from a surface vessel.

7. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising the step of deploying four submersibles from a single surface vessel.

8. A method according to any preceding claim, further comprising using one or more scout boats to locate an area containing a target species.

9. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein when one or more individuals are captured in the container, returning the submersible to the surface vessel.

10. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the submersible is returned to the surface vessel in response to a sensor indication that the container is full.

1 1 . A method according to any of claims 9 or 10, wherein when the submersible has returned to the surface, lifting the submersible to the deck of a surface vessel and removing the container.

12. A method according to claim 1 1 , further comprising replacing the removed container with an empty container and redeploying the submersible.

13. A method according to any of claims 9 to 1 1 , wherein when the container has been removed from the submersible, any captured individual(s) are prepared for packaging and shipping.

14. A submersible for controlling and capturing a target species comprising: a tube having a tube mouth and a tube end, distal from the tube mouth, a container removably attached to the tube end,

a flap moveable between a closed and an open position, the flap arranged within the tube to control movement of objects though the tube; and an impeller in communication with the tube, at a location between the flap and the tube mouth, to create a pressure potential between the tube mouth and the distal end when activated.

15. A submersible according to claim 14, wherein the flap is biased by a resilient member in a closed position.

16. A submersible according to any of claims 14 to 15, wherein the impeller may be activated to provide a pressure potential causing the flap to open and simultaneously suck water and an individual through the tube to the container.

17. A submersible according to any of claims 14 to 16, wherein the container is a mesh bag or a cage.

18. A submersible according to any of claims 14 to 17, wherein the container is attached to the tube with a O-ring seal, clips or a draw string.

19. A submersible according to any of claims 14 to 18, wherein the container may hold up to 50kg of the target species, or wherein the container may hold more than 50kg of the target species.

20. A submersible according to any of claims 18 to 19, wherein the tube and container arrangement is removably attached to the submersible with straps.

21 . A submersible according to any of the claims 18 to 20, wherein the tube is a telescopic tube 31 that may be moved between a retracted position and an extended position.

22. A submersible according to any of claims 19 to 21 , wherein the impeller is located on the bottom surface of the submersible and the tube and container arrangement is attached to the bottom of the submersible.

23. A submersible according to any of claims 19 to 22, wherein the

submersible is an Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV).

24. A system for controlling a target species comprising:

an submersible according to any of claims 14 to 22; and

wherein the submersible is deployed in a target area for capturing individuals of the target species.

25. A system according to claim 234, further comprising a surface vessel, wherein the submersible is connected to a surface vessel by a tether, and the submersible is powered and or controlled via the tether.

26. A system according to any of claims 24 to 25, wherein the submersible is controllable by an operator to manoeuvre the submersible to position the mouth of the tube around a body of an individual.

27. A system according to any of claims 24 to 26, wherein the impeller may be activated to provide a pressure potential causing the flap to open and simultaneously suck water and an individual through the tube to the container.

28. A system according to any of claims 24 to 27, wherein two or more submersibles may be deployed from the surface vessel.

29. A system according to any of claims 24 to 28, wherein up to four submersibles may be deployed from a single surface vessel.

30. A system according to any of claims 24 to 29, further comprising one or more scout boats.

31 . A system according to any of claims 24 to 30, further comprising at least one deck-hand for assisting the apparatus.

32. A method, system or submersible, substantially as described herein with reference to the illustrative drawings.