Abstract:
The present invention provides for an off-shore unitary fish farming apparatus, including: a plurality of floatable fish containers aligned sequentially having attachment means for flexibly connecting the containers to maintain the containers in a predetermined relationship to one another, a dampening means attached to at least one or the containers to reduce current and wave and also deflect any floating debris away from the containers, a fish feed tank for holding, mixing and distribution of fish feed slurry to each of the plurality of fish containers, the fish tank having a securing means for attaching the dampening means to the tank; a feed dispenser for radially dispensing fish feed in the container directly beneath the water surface, anchor means to anchor the apparatus to an aquatic floor, the anchor means allowing radial movement or the tank around an anchor position and a crane mounted on the fish feed tank.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a Continuation of and claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0035070 filed on Dec. 1, 2006, which claims the benefit of and priority to International Application Serial No. PCT/CA05/00822 filed on May 31, 2005, which claims the benefit of and priority to Canadian Application No. 2,469,601 filed on Jun. 2, 2004, the entire contents of each of the above-noted applications being incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates to an aquaculture system; more particularly, one aspect of this invention relates to a novel system for aquaculture, particularly useful in environments where the aquaculture system is exposed to the elements (such as in an open ocean environment). 
       BACKGROUND OF RELATED ART 
       [0003]    Fish aquaculture is well known and forms an established industry in many different countries. Known systems generally rely on the use of cages for raising fish, in which the feeding of the fish is controlled using various types of known feeding devices which can either be automated or manually operated. 
         [0004]    Generally speaking, fish “farms” are located in relatively quiet harbour conditions where the weather and ocean environments are not severe as in an open ocean location. The use of such aquaculture systems under relatively calm conditions (i.e. free from wind, current, wave action, etc.) is desirable in order to minimize potential damage to equipment and to provide for controlled feeding. 
         [0005]    With the growing aquaculture industry, many of the relatively good locations (such as quiet harbours) are reaching the point of saturation in terms of the capability of such harbours handling a given number of aquaculture systems; in other cases, the harbours under certain conditions are becoming polluted by the effluent from the aquaculture farming, and in still further situations, the increasing number of aquaculture systems is creating a problem for the use of harbours for ship, boat or similar traffic in terms of potential collisions between such traffic and anchored fish cages. 
         [0006]    It has also been found in recent studies that placing aquaculture cages in water there is an active movement of the water can be desirable in terms of raising fish. Not only does the flow of water aid in the dispersal of effluent, but it appears to have beneficial effects on the raising of fish. 
         [0007]    With modern technology, fish farms using cages often have very large fish populations in such cages—typically 50,000 to more than 100,000 fish can be raised under controlled conditions in a single cage. The amount of food required for such a large fish population poses another problem for the aquaculture industry, since feed supply systems must be continuously refilled or ready access to individual cages using manual feeding systems has to be provided for. 
         [0008]    It would be desirable to develop and aquaculture system which would not be restricted to areas such as harbours but rather, could be located in the open ocean under controlled conditions which would permit raising of fish in a manner similar to that employed in protected areas such as harbours. One of the problems that would be created using an open ocean environment for the fish cages is the fact that ocean currents could cause severe problems for a successful operation; it has been found that when fish are exposed to strong flowing current conditions, the fish population can die. While limited amounts of current are desirable, excessive current is undesirable. Moreover, any ocean aquaculture system would have to be structurally designed so as to permit several fish cages to be contained within a defined area, yet permitting the plurality of cages to adapt to different current conditions when currents change. This would require a freely movable System anchored generally at a fixed point, which system could be rotatable or movable about such a fixed point. 
         [0009]    Moreover, any ocean aquaculture system would have to be designed in such a manner that wave conditions, as well as wind conditions, would have a minimal effect on the aquaculture system, particularly for feeding or food distribution amongst several fish cages. Under quiet harbour conditions, exposure of the upper portions of fish cages would not be a detrimental factor. But, under open ocean, conditions, waves or wind can cause damage to such systems. 
         [0010]    When considering ocean aquaculture systems, other weather conditions such as freezing rain, snow, and the like must also be take into consideration, particularly when employing an automated feeding system. Under certain conditions, the buildup of ice on an ocean system, particularly on a feed distribution system, could be disastrous in terms of maintaining fish under healthy conditions. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0011]    A storage unit of the present disclosure includes a self-contained centralized fish-feed storage and distribution tank suitable for use in open water, said fish feed, storage and distribution tank including: a feed storage bin adapted to hold a supply of fish food; a mounting means for mounting said feed storage bin; a metering means for metering a supply of fish feed from said feed storage bin to a mixing chamber; a mixing chamber for receiving fish feed metered by said metering means, said mixing chamber being connected to a source of water wherein a feed slurry is formed in said mixing chamber; and a pump means operatively associated with said mixing chamber to force the slurry of fish food from said mixing chamber with pressurized water to a plurality of cages. 
         [0012]    A containment system for feeding fish in an environmentally exposed aquatic site which includes the storage unit of the present disclosure is also provided. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    Having thus generally described the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments, and in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of an over all system utilizing embodiments of the invention as disclosed herein; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the feed unit of one invention disclosed herein; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the unit of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a horizontal section taken along the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of a mooring unit according to another invention disclosed herein; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 6  of a modified mooring unit; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of a feed dispersal system used in each of the fish cages; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of the distribution system of  FIG. 8   
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 9  showing the feed slurry distribution pattern in a body of water when the system of  FIG. 8  is in use; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged partial vertical section view showing a preferred structure for the feed distribution system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the overall system of one embodiment of the present invention as illustrated for use in fish aqua culture in an ocean environment where the system would be exposed to typical ocean conditions involving current flow, wind, etc. In the system shown, there are two rows of spaced apart fish cages indicated generally by reference numerals  10 A,  10 B and  10 C in a first row and  12   a,    12   b  and  12   c  in a second parallel row. Each fish cage  10  or  12  can be of conventional fish netting structure for the majority of the cage make-up; as such, the cages may, for example, be 10 to 100 meters in diameter and each is typically designed to hold a fish population of 10,000 to 800,000 fish. 
         [0026]    The cage structure is generally of an open mesh configuration; the cages will be designed to have a closed bottom or otherwise be permanently fixed to the sea bed. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the cages have a depth less than the depth of the water and generally float on the surface of the water with the balance of the cage being suspended beneath the water surface. To this end, each cage may be provided with suitable floatation means either due to the nature of the upper cage structure or by the use of appropriate air cylinders or the like. Typically, the top of the cage is desirably at or slightly above the top of the water surface, at least on the periphery of the cage. 
         [0027]    In  FIG. 2 , the cages are of a type which are of a “closed” structure meaning that the cage has a bottom mesh structure to close off its lower end. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , as will be seen, and in accordance with the present invention, each of the rows of cages are mounted in an arrangement such that the cages are spaced from each other but as an overall unit, function to act as a single unit. To this end, each of the cages is provided with means for laterally and horizontally spacing the cages one from another; typically, semi-rigid or rigid connecting means  14  can be employed—e.g. bars or conduits which are movably connected at their respective ends to opposed cages. 
         [0029]    Lengthwise, to this end, a plurality of similar spacers  16  pivotally or movably connect each of the cages  10  and  12  in a row. To maintain the series of cages  10  and  12  in their respective rows, confinement cables or bars  18  can be employed extending along the outside of each of the rows and connecting one cage to another. Such bars or cables  18  are movably connected to each cage in sequence, to permit relative movement of one cage to another, while maintaining lengthwise alignment. 
         [0030]    In accordance with the present invention, there is also provided a deflector means indicated generally by reference numeral  20 , which is adapted to be at the “front” of the assembly of fish cages. This deflector is intended to have a primary function of deflecting any ocean currents and also any debris or refuse away from the fish cages and is composed of a pair of arms  22  mounted in a “v” shaped configuration in a generally rigid manner. One or more suitable braces  23  may be provided to join the arms  22  forming a generally rigid deflector assembly  20 . 
         [0031]    Arms  22  preferably extend outwardly of the outer lengthwise perimeter of the series of cages  10  and  12 . Deflector  22  preferably has a depth at least equal to the depths of the cages  10  and  12  (see  FIG. 2 ) and may be composed of a mesh-type material (e.g. metallic mesh) which permits a certain amount of water flow through the mesh to enable fresh ocean water to pass through the cages  10  and  12 ; the mesh at the same time will function to deflect much of the current and debris around the cages to avoid damage to the fish within the cage. 
         [0032]    Desirably, the deflector is anchored or connected to the previously described cage system and this can be achieved by use of appropriate connecting members or arms  26  extending transversely across the front of the cages between longitudinal supports  18  together with a plurality of connecting means  30  anchoring the deflector  22  to each of the first fish cage units  10   a  and  10   b.  In addition, a plurality of connecting means  30   a  may be connected between the lead cage  12   a  (and  10   a ) and the deflector  20  extending downwardly from the deflector  20  to spaced-apart points on the first cage (see  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0033]    Reference will now be made to feed storage and distribution tank indicated generally by reference numeral  40  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 3 to 5 . 
         [0034]    Generally speaking, the feed storage system is design to hold a relatively large supply of feed to be dispensed to each of the fish cages and is positioned normally in front of the current deflector  20  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). The storage tank  40  is most desirably designed so as to have a low center of gravity in order to minimize undesired wind and/or wave influences, etc. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , storage tank  40  is mounted on a platform  42 ; the unit includes a downwardly and inwardly tapering bin  44  which is adapted to hold a supply of dry fish food (e.g. pellets). Depending on the size and number of fish cages, the bin  44  may be sized to provide several weeks or months supply of fish food. 
         [0036]    The bin  44  includes suitable means (e.g. an auger or the like) indicated generally by reference numeral  46  adapted to feed fish food pellets to smaller mixing hoppers  48  (of which one or two can be included). Mixing chambers  48  are adapted to receive the dry pellets and to mix them into a slurry form with e.g. sea water. From the mixers  48 , suitable conduit means are provided to connect the slurry feed to a pump  50  capable of forcing the slurry feed through a conduit  52  where it is distributed to the fish cages  10  and  12  (as will be described hereinafter in greater detail). 
         [0037]    In the arrangement shown, a duplicate or identical back-up system is provided so that should one portion of the storage unit fail, duplicate mixing chambers  48   a  and pump  50   a  can be put into operation. It will be noted from  FIG. 5  that in the arrangement illustrated, all of the necessary pumps, mixing chambers, etc., are located on the outer peripheral edge of the bin in order to provide a compact system. 
         [0038]    The arrangement shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5  most desirably includes independent power means in the form of engines  54  and  54   a,  driven by a suitable source of fuel (e.g. such engines can be gas or electrically driven). Such engines will provide power for the pumping system, mixing chambers, and any other requirements in order to maintain the feed tank in an automated condition. 
         [0039]    Desirably, there is also provided means for filling the bin  44  from a supply vessel or barge or the like; as illustrated in  FIG. 4  this may take the form of a crane referred to generally by reference numeral  56  suitably mounted to the feed unit; the crane desirably has a movable arm rotatable around a fixed pivot point and may be provided with a bucket or a hydraulic or a pneumatic system. The crane is positioned to be in operative relationship to the top of the bin  44 , which is normally provided with one or more hatch covers  58  capable of being movably displaced so as to refill the bin when desired. 
         [0040]    Referring now to  FIG. 1  again, the feed storage unit  40  is fixedly secured to either or both of the deflector units  20  and the connecting means connecting the series of fish cages in alignment. To this end, a plurality of independently movable but pivotally attached cables  60  can be employed for this purpose. In this manner, the feed storage unit  40  will be retained in a fixed but independently movable relationship with the fish cages. 
         [0041]    The feed storage unit may be provided with suitable buoyancy means in order to maintain a desired depth in the ocean; such buoyancy means can include structural materials designed to provide the desired buoyancy or air tanks/chambers. 
         [0042]    Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7  there is illustrated a further development used in connection with the anchoring system. More particularly, there is provided a novel mooring pole indicated generally by reference numeral  70 , which consists of an elongated body  72  having at one end thereof a plurality of individual anchor cable fins  74  each of which is adapted to mount an anchor cable connected to an anchor (see  FIG. 1 ). The fins  74  are in a fixed relationship one to the other and to the body  72  of the mooring pole. 
         [0043]    At the opposed end, there is provided a rotatable shaft  76  mounted in the body  72 ; the rotatable shaft  76  includes a coupling  78  adapted to receive and fix thereto a primary cable (described hereinafter). The coupling  78  includes a pivot point  80  permitting the coupling to rotate/move as desired depending on current conditions. As will be seen from  FIG. 1 , the mooring unit is adapted to be positioned beneath the surface of the sea; the coupling  78  includes a primary floating cable  82  extending to either or both of the feed storage unit and the deflector  20 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 7  illustrates a modified version of the mooring pole where similar reference numerals describing similar parts are employed. In this case, the coupling  78   a  can be of a type which is adapted to receive and block a primary cable; as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the coupling  78   a  may be mounted in a housing  79  fixedly secured to the body  72 . 
         [0045]    A plurality of anchors  84  are individually attached one each to the anchor fins via appropriate cables  86  with the anchors  84  being spread out generally in a circular arrangement. In this manner, the complete unit can be positioned in a desired location in the ocean. 
         [0046]    Optionally, it may be preferable to include a weight means (not shown) at the bottom of the fish cages depending on their location to ensure that the cages maintain their desired configuration and, for example, do not collapse onto the fish or alternatively into other cages. Thus, the present invention contemplates the use of, for example, a weighted ring extending annularly along the bottom of the fish cage. Another example contemplated by the present invention includes a plurality of spaced apart weight means positioned along the bottom of each cage to restrain movement of the cages. 
         [0047]    Referring now to  FIGS. 8 to 11 , there is also illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention where each of the fish cages includes a fish feeding dispenser  100  capable of dispensing a slurry within a predetermined area for each of the fish cages. More particularly, a central housing  110  which is normally oriented in a vertical condition when in use. The housing  110  forms a hollow feeding chamber extending from an inlet indicated generally by reference numeral  112  and an outlet  116  at the top of the unit, described hereinafter in greater detail. The chamber can be of varying dimensions both lengthwise and widthwise depending on the area to be served by the unit; typically the diameter may range from 1 inch to 8-10 inches. 
         [0048]    The inlet end, in the embodiment illustrated, includes a generally “U-shaped” lower end portion but the inlet may in fact be vertical or have other orientations depending on the nature of the aqueous body in which the body is to be located. In the arrangement shown, the inlet includes a threaded or similar end portion  118  adapted to be coupled to a source of a slurry feed (not shown). In order to achieve the desired flow characteristics for the slurry feed, the inlet desirably has rounded corners  120   a  and  120   b.    
         [0049]      FIG. 8  illustrates the feed dispenser  100  including a plurality (in this case 6 equally spaced apart) outlets emanating from a central portion, the outlets being indicated generally by reference numerals  116 . Each outlet is designed to disperse a similar amount of slurry feed; the outlets are connected together at the top of the housing  100  through a generally “T-shaped” throat portion  122 , which splits off into the desired number of outlets  116 . Again, the throat section is preferably designed so as to provide smooth arcuate contours in order to aid in the flow of the slurry in a desired manner. Each outlet can comprise an orifice which may be of a varying geometric configuration ranging from generally circular openings (in cross-section) to elongated openings; desirably the opening is dimensioned so as to permit the feed in the slurry to be readily dispersed without any danger of blocking the orifice, as well as to provide the necessary flow velocity. For an efficient operation, the outlets will be designed so that feed is spread in a non-overlapping pattern. 
         [0050]    With respect to the number of discharge orifices, this will vary depending on the nature of the feed to be dispersed, the area of the aqueous body, and other factors which include desired flow velocities, etc. Distribution units of the present invention desirably have a balanced outlet configuration meaning that the outlets are arranged 25 in a spaced apart manner whereby the force exerted by the dispensing of the slurry feed from each of the nozzles is substantially neutral. Thus, for example, two or more outlets can be employed, each arranged in a diametrically opposed relationship; in the case of three outlets, preferably the geometric arrangement is such that the outlets are in a generally triangular configuration. The number of outlets can be as many as 12 or more for large slurry feeding distribution units or as few as two in the case of smaller aqueous bodies or fish types. 
         [0051]    It will be seen from the drawings and  FIG. 9  in particular that the orifices are most desirably oriented such that the slurry feed flow from the orifices is generally oriented upwardly. This is accomplished by the terminal ends of the orifices indicated by reference numeral  124  be arcuately contoured; the angle between the horizontal plane on the lower side of the outlets or nozzles  116  and the vertical plane is such that the feed slurry is directed in an outwardly extending direction above the horizontal plane. Again, for different types of feeds or for different sizes of the distribution units of the present invention, the upwardly inclined discharge portion will have an angle of between 2° to 50°, desirably 3° to 25°, above the horizontal plane. This angle will also vary depending on the positioning of the unit within the aqueous body of water and the amount of water intended to lie above the discharge outlets. The body of water in which the units reside can be correlated to the angle of discharge from the nozzles  116  so as to effect a “welling up” of the aqueous liquid outwardly from the nozzles but without the nozzles being at an angle which would cause the feed slurry to break through the water level. 
         [0052]    Optionally, the unit may include buoyancy means indicated generally by reference numeral  126 ; this buoyancy unit can be designed to maintain the distribution unit at a desired level in an aqueous body. The buoyancy means may be any suitable component such as foam, air bladders, etc. The distribution unit or dispenser  100  may also include cover means  128  if desired such as a rigid cover of suitable material. If a cover is included, it preferably substantially covers all of the diameter of the unit, but not necessarily the apertures or outlets. The cover may be anchored to the feed conduits or outlets  116  by appropriate means such as by screws  130  or the like. 
         [0053]    If desired, the central housing  100  of the unit may be provided with a protective screen or border (not shown) to prevent contact of the housing body by fish. Referring to  FIG. 10 , there is illustrated the distribution unit placed in a body of water, the surface of which is indicated by reference numeral  132 . One optional feature illustrated in  FIG. 10  includes a provision of weight means  134  to position the distribution unit in a desired location in a body of aqueous liquid. The weight means  134  can take various forms—indeed, the unit may be anchored to the bottom using conventional weights such as cement blocks or in deeper water, the unit may be generally anchored in place by means of bottom anchors extending to the bottom of the sea. 
         [0054]    Another optional feature of the distributor is illustrated in  FIG. 11 ; if desired, the unit can be designed to move about a body of water by providing directional control means operating in conjunction with one of the discharge outlets for the slurry feed. In particular, a “U-shaped” channel or body  136  is mounted to the top surface  128  of the apparatus and the channel  136  is provided with a terminal end portion  138  angularly disposed with respect to its main body. The disposition of the terminal end portion is such that it is designed to receive and displace the flow of slurry in a downwardly and rearwardly extending orientation from one of the slurry channels. In this way, the unit may move about the surface of a body of liquid so as to permit a greater area to be fed using a single apparatus. The degree of movement can be controlled by the length of any tethering device attached to the diffuser and the degree of movement permitted by the tethering device. 
         [0055]    In another optional embodiment of the present invention, the distributor may include remote control means operatively mounted in or on the unit to permit the unit to be displaced/moved to different locations. In such a case, the unit need not be provided with anchoring or tethering means; such remote control means are well known for different purposes and can be pre-programmed to cover pre-defined and predetermined patterns. Thus, a suitable motor can be provided, connected to a drive means for propelling the unit. 
         [0056]    For use in climates where ice conditions may be of a concern, the unit can be provided with suitable anti-icing features such as electrical heaters built into the apparatus which are adapted to be turned on when icing conditions are encountered. The distributor can be provided with battery means which can be actuated remotely to effect de-icing when such conditions are encountered. To that end, remote telemetry can also be employed to indicate to a central control (such as a CPU) that icing conditions have been encountered and either the de-icing is remotely activated by manual or automated means. 
         [0057]    The distributor of the present invention can be made from various types of materials. Depending on the environment in which the apparatus is intended to be located, suitable materials include metals of various types, plastics, etc. 
         [0058]    The unitary fish farming system of the present invention is further capable of being moved from its off-shore position to safe harbour simply by towing the system as a unit in the event of serious inclement weather or imminent threat to the site which may otherwise damage the fish in the containers. 
         [0059]    As described in detail herein above, the off-shore unitary fish farming system of the present invention, provides an efficient and economical way of farming large quantities of fish at an off-shore site.