Patent Description:
The term shrimp is used to refer to various decapod crustaceans. Shrimp covers any of the groups with elongated bodies and a primarily swimming mode of locomotion - most commonly Caridea and Dendrobranchiata. In some shrimp is used more narrowly and may be restricted to Caridea, to smaller species of either group or to only the marine species. Under the broader definition, shrimp is synonymous with prawn, covering stalk-eyed swimming crustaceans with long narrow muscular tails, long whiskers and slender legs. In the broadest usage, any small crustacean that resembles a shrimp is included. For purposes of this specification and the accompanying claims, the term "shrimp" is to be construed in its broadest sense.

Shrimp swim forward by paddling with swimmerets on the underside of their abdomens, although their escape response is typically repeated flicks with the tail driving them backwards very quickly. While crabs and lobsters have strong walking legs, shrimp have thin, fragile legs employed primarily for perching.

Shrimp are widespread and abundant with thousands of species adapted to a wide range of habitats. Shrimp are be found feeding near the seafloor on most coasts and estuaries, as well as in rivers and lakes. Some shrimp species flip off the seafloor and dive into the sediment to avoid predators.

The muscular tails of many shrimp are edible and they are widely caught and farmed for human consumption. Commercial shrimp species support an industry worth <NUM> billion dollars a year. In <NUM> the total commercial production of shrimp was nearly <NUM> million metric tons. During the <NUM> shrimp aquaculture became more prevalent. By <NUM> the harvest from shrimp farms exceeded traditional harvest from seas and lakes.

Bycatch is a serious problem when shrimp are captured in the wild.

Many shrimp species are small as the term shrimp suggests, about <NUM> (<NUM> in) long, but some shrimp exceed <NUM> (<NUM> in). Larger shrimp are often referred to as prawns.

<CIT> discloses a method comprising providing a multilayer closed conduit aquaculture enclosure, said aquaculture enclosure comprising a vertical array of horizontal support surfaces, each surface having an inlet side and an outlet side, an inlet pipe in fluid communication with a common reservoir, and an efflux tank in fluid communication with said vertical array of support surfaces and having one or more drain holes, said method further comprising stocking said enclosure with shrimp.

The present disclosure relates to stacked growth surfaces in a crustacean aquaculture system. In some examples, a "floor" surface in a stack serves as a ceiling for the layer immediately below it in the stack. In these embodiments, the distance between tiers in a stack is effectively zero. In some embodiments, each layer in the stack is flooded with water from floor to ceiling. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments each layer in the stack is divided by one or more vertical partitions to form compartments or tubes. In some embodiments, there is fluid communication between compartments or tubes at one end only.

For purposes of this specification and the accompanying claims, the terms "tube", "enclosure" and "compartment" each indicate a volume defined by <NUM> contiguous growth surfaces in a stack and <NUM> vertical walls that contact them. For purposes of this specification and the accompanying claims, variables defined in "M<NUM>" indicate volume of tubes in the system or enclosure volume.

For purposes of this specification and the accompanying claims, variables defined in "M<NUM>" indicate either area of support surfaces or area of floor layout space covered by a stack of support surfaces as indicated.

The present disclosure further relates to use of differences in water level to insure a desired flow direction and/or flow rate along stacked growth surfaces in a crustacean aquaculture system. According to these embodiments a difference in height between an upper surface of liquid in a common supply reservoir and a drain in a common efflux tank contributes to behavior of the system.

It will be appreciated that the various aspects described above relate to solution of technical problems associated with enabling production of edible crustaceans (e.g. shrimp) in all locations close to regions where shrimp are consumed.

Alternatively or additionally, it will be appreciated that the various aspects described above relate to solution of technical problems related to increasing the yield of crustacean biomass per unit volume of production space.

According to the invention defined in claim <NUM> there is provided a method including: providing a multilayer closed conduit aquaculture enclosure; stocking the enclosure with shrimp; and growing with standing biomass of at least <NUM>/M<NUM> of enclosure volume. In some exemplary embodiments of the invention, the method includes harvesting at least <NUM>/M<NUM> of enclosure volume/year. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments the method includes harvesting at least <NUM>/M<NUM> of enclosure volume at the end of each growth cycle. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments the method includes harvesting at a frequency of every <NUM> days or less.

The method according to the invention comprises providing a multilayer closed conduit aquaculture enclosure including: a vertical array of horizontal support surfaces, each surface connected to sidewalls and having an inlet side and an outlet side; a plurality of inlet pipes, each inlet pipe in fluid communication with a common reservoir and with an inlet side of one of the support surfaces in the vertical array; and an efflux tank in fluid communication with all of the outlet sides in the vertical array of support surfaces and having one or more drain holes situated above a level of an uppermost support surface in the array of support surfaces. In an embodiment which does not form part of the invention there is provided an aquaculture system including: a vertical array of horizontal support surfaces, each surface connected to sidewalls and having an inlet side and an outlet side; a common reservoir in fluid communication with the inlet sides of all of the support surfaces in the vertical array; and an efflux tank in fluid communication with all of the outlet sides in the vertical array of support surfaces and having one or more drain holes situated above a level of an uppermost support surface in the array of support surfaces. In some exemplary embodiments of the invention, either of these aquaculture systems includes one or more vertical dividers parallel to the sidewalls of each of the horizontal support surfaces dividing each support surface into two or more tubes; wherein each inlet pipe in the plurality of inlet pipes is in fluid communication with the common reservoir and with an inlet side of one of the tubes. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments either of the systems includes a waste removal port in proximity to a bottom of the efflux tank. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments the system includes a valve operable to open and close the waste removal port. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments the system includes a pump operable to circulate water from the common reservoir through the plurality of inlet pipes to the support surfaces. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments the system includes a control mechanism operable to differentially regulate a flow from the pump through each inlet pipe in the plurality of inlet pipes. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments the system includes a plurality of flow sensors, each sensor situated in an inlet pipe in the plurality of inlet pipes, or on a growth substrate, each sensor providing an output signal indicative of a flow rate to the control mechanism. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments the system includes a pump operable to collect water emanating from the drain holes and return it to the common reservoir.

In an embodiment which does not form part of the invention, there is provided an aquaculture method including: flooding a vertical array of horizontal support surfaces with water and stocking the water with crustaceans; causing water to flow from a common reservoir through a plurality of inlet pipes, each inlet pipe in fluid communication with the common reservoir and with an inlet side one of the support surfaces in the vertical array; collecting an efflux of water from the vertical array of horizontal support surfaces in an efflux tank; and draining water from the efflux tank via one or more drain holes situated above a level of an uppermost support surface in the array of support surfaces. In some embodiments the method includes dividing each support surface into two or more tubes; wherein each inlet pipe in the plurality of inlet pipes is in fluid communication with the common reservoir and with an inlet side of one of the tubes. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments the method includes removing waste via a waste removal port in proximity to a bottom of the efflux tank. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments the method includes pumping water from the common reservoir through the plurality of inlet pipes. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments the method includes differentially regulating a flow from the pump through each inlet pipe in the plurality of inlet pipes. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments the method includes monitoring flow rate in each inlet pipe in the plurality of inlet pipes. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments the method includes collecting water emanating from the drain holes and returning it to the common reservoir.

In an embodiment which does not form part of the invention, there is provided an aquaculture method including: filling an upper reservoir at altitude A with aquaculture medium; causing the medium to flow through a plurality of pipes, each pipe separately connected to one culture vessel in a plurality of stacked culture vessels; and collecting the medium in a common efflux tank with one or more drain holes at altitude a; wherein altitude a is below altitude A.

In an embodiment which does not form part of the invention, there is provided serial array of one or more aquaculture systems as described hereinabove5, wherein an efflux tank of one system serves as the common reservoir of a next system in the array.

In an embodiment which does not form part of the invention, there is provided method including: tilting a vertical array of horizontal support surfaces so that crustaceans residing thereon move to a common efflux tank; and collecting the crustaceans from the efflux tank. In some embodiments the collecting is via a drain.

In an embodiment which does not form part of the invention, there is provided an aquaculture system including: a vertical array of horizontal support surfaces, each surface connected to solid sidewalls and having an inlet side and an outlet side; and mesh covering the inlet side and the outlet side, the mesh having holes sized to retain shrimp on the support surfaces. In some embodiments the system includes one or more solid vertical dividers parallel to the sidewalls of each of the horizontal support surfaces dividing each support surface into two or more tubes. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments the system includes one or more floats having sufficient buoyancy to prevent the system from sinking beyond a desired degree when deployed in a body of water. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments the system includes one or more ballasts with weight sufficient to prevent the system from floating beyond a desired degree when deployed in a body of water. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments the system includes one or more anchor attachment points.

In an embodiment which does not form part of the invention, there is provided an aquaculture system including: multiple layers of stacked growth surfaces for crustaceans; and textured substrata applied to the growth surfaces. In some embodiments the textured substrata includes artificial grass. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments the textured substrata includes a hatching substrate.

Although suitable methods and materials are described below, methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice of the present invention. All materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and are not intended to be limiting.

In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, identical and similar structures, elements or parts thereof that appear in more than one figure are generally labeled with the same or similar references in the figures in which they appear. Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are chosen primarily for convenience and clarity of presentation and are not necessarily to scale. The attached figures are:.

Specifically, some embodiments of the invention can be used for commercial production of shrimp or other crustaceans.

The principles and operation of a system and/or method according to exemplary embodiments of the invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and accompanying descriptions.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details set forth in the following description or exemplified by the Examples.

<FIG> is a front view (inlet side), indicate generally as <NUM>, of a crustacean aquaculture system according to some exemplary embodiments of the invention.

<FIG> is a lateral transverse cross section of the exemplary system depicted in <FIG> through line A-A indicated generally as <NUM>.

<FIG> is a top perspective view of the exemplary system depicted in <FIG> indicated generally as <NUM>.

<FIG> is a frontal transverse cross section of the exemplary system depicted in <FIG> through line B-B indicated generally as <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>; <FIG> concurrently, the depicted exemplary crustacean aquaculture system relies on stacks of horizontal support surfaces <NUM> to increase the yield of cultured crustaceans per M<NUM> of enclosure volume and per M<NUM> of production/layout space. In the depicted embodiment, there are three vertically arrange horizontal support surfaces <NUM>, each horizontal support surface enclosed by vertical partitions <NUM> and further divided by additional vertical partitions <NUM> into <NUM> parallel tubes. This produces a 3X3 matrix of parallel tubes as most clearly seen in <FIG>.

Although a 3X3 matrix is used for illustration, various exemplary embodiments of the invention employ <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM> or intermediate or greater numbers of horizontal support surfaces <NUM>. Alternatively or additionally, various exemplary embodiments of the invention employ <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM> or intermediate or greater numbers of vertical walls <NUM> to divide horizontal support surfaces <NUM>. In some exemplary embodiments of the invention, vertical walls <NUM> are solid.

Referring now to <FIG>, each tube is supplied with water by an inlet pipe <NUM>. Again, in the exemplary 3X3 matrix there are nine inlet pipes <NUM> bit other embodiments will have other numbers of inlet pipes. In the depicted embodiment, each inlet pipe <NUM> provides a flow of water from inlet end <NUM> along support surface <NUM> to outlet end <NUM> (<FIG>). In some embodiments, the flow of water is enriched with particulate food and/or nutrients in solution.

In the depicted embodiment, inlet pipes <NUM> draw water from a common reservoir <NUM> (<FIG>). In some embodiments, a pump <NUM> pumps water from reservoir <NUM> through pipes <NUM>. In some embodiments, a control mechanism <NUM> differentially regulates a flow from pump <NUM> through each inlet pipe <NUM>. In some embodiments, control mechanism <NUM> receives feedback signals from flow sensors in pipes <NUM> and/or at other places in the system and regulates flow in one or more pipes <NUM> according and/or across surfaces <NUM> to those signals.

In some exemplary embodiments of the invention, system <NUM> operates without pipes <NUM>. According to these embodiments, common reservoir <NUM> is in in fluid communication with inlet sides <NUM> of all of support surfaces <NUM> in the vertical array.

Water at outlet end <NUM> (<FIG>) accumulates in a common efflux tank <NUM>. In some embodiments, efflux tank <NUM> provides fluid communication among vertical support surfaces <NUM> and/or adjacent tubes on the same level. According to some of these embodiments, shrimp are free to move among different compartments via efflux tank <NUM>. According to other embodiments, a screen is assembled at the end of each tube to prevent shrimp from moving from tube to tube. In the depicted embodiment, efflux tank <NUM> is equipped with a waste removal port <NUM>. Waste removal port <NUM> allows efflux tank <NUM> to serve as a settling tank. A setting tank contributes to ease of removal of solid waste from the system and/or contributes to a reduction in wear on pumps in other parts of the system. In the depicted embodiment, a valve <NUM> is operable to close/open port <NUM>. Drain holes <NUM> (most easily seen in <FIG>) allow water to flow out of the system. Elevation of drain holes <NUM> governs the height of water in the system. In some exemplary embodiments of the invention, water flowing out of drain holes <NUM> is collected and recirculated to reservoir <NUM>. According to various exemplary embodiments of the invention, recirculation employs a pump and/or airlift.

<FIG> is a simplified flow diagram, indicated generally as <NUM>, of an aquaculture method according to some exemplary embodiments of the invention.

Depicted exemplary method <NUM> includes providing <NUM> a multilayer closed conduit aquaculture enclosure, stocking <NUM> the enclosure with shrimp and growing <NUM> with at least standing biomass <NUM>/M<NUM> of enclosure volume. According to various exemplary embodiments of the invention the standing biomass is <NUM>/M<NUM>, <NUM>/M<NUM>, <NUM>/M<NUM>, <NUM>/M<NUM>, <NUM>/M<NUM>, <NUM>/M<NUM>, <NUM>/M<NUM>, or <NUM>/M<NUM> of enclosure volume or intermediate or greater standing biomass. It is noted that during practice of method <NUM>, virtually all of the enclosure volume is filled with water. This represents a significant departure from many previously available alternatives in which spaces between growth surfaces are much greater than water depth.

In some exemplary embodiments of the invention, practice of method <NUM> results in an annual harvest <NUM> of <NUM>/M<NUM>, <NUM>/M<NUM>, <NUM>/M<NUM>, <NUM>/M<NUM>, <NUM>/, <NUM>/M<NUM>, <NUM>/M<NUM> , <NUM>/M<NUM> , <NUM>/M<NUM>, <NUM>/M<NUM> or intermediate or greater annual yields.

In some exemplary embodiments of method <NUM> the growth cycle is less than <NUM> year. In some of these embodiments method <NUM> includes, harvesting <NUM> at least <NUM>/M<NUM>, <NUM>/M<NUM>, <NUM>/M<NUM>, <NUM>/M<NUM>, <NUM>/M<NUM>, <NUM>/M<NUM>, <NUM>/M<NUM>, <NUM>/M<NUM>, <NUM>/M<NUM>, <NUM>/M<NUM>, <NUM>/M<NUM> or <NUM>/M<NUM> enclosure volume at the end of each growth cycle. In some of these embodiments method <NUM> includes, harvesting <NUM> at a frequency of every <NUM> days or less.

Referring again to <FIG>, <FIG>: some embodiments of the invention are an aquaculture system including a vertical array of horizontal support surfaces <NUM>. In the depicted embodiment, each surface <NUM> is connected to sidewalls <NUM> and has an inlet side <NUM> and an outlet side <NUM>. In some exemplary embodiments of the invention, sidewalls <NUM> are solid. In the depicted embodiment, the system includes a plurality of inlet pipes <NUM>. In the depicted embodiment, each inlet pipe <NUM> is in fluid communication with a common reservoir <NUM> and with an inlet side of one of support surfaces <NUM> in the vertical array. In the depicted embodiment, the system includes an efflux tank <NUM> in fluid communication with all of the outlet sides <NUM> in the vertical array of support surfaces <NUM>. Depicted exemplary efflux tank <NUM> has one or more drain holes <NUM> situated above a level of an uppermost support surface <NUM> in the array of support surfaces. Although surfaces <NUM> and walls <NUM> are depicted as discrete units in the drawing, in some embodiments surfaces <NUM> and walls <NUM> are provided as pipes or tubes of round, rectangular, hexagonal or triangular shape. Alternatively or additionally, in many embodiments vertical distance (height) between support surfaces <NUM> varies in the range of <NUM> to <NUM>. For purposes of this specification and the accompanying claims, the term "horizontal" indicates the surface is at an angle of <NUM>° to <NUM>°.

In the depicted embodiment, the system includes one or more vertical dividers (see 120a and 120b in <FIG>) parallel to the sidewalls of each of horizontal support surfaces <NUM> dividing each support surface into two or more tubes. In some exemplary embodiments of the invention, dividers 120a and <NUM> b are solid. According to these embodiments, each inlet pipe in the plurality of inlet pipes is in fluid communication with the common reservoir and with an inlet side <NUM> of one of the tubes. This pipe configuration is depicted in <FIG> and <FIG> although the tubes themselves are hidden in those views.

In other exemplary embodiments of the invention, common reservoir <NUM> is in fluid communication with inlet sides <NUM> of all of support surfaces <NUM> in the vertical array. This configuration obviates a need for pipes <NUM>.

In the depicted embodiment, the system includes a waste removal port <NUM> in proximity to a bottom of efflux tank <NUM>. In some embodiments the system includes a valve <NUM> operable to open and close waste removal port <NUM>.

The depicted embodiment also includes an optional pump <NUM> operable to circulate water from common reservoir <NUM> through the plurality of inlet pipes <NUM> to support surfaces <NUM>. In some exemplary embodiments of the invention, pump <NUM> operates on airlift principle. In some exemplary embodiments of the invention, water pumped by pump <NUM> proceeds to outlet side <NUM> and into efflux tank <NUM>. In some embodiments, water is recirculated from efflux tank <NUM> back to pump <NUM>. In some embodiments, an additional pump (not depicted) handles this recirculation. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments a filtration system (not depicted) filters water being pumped through inlet pipes <NUM>.

The depicted embodiment also includes an optional control mechanism <NUM> operable to differentially regulate a flow from pump <NUM> through each inlet pipe <NUM> in the plurality of inlet pipes and/or across support surfaces <NUM>.

Some embodiments that employ a control mechanism <NUM> include a plurality of flow sensors (not depicted). In some embodiments, each sensor is situated in an inlet pipe <NUM> in the plurality of inlet pipes and/or on of support surfaces <NUM>. According to these embodiments, each sensor provides an output signal indicative of a flow rate to control mechanism <NUM>.

In some exemplary embodiments of the invention, the system includes a pump operable to collect water emanating from drain holes <NUM> and return it to common reservoir <NUM>. In the depicted embodiment, this function is provided by pump <NUM>, which has intake tubes (not depicted) in communication with drain holes <NUM>. In other exemplary embodiments of the invention, a separate pump is used for water emanating from drain holes <NUM>.

<FIG> is a simplified flow diagram of an aquaculture method, indicated generally as <NUM>, according to some exemplary embodiments which do not form part of the invention.

Depicted exemplary method <NUM> includes flooding <NUM> a vertical array of horizontal support surfaces with water and stocking the water with crustaceans. In some embodiments, each support surface is covered with water that touches the bottom of the next support surface above it. In some embodiments, the uppermost support surface is fitted with a cover to govern water depth during flooding <NUM>.

Depicted exemplary method <NUM> also includes causing <NUM> water to flow from a common reservoir through a plurality of inlet pipes. Each inlet pipe is in fluid communication with the common reservoir and with an inlet side one of the support surfaces in the vertical array.

Depicted exemplary method <NUM> also includes collecting <NUM> an efflux of water from the vertical array of horizontal support surfaces in an efflux tank.

Depicted exemplary method <NUM> also includes draining <NUM> water from said efflux tank via one or more drain holes situated above a level of an uppermost support surface in said array of support surfaces. In some exemplary embodiments of the invention, the drain holes are configured as a gap. (See <FIG>, <FIG>, and accompanying description below).

Depicted exemplary method <NUM> also optionally includes dividing <NUM> each support surface into two or more tubes. According to embodiments including this optional feature, each inlet pipe in the plurality of inlet pipes is in fluid communication with the common reservoir and with an inlet side of one of the tubes.

Depicted exemplary method <NUM> also optionally includes removing waste <NUM> via a waste removal port in proximity to a bottom of the efflux tank.

Depicted exemplary method <NUM> also optionally includes pumping <NUM> water from said common reservoir through said plurality of inlet pipes and/or across support surface <NUM>. In some embodiments pumping <NUM> contributes to flooding <NUM>. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments pumping <NUM> includes differentially regulating <NUM> a flow from the pump through each inlet pipe in the plurality of inlet pipes. In some embodiments method <NUM> includes monitoring <NUM> flow rate in each inlet pipe in said plurality of inlet pipes. In some embodiments monitoring <NUM> regulates pumping <NUM> in a feedback loop.

Depicted exemplary method <NUM> also optionally includes collecting <NUM> water emanating from the drain holes and returning it to the common reservoir. In some exemplary embodiments which do not form part of the invention, collection and/or return involve use of a pump (e.g. airlift).

<FIG> is a simplified flow diagram, of a flow dynamics method indicated generally as <NUM>, according to some exemplary embodiments which do not form part of the invention.

<FIG> is a schematic representation of an exemplary system configuration, indicated generally as <NUM>, compatible with the method(s) illustrated in <FIG>.

Referring now to <FIG> and <FIG>, depicted exemplary method <NUM> includes filling <NUM> an upper reservoir <NUM> at altitude A with aquaculture medium. Altitude A indicates an upper surface of liquid in reservoir <NUM>.

Depicted exemplary method <NUM> also includes causing <NUM> the medium to flow through a plurality of pipes <NUM>, each pipe separately connected to one culture vessel in a plurality of stacked culture vessels (421a; 421b and 421c). According to various exemplary embodiments, causing <NUM> includes pumping and/or relies on gravity feed. Although three pipes and three culture vessels are depicted for clarity, in actual practice a much larger number may be present. Alternatively or additionally, in many embodiments the stacked culture vessels include multiple vessels at the same height as depicted in <FIG>.

Depicted exemplary method <NUM> also includes collecting <NUM> the medium in a common efflux tank <NUM> with one or more drain holes <NUM> at altitude a. Altitude a is below altitude A as depicted. In some embodiments a difference between Altitude A and Altitude a contributes to a rate of flow of the medium throughout the system.

In various embodiments of method <NUM>, culture vessels 421a, 421b and 421c are either horizontal (as depicted) or inclined.

In the depicted embodiment, method <NUM> includes re-circulating medium for drain holes <NUM> to upper reservoir <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic representation of an exemplary system configuration, indicated generally as <NUM>, according to some exemplary embodiments which do not form part of the invention.

Some exemplary embodiments relate to a serial array of aquaculture systems as described hereinabove, wherein an efflux tank of one system serves as the common reservoir of a next system in the array.

<FIG> depicts an embodiment in which reservoir <NUM> is in communication with culture stack <NUM> via pipes with a length of zero. The tubes in stack <NUM> are in fluid communication with efflux tank <NUM>. Retention wall <NUM> creates a drain gap <NUM> and water flowing through gap <NUM> is channeled into adjacent culture stack <NUM>. Efflux tank <NUM> serves as the reservoir for stack <NUM>. Water flows through stack <NUM> into efflux tank <NUM> where retention wall <NUM> guides the flow through drain gap <NUM> to the next culture stack (not depicted).

<FIG> depicts another embodiment in which each culture stack <NUM> is separated by an efflux zone <NUM>, a retention wall <NUM> and a drain gap <NUM>.

According to these embodiments, shrimp may move between the stages and may be kept in the layers/tubes only.

The depicted serial configuration enables utilization of water through more surface area before cleaning. Alternatively or additionally, the depicted configurations enable using one cleaning system with sequential stages. Although a serial horizontal array is depicted, serial vertical arrays are also possible.

Alternatively or additionally, the depicted serial configuration allows more solids and molt separation areas and/or provides intermediate areas for dead shrimp separation and sheltering of weak pre or post molting shrimp. In some embodiments, the serial configuration allows shrimp to move between culture stacks.

<FIG> is a simplified flow diagram of an aquaculture harvest method, indicated generally as <NUM>, according to some exemplary embodiments which do not form part of the invention.

Depicted exemplary method <NUM> includes tilting <NUM> or lifting a vertical array of horizontal support surfaces so that crustaceans residing thereon move to a common efflux tank and collecting <NUM> the crustaceans from the efflux tank. In some embodiments, collecting <NUM> is via a drain in the efflux tank (e.g. port <NUM> in <FIG>). According to various exemplary embodiments, thickness of each component of the assembly and/or height and/or width and/or length of the tubes is adjusted according to structural engineering requirements for each embodiment.

For small shrimp, a tube height of <NUM> is sufficient. Adult shrimp may be more comfortable in a tube with a height of <NUM>. In some exemplary embodiments small fry are stocked in tubes with a <NUM> height. In other exemplary embodiments shrimp are transferred from tubes of <NUM> to tubes with a greater height during the production cycle.

According to various exemplary embodiments tube length varies in the range of <NUM> to <NUM>. In various exemplary embodiments tube length is at least <NUM>, <NUM>, at least <NUM>, at least <NUM>, at least <NUM>, at least <NUM> at or intermediate or greater lengths. Alternatively or additionally, according to various exemplary embodiments tube length is less than <NUM>, less than <NUM>, less than <NUM>, less than <NUM>, or less than <NUM> or intermediate or shorter lengths.

According to various exemplary embodiments tube width varies in the range of <NUM> to <NUM>. In various exemplary embodiments tube width is at least <NUM>, at least <NUM>, at least <NUM>, at least <NUM> at least <NUM> or intermediate or greater widths. Alternatively or additionally, according to various exemplary embodiments tube width is less than <NUM>, less than <NUM>, less than <NUM>, less than <NUM>, or less than <NUM> or intermediate or shorter widths.

According to various exemplary embodiments tube height varies in the range of <NUM> to <NUM>. In various exemplary embodiments tube height is at least <NUM>, at least <NUM>, at least <NUM>, at least <NUM> at least <NUM> or intermediate or greater heights. Alternatively or additionally, according to various exemplary embodiments tube height is less than <NUM>, less than <NUM>, less than <NUM>, less than <NUM>, or less than <NUM> or intermediate or shorter heights.

In some exemplary embodiments efflux tank (e.g. <NUM> in <FIG> has a width equivalent to support surface <NUM> in a single layer and/or a height equivalent to the composite height of all support surfaces <NUM> in the stack. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments a length of efflux tank <NUM> is <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM> or intermediate or greater lengths.

According to various exemplary embodiments reservoir <NUM> ranges from <NUM>% of the total enclosure volume (defined by support surfaces <NUM> and walls/dividers <NUM>) to <NUM>% of total enclosure volume. In some embodiments reservoir <NUM> provides a buffer of water in case there is a mechanical or electrical problem that prevents the supply of water from a clear water system. In submerged system configurations, reservoir <NUM> is absent. In some embodiments, reservoir <NUM> is provided as part of an RAS water treatment system connected to pipes <NUM>.

According to various exemplary embodiments the system is constructed with <NUM>-<NUM> layers/tiers of culture spaces on a vertical axis and with <NUM>-<NUM> adjacent culture spaces on a horizontal axis.

Stocking <NUM> of shrimp in a tube having <NUM> length and <NUM> width with a height of <NUM> will result in a shrimp standing biomass of at least <NUM>/m<NUM>. Alternatively or additionally, stocking <NUM> of shrimp in a tube having <NUM> length and <NUM> width with a height of <NUM> will result in a shrimp standing biomass of at least <NUM>/m<NUM>.

Providing enough surface growth area from <NUM> biomass/m<NUM> for small shrimp to <NUM> biomass/m<NUM> for large shrimp, the obtained biomass increases to the value of <NUM> Biomass/m<NUM> enclosure volume at the <NUM>th life stage and to an average of <NUM>/m3 enclosure volume in a full life cycle.

The system can be installed in an inclined structure or sloped adjusted from time to time for allowing drainage and/or shrimp harvest. According to some exemplary embodiments the system is built with inclined support surfaces <NUM>. In some embodiments, inclined support surfaces <NUM> contribute to ease of solid separation and/or to ease of harvesting. Alternatively or additionally, according to various exemplary embodiments support surfaces <NUM> have a permanent incline angle or adjustable incline angle.

The description hereinabove refers to land based installation (e.g. skid mounted). In other exemplary embodiments the aquaculture system is submerged in an open basin such as in the ocean, in a pond, in a river or in an estuary. Embodiments using submerged tubes contribute to an ability to use thinner materials for support surfaces <NUM> and/or vertical walls <NUM>. In some embodiments, a low differential pressure contributes to a reduction in need for material thickness.

In a submerged system, vertical walls and horizontal support surfaces are subject to a similar pressure from both sides as a result of ambient water pressure from outside the system. When a material feels similar (or almost similar) pressure on both sides it can stand the pressure even if very thin.

In some embodiments, submerged installation enables the usage of thin layers due to lower pressure differences between the internal and external surfaces.

is a schematic side view of a submergible aquaculture system, indicated generally as <NUM>, according to some exemplary embodiments, which do not form part of the invention.

In the depicted embodiment, system <NUM> includes a vertical array of horizontal support surfaces <NUM>, each surface connected to solid sidewalls (not visible; similar to <NUM> in <FIG>) and having an inlet side <NUM> and an outlet side <NUM>. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments support surfaces <NUM> are solid. For purposes of this specification and the accompanying claims, the term "solid" excludes mesh or netting. In the depicted embodiment, mesh <NUM> covers inlet side <NUM> and outlet side <NUM>. In some embodiments, mesh <NUM> has holes sized to retain shrimp on support surfaces <NUM> while allowing water to flow across surfaces <NUM>. In some embodiments, flow is natural (e.g. river current or ocean waves). In some embodiments, flow is provided by one or more pumps (not depicted).

In some exemplary embodiments system <NUM> includes solid vertical dividers (not visible; similar to <NUM> a and <NUM> b in <FIG>) parallel to the sidewalls of each of horizontal support surfaces <NUM> dividing each support surface into two or more tubes.

Depicted exemplary system <NUM> includes float <NUM> having sufficient buoyancy to prevent the system from sinking beyond a desired degree when deployed in a body of water. In some exemplary embodiments the floats are constructed of a low-density polymer. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments the floats are filled with air.

Alternatively or additionally, depicted exemplary system <NUM> includes ballast <NUM> with weight sufficient to prevent the system from floating beyond a desired degree when deployed in a body of water. In some exemplary embodiments ballast <NUM> is provided as a floodable ballast tank. In other exemplary embodiments of the invention, ballast <NUM> is constructed of a high-density material such as concrete or metal.

In some exemplary embodiments functionality of ballast <NUM> and float <NUM> resides in a single tank with a pump that can alternately fill the tank with air or water.

Alternatively or additionally, depicted exemplary system <NUM> includes an anchor attachment point <NUM>. According to various exemplary embodiments attachment point <NUM> is provided as a ring, a hook or a chain. In some embodiments, several anchor attachments are provided in system <NUM>. In some exemplary embodiments attachment to an anchor limits lateral shifting of system <NUM> with respect to a "floor" of the body of water in which the system is deployed.

In some exemplary embodiments the growth tubes are equipped with lighting. Alternatively or additionally, surfaces of substrate <NUM> and/or walls <NUM> are coated with high surface area material to promote biofilm or algae formation and/or to provide shelter and/or to increase survival rates. Biofilm and/or algae can serve as a source of feed or feed supplement for shrimp. Alternatively or additionally, the tubes include shelters for sheltering weak or molting shrimp to prevent cannibalism.

Alternatively or additionally, surfaces of substrate <NUM> and/or walls <NUM> are coated with a textured substrata for absorbing physical shock as a result of Caridoid Escape Reaction to minimize subsequent injuries and infection In some exemplary embodiments roughening of support surfaces <NUM> and/or vertical walls <NUM> contributes to a reduction in injuries and/or infection and/or provides sheltering of fragile shrimp. In some embodiments <NUM> Polypropylene fiber artificial grass serves as substrata (e.g. model GLLC-<NUM>; Zhonglian, China) In other exemplary embodiments BIOMAT hatching substrate (Dynamic Aqua Supply LTD; Surrey BC; Canada) serves as substrata.

Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments the tubes include process and and/or analytical sensors and/or cameras and/or audio sensors to record feeding activity, biomass measurements and general shrimp behavior.

Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments pipes <NUM> provide an adjustable flow. According to various exemplary embodiments flow adjustment is manual or automatic. According to various exemplary embodiments flow adjustment is used to regulate culture spaces replenishing rate and/or to regulate oxygen and/or nitrogen and/or CO<NUM> and/or other metabolic byproducts and/or to maintain a desired feed quality.

Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments the aquaculture system includes water treatment by RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture System) and/or by circulation of water in a closed loop through an external water cleaning system and/or by one flow through method and/or by the biofloc method and/or combinations thereof.

Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments the aquaculture system allows monitoring and controlling separately each tube, or pipe for one or more parameters including but not limited to oxygen, turbidity, feed amount, pH and ammonia.

Many embodiments of the invention have a growth surface layout that is substantially rectangular when viewed from above.

In some exemplary embodiments sidewalls <NUM> and/or vertical dividers <NUM> contribute to structural integrity of the system in the face of the combined weight of water and shrimp. Alternatively or additionally, in some exemplary embodiments support surfaces <NUM> contribute to structural integrity of the system in the face of the combined weight of water and shrimp.

For example, as the length of the growth tubes increases, decreasing their width can increase structural strength. According to various exemplary embodiments an aspect ratio (Length to width) of <NUM>:<NUM>; <NUM>:<NUM>; <NUM>:<NUM>; <NUM>:<NUM> or <NUM>:<NUM> contributes sufficiently to structural strength.

Alternatively or additionally, as the length of the growth tubes increases, decreasing their height can increase structural strength. According to various exemplary embodiments an aspect ratio (Length to height) of <NUM>,<NUM>:<NUM>; <NUM>,<NUM>:<NUM>; <NUM>:<NUM>; <NUM>:<NUM>; <NUM>:<NUM> or <NUM>:<NUM> contributes sufficiently to structural strength.

Alternatively or additionally, as the width of the growth tubes increases, decreasing their height can increase structural strength. According to various exemplary embodiments an aspect ratio (width to height) of <NUM>,<NUM>:<NUM>; <NUM>:<NUM>; <NUM>:<NUM>; <NUM>:<NUM>; <NUM>: <NUM> or <NUM>: <NUM> contributes sufficiently to structural strength.

According to various exemplary embodiments particular materials selected for construction, and their thickness will contribute to selection of the various aspect rations.

In some embodiments implementation of systems and/or methods as described hereinabove contribute to an increase in yield per unit area of farm space. Much of that increase comes from more efficient utilization of the vertical dimension. Multiple tiers of growth substrate (e.g. support surfaces <NUM>) contribute to more efficient utilization of the vertical dimension. A decrease in intervening space between multiple tiers of growth substrate (relative to previously described stacked aquaculture systems such as <CIT>) also contributes to more efficient utilization of the vertical dimension.

An increase in yield per unit area of farm space contributes to a reduced need for real estate for a commercial production facility. Since the price of real estate is usually higher in proximity to a city, practice of the described systems and methods makes it possible to install an aquaculture facility close to a large city without undue expense. The city will provide numerous outlets for fresh shrimp in the form of restaurants, markets and stores.

Alternatively or additionally, implementation of systems and/or methods as described hereinabove eliminate bycatch associated with traditional wild-catch commercial shrimping methods.

Reference is now made to the following examples, which together with the above descriptions and/or the attached drawings, illustrate the disclosure in a non-limiting fashion.

Table <NUM> illustrates theoretical production yields using a small aquaculture system of the general configuration depicted in <FIG>.

This example illustrates that the projected annual shrimp yield for a small system having a total tiers height of <NUM> (<NUM> tiers at stages <NUM> and <NUM>, and <NUM> an <NUM> tiers at stages <NUM> and <NUM> respectively) according to one exemplary embodiment reaches <NUM>/m<NUM> of floor surface (top view) and/or <NUM>/m<NUM> of system volume. The exemplary embodiment shows <NUM>/m3 per growth cycle.

This example illustrates the projected annual shrimp yield for a system with monthly stages of growth and at the end of each stage the shrimp are moved into the next stage and the first stage is stocked with a new batch of shrimp. Therefore there are <NUM> harvests possible each year. This exemplary embodiment holds the tube cell combination for each stage to the same total height of <NUM> meters and the number of stacked tubes according to the cell height. This exemplary embodiment adjusts total area for shrimp growth by adjusting cell length and or width to maintain planned maximum biomass densities of kg/m<NUM> of tube bottom surface as listed. The embodiment attains <NUM>/m<NUM> of production area (e.g. building size) and <NUM>/m<NUM> of system water volume or approximately building volume since the space between layers is the thickness of the cell floor.

Alternatively or additionally, the same Annual yield kg/m2 of production area (e.g. building size) can be maintained at <NUM>/m2 with a decrease in shrimp density kg/m2 of tube bottom surface by proportionally increasing the number of cell layers. The density at the end of each month could be reduced to <NUM>% of the values listed by increasing the number of cell layers from <NUM> to <NUM>.

In this example, required area (total surface) is a result of dividing total standing biomass (kg) by the growth density (e.g. <NUM>/m2) - since standing biomass in each step is different, and the required growth area per kg is different, the required total area is different for each stage. It is by a coincidence (of the standing biomass and growth density) that in stage <NUM> and <NUM>, the required area result is the same.

According to various exemplary embodiments tube length can be equal or vary between growth stages. In this example, total height remained constant in each stage, so different lengths were used in each stage in each stage. According to various exemplary embodiments growth stages are connected or not. In this example, each stage has its own stack. In other exemplary embodiments stages are serially connected.

Table <NUM> shows that standing biomass per unit area and per unit volume varies from stage <NUM> to <NUM>. This is an artifact caused by small tube heights in stages <NUM> and <NUM>.

Table <NUM> illustrates theoretical production yields using a medium aquaculture system of the general configuration depicted in <FIG>.

This example illustrates that the projected annual shrimp yield for a medium system having a total tiers height of <NUM> (<NUM> tiers at stages <NUM> and <NUM>, and <NUM> and <NUM> tiers at stages <NUM> and <NUM> respectively) according to one exemplary embodiment reaches <NUM>,<NUM>/m<NUM> of floor surface (top view) and/or <NUM>/m<NUM> of system volume. The exemplary embodiment shows <NUM>/m3 per growth cycle.

The increased yield per m<NUM> of floor surface shows the yield per unit area is scalable by increasing the number of horizontal support surfaces upon which shrimp are grown.

Claim 1:
A method comprising:
(a) providing a multilayer closed conduit aquaculture enclosure comprising a vertical array of horizontal support surfaces (<NUM>), each surface (<NUM>) connected to sidewalls (<NUM>) and having an inlet side and an outlet side, a plurality of inlet pipes (<NUM>), each inlet pipe (<NUM>) in fluid communication with a common reservoir (<NUM>) and with an inlet side of one of said support surfaces (<NUM>) in said vertical array; and an efflux tank (<NUM>) being in fluid communication with all of said outlet sides in said vertical array of support surfaces (<NUM>) and having one or more drain holes (<NUM>) situated above a level of an uppermost support surface in said array of support surfaces (<NUM>);
(b) stocking said enclosure with shrimp; and
(c) growing with standing biomass of at least <NUM>/M<NUM> of enclosure volume.