Abstract: A fish mincer pump which includes a conventional chopper plate and cutter knife associated with the inlet of a centrifugal pump and a novel and unique mincer plate and a cutter knife or cutter knives associated with the mincer plate in the inlet of the pump and in inwardly spaced relation from the chopper or shear plate and cutter knife in order to chop fish parts such as fish heads and internal components that are to be discharged into the ocean into a 1/2 inch maximum solid size in order to comply with regulations which require that fish waste to be discharged into the ocean must not include components exceeding a maximum dimension of 1/2 inch.

Abstract: A protection system for pump shaft bearings which are exposed to water or water combined with various particulate material when the pump and the shaft or a portion thereof are immersed in the water or combined water and particulate material which is being pumped. The protection system includes an enclosing chamber associated with the bearing or bearings supporting the pump shaft which are immersed in the material being pumped with the enclosing chamber being filled with grease exiting from the bearing so that the pressurized lubricant to the bearing will maintain the enclosing chamber filled with grease to exclude the material being pumped from the enclosing chamber and bearing assembly disposed therein. The enclosing chamber is associated with and connected to a conventional flanged shaft bearing and includes grease seals associated with the pump shaft to maintain the interior of the enclosing chamber in isolated relation to exterior environmental conditions.