Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer-storage media, for obtaining initial parameters for ultrasonic transducers around a calibration target. The calibration target can include a fish-shaped structure, sensors placed at different locations of the fish-shaped structure, a processor that receives sensor values from the sensors, and a transmitter that outputs sensor data from the calibration target based on the sensor values. The calibration target can be fixed at a particular position relative to the ultrasonic transducers by a filament coupled to both the calibration target and a support structure. Sensor data can be obtained from the calibration target at the particular position relative to the ultrasonic transducers, and relative locations of the sensors can be determined. Parameters for the ultrasonic transducers around the calibration target can be adjusted based on the sensor data and the respective locations of the sensors.

Abstract: A system includes a housing; a water tank positioned within the housing, wherein an inside of the water tank is sealed to prevent contact between material forming the water tank and water within the water tank; a water movement subsystem causing water to circulate within the water tank, including a baffle extending along the center of the water tank dividing the water tank into a circular raceway, and a pump causing water to circulate; an aeration subsystem maintaining an oxygenation level suitable for crustaceans to live within the water tank; a temperature control subsystem maintaining a water temperature suitable for crustaceans to live within the water tank; a water quality monitoring subsystem monitoring a water quality parameter of water within the water tank; a feeding subsystem configured to dispense food into the water tank; a biofloc removal subsystem configured to remove biofloc from the water tank; and a control system.

Abstract: A farming device for benthic organisms, which is submerged in a water tank or a body of water, is constituted of a plurality of tray-form containers, which are the cultivating floor for benthic organisms such as bivalves, and are stacked in the vertical direction, with a central cavity passing through the stacked cultivating floors in the vertical direction and horizontal gaps defined between the cultivating floors, the cultivating floors communicating with the cavity.

Abstract: A cage for use in farming mollusks comprises a meshed wall with end caps that are snapped into place on the wall during construction. The end caps include removable portions for gaining access to the interior of the cage. A vessel for farming mollusks is fitted to receive a cage for processing of the cage and the mollusks therein. A method of using the vessel and cage includes the on-board treatment of the cages and mollusks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method in the field of shellfish breeding techniques, for breeding a scallop population that have improved carotenoid content in the orange-red adductor muscles or other muscle tissues. This method includes the steps of selecting the rare individuals that have orange-red adductor muscles from natural scallop populations, growing the selected scallops, inducing the reproduction, artificially fertilization, and finally breeding a scallop population with orange-red adductor muscles which can be expanded for the cultivation on a large scale. Comparing to other known breeding methods, the present method does not use transgenic technologies to include introduce any exogenous genes, thus does not have any bio-safety and ethics issues. All the mutant scallops with orange-red adductor muscles are selected from natural or cultivated populations. After breeding for four generations, the obtained scallops have abundant carotenoid ingredients in their orange-red adductor muscles.

Abstract: A farming device for benthic organisms, which is submerged in a water tank or a body of water, is constituted of a plurality of tray-form containers, which are the cultivating floor for benthic organisms such as bivalves, and are stacked in the vertical direction, with a central cavity passing through the stacked cultivating floors in the vertical direction and horizontal gaps defined between the cultivating floors, the cultivating floors communicating with the cavity.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the effect of pollution in an aquatic mass, said method comprising disposing in said aquatic mass a biosensor unit containing a living sessile organism which exhibits apical growth and which is bound to a carrier, directing an electromagnetic beam towards a corresponding detector and between an edge and the apical tip of said sessile organism whereby to produce a diffraction pattern, detecting said diffraction pattern using said detector and monitoring a change (e.g. successive changes) in said diffraction pattern over time which is indicative of the natural growth of the apical tip of said organism.

Abstract: An apparatus for the cultivation of shellfish, the apparatus including a base with a culture surface and a support attachment for the base, the apparatus characterized in that the support attachment is configured to permit rotational movement of the base relative to a support when the base is secured to the support.

Abstract: Structures constructed from an artificial material facilitate the setting and growing of oysters, other mollusks, and other organisms for the purposes of food production, artificial reefs/breakwaters, and the like. The artificial material is a composite that acts as both an attractant and nutrient environment for mollusks and other aquatic organisms. The binder for the composite material includes both cement and an organic material. The organic material is selected to attract and feed the aquatic organisms.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for immobilizing aquatic animals, the device comprising a receptacle for holding an aquatic animal in a volume of water, an opening in the receptacle for placement and removal of the aquatic animal, a restraint positioned inside the receptacle for restraining the aquatic animal, and a tube attached to the receptacle for supplying air or aerated water to the receptacle. The present invention further provides methods of immobilizing and imaging live aquatic animals using the device of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing viable tetraploid bivalve mollusks, by fertilisation of diploid female ovocytes with diploid male sperm, followed by the induction of the retention of the first polar body of the fertilised eggs, isolation from the obtained larvae of a larval sub-population enriched in tetraploids and selective raising of said sub-population.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for novel strategies to harvest algal lipids using mollusks which after feeding algae from the growth medium can convert algal lipids into their biomass or excrete lipids in their pseudofeces which makes algae harvesting energy efficient and cost effective. The bioconverter, filter-feeding mollusks and their pseudofeces can be harvested and converted to biocrude using an advanced thermochemical liquefaction technology. Methods, systems, and materials are disclosed for the harvest and isolation of algal lipids from the mollusks, molluscan feces and molluscan pseudofeces.

Abstract: In a sea cucumber cultivator, sea cucumber cultivation baskets are arranged in multiple layers within a housing to protect the sea cucumbers from the external environment, to enable mass production and easy management of sea cucumbers. An inlet pipe and an outlet pipe are arranged to adjust the inflow and outflow of seawater to and from the housing. Each hose outlet is formed at a center region of a lower surface of a bottom of each sea cucumber cultivation basket in each layer so as to supply food for sea cucumbers to the cultivating spaces formed in the cucumber cultivation baskets arranged in multiple layers. Thus, food is discharged through the hose outlets and settles in the baskets to feed sea cucumbers and to enable sea cucumbers to easily intake food.

Abstract: Apparatus and related methods of monitoring a target aquatic organism are disclosed herein. In various aspects, the apparatus may include support media that supports the growth of a target aquatic organism, and a buoy adapted to float upon a water surface. The water surface may define a waterline with respect to the buoy, and the buoy may cooperate with the support media such that a waterline position of the waterline is generally indicative of a weight of the support media. The methods, in various aspects, may include the steps of positioning a support media in an aqueous environment, the support media supports the growth of a target aquatic organism, and determining a waterline position defined by a water surface with respect to a buoy, the waterline indicating a weight of the support media.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for obtaining oysters resistant to pathogenic agents and to the resulting oysters. The method of the invention comprises the hybridization of a Mediterranean oyster Ostrea edulis resistant to said pathogenic agents and of a non-resistant oyster of the opposite sex. The present invention is in particular of use in the commercial production of farmed oysters resistant to pathogenic agents, such as Bonamia ostreae and Martelia refringens.

Abstract: A process for breeding a Manila clam pedigree, includes: directively breeding present Manila clam pedigrees having different shell shapes to obtain a shell shape pedigree (A) having best phenotypic character; directively breeding the shell shape pedigrees (A) from different geographical populations to obtain a geographical population pedigree (B) having best phenotypic character; directively breeding the geographical population pedigrees (B) having different shell colors to obtain a growth shell color pedigree (C) of fastest growth and a resistance shell color pedigrees (E) of highest stress resistance; hybridizing the growth shell color pedigree (C) and the resistance shell color pedigree (E) to obtain a first hybridied pedigree (F1) of faster growth and higher stress resistance than the present Manila clam pedigrees; and directively breeding the first hybridied pedigree (F1) to obtain a second hybridied pedigree (F2) maintaining faster growth and higher stress resistance than the present Manila clam pedigre

Abstract: A process for polycross breeding a Manila clam pedigree, includes: providing present Manila clam pedigrees of different shell color types as parents; ecologically maturing the parents; reciprocally hybridizing the parents by every two of different shell color types to obtain offsprings thereof; nurturing the offsprings until gonads thereof mature synchronously; and hybridizing the matured offsprings with each other to obtain at least a four-way cross pedigree accumulating all valuable genes of the parents.

Abstract: The invention is directed to novel methods that enhance aquaculture of valuable crops. The invention is exemplified by co-culture of Panaeus vannamei and Enteromorpha clathrata, which produced superior P. vannamei and protected the animals against pathogen infection.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a structure for supporting multi-layer aquaculture facilities by the usage of construction scaffold systems and other supporting structures used by commercial storage/retrieval and horticulture greenhouse systems, allowing rapid construction of multi-layer aquaculture systems to be achieved with commercially available components.

Abstract: A support device for cultivating macro organisms in marine waters consisting of first and second coplanar rings connected to each other by a plurality of radial support lines and provided between them with a plurality of cultivating lines arranged in substantially coaxial rings and connected to the support lines. The outer one of the first and second rings is held in a predetermined orientation by ropes of crow's foot arrangements connected to it from above and below the rings. Each crow's foot arrangement is provided with a ring coaxial with respect to the first and second rings and connected to the other by a support rope. One of the crow's foot rings is connected to a buoyancy means and the other one is connected to an anchoring device so that forces acting on the buoyancy or anchoring means are restricted to the support rope.

Abstract: A method of tagging shellfish for the purpose of subsequent identification including providing a detectable tag, and fixedly engaging the detectable tag with a portion of the shellfish such that the detectable tag becomes incorporated into the shell portion as the shellfish grows.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for storing aquatic animals comprises a tank (3) for receipt of the aquatic animals, and an arrangement (9) to create a foam environment (13) in the interior of the tank (3) such that at least a majority of the aquatic animals when stored in the tank (3) are submerged in foam. The arrangement to create a foam environment may be configured to deliver a synthetic foam to the interior of the tank (3), or may be configured to generate the foam, preferably from the natural proteins of the aquatic animals. A fluid recirculation arrangement may recirculate fluid to generate the foam.

Abstract: An innovative optical system and method is disclosed for analyzing and uniquely identifying high-order refractive indices samples in a diverse population of nearly identical samples. The system and method are particularly suitable for ultra-fine materials having similar color, shape and features which are difficult to identify through conventional chemical, physical, electrical or optical methods due to a lack of distinguishing features. The invention discloses a uniquely configured optical system which employs polarized sample light passing through a full wave compensation plate, a linear polarizer analyzer and a quarter wave retardation plate for producing vivid color bi-refringence pattern images which uniquely identify high-order refractive indices samples in a diverse population of nearly visually identical samples. The resultant patterns display very subtle differences between species which are frequently indiscernable by conventional microscopy methods.

Abstract: A novel peptide found as gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in octopuses, a member of mollusks. The structure and the activities of the peptide have been unraveled. The peptide finds use as a reagent used in the studies of correlations between the structure and the activities of GnRH and the information processing mechanisms of the nervous systems in higher animals. It can also serve as a base compound in the development of pesticides and drugs. The peptide has the GnRH activity and has the following amino acid sequence (I): <Glu-Zaa-Zaa-His-Zaa-Ser-Zaa-Zaa-Zaa-Zaa-Pro-Gly-NH2 (SEQ ID NO: 7) ??(I) wherein <Glu represents pyroglutamic acid and Zaa represents any amino acid. Specifically, the peptide has the following amino acid sequence (1): <Glu-Asn-Tyr-His-Phe-Ser-Asn-Gly-Trp-His-Pro-Gly-NH2 (SEQ ID NO: 1) ??(1) wherein <Glu represents pyroglutamic acid.

Abstract: An improved submersible mollusc farm is disclosed. A line of cables bearing the culture ropes and the cylindrical buoys which maintain the line horizontal is suspended from end floats. The end floats include a filling/emptying system using water by way of ballast, in order to raise or submerge the line by inflating the end floats with air. Submerged tension buoys are connected to the end floats by tension cables and pulleys which are fixed to the dead weights provided at either end of the line. The vertical thrust of the tension buoys causes the pulley to stretch the cable and tauten the line.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method for breeding of a variety of Pacific abalone with orange shell. A new strain with uniform shell color of Pacific abalone is established by single mating or mass mating. The detailed procedures are as follows. The mature individuals with orange shell color are selected as breeders, and conditioned in the seawater. Macroalgae are fed and gentle aeration is provided daily. The gonad of breeders will eventually reach full ripeness; Artificial induction to spawn is conducted by combined desiccation, thermal shock and exposure to UV-irradiated seawater; The released gametes were fertilized by single mating or mass mating; A routine procedure is used for fertilized eggs incubation, larval and spat rearing. A new Pacific abalone strain of uniformly orange shell color is produced. In the invention, the new strain is produced by shell color mutant type abalone from natural populations or artificially cultivated stocks. No foreign genes are introduced.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of reducing the effects of hydrodynamic forces of waves and water currents in coastal environments (e.g., oceans, and coastal, river, lake, and reservoir banks). The apparatus is an oysterbreak having two basic designs adapted to allow for the attachment of oysters and other bio-fouling marine organisms, using the least amount of material. In one embodiment, the oysterbreak comprises a support structure and plurality of slats (i.e., relatively planar sections or surfaces) having growth layers made from tubing coated with a material capable of inducing aquatic sessile organism attachment and growth. In another embodiment, the oysterbreak comprises a plurality (e.g., two, three, four, five, six, etc.) of growth layers of regular polygonal-shaped members made from a material capable of inducing aquatic sessile organism attachment and growth that when stacked, form a relatively portable, breakwater module.

Abstract: A method of culturing aquatic animals utilizes a habitat including at least one habitat unit, each habitat unit being constructed of a plurality of concentric tubes with a fixed radial spacing. The habitat is immersed in an aquatic environment containing larvae of aquatic animals to be raised so that the larvae settle on the habitat, the aquatic animals are fed until the animals grow to a desired size, and the cultured animals are then harvested.

Abstract: A system and method for clam farming includes a supply ship coupled to a clam planter via a supply tube bundle having a plurality of individual tubes. The supply ship has a separation station configured for introducing individual clams into the individual supply tubes at a periodic interval. The clam planter includes an underwater vehicle and a plurality of row components that are slideably engaged with the underwater vehicle. Each of the row components is coupled to one of the individual tubes. As the underwater vehicle travels in a forward direction, the row components plow furrows and transport the individual clams into the furrows as they exit the individual tubes according to the periodic interval. A clam farm results having rows of clams near node points spaced from one another by node and row separation distances.

Abstract: A system and method for clam farming includes a supply ship coupled to a clam planter via a supply tube bundle having a plurality of individual tubes. The supply ship has a separation station configured for introducing individual clams into the individual supply tubes at a periodic interval. The clam planter includes an underwater vehicle and a plurality of row components that are slideably engaged with the underwater vehicle. Each of the row components is coupled to one of the individual tubes. As the underwater vehicle travels in a forward direction, the row components plow furrows and transport the individual clams into the furrows as they exit the individual tubes according to the periodic interval. A clam farm results having rows of clams near node points spaced from one another by node and row separation distances.

Abstract: A system and method for clam farming includes a supply ship coupled to a clam planter via a supply tube bundle having a plurality of individual tubes. The supply ship has a separation station configured for introducing individual clams into the individual supply tubes at a periodic interval. The clam planter includes an underwater vehicle and a plurality of row components that are slideably engaged with the underwater vehicle. Each of the row components is coupled to one of the individual tubes. As the underwater vehicle travels in a forward direction, the row components plow furrows and transport the individual clams into the furrows as they exit the individual tubes according to the periodic interval. A clam farm results having rows of clams near node points spaced from one another by node and row separation distances.

Abstract: A system and method for clam farming includes a supply ship coupled to a clam planter via a supply tube bundle having a plurality of individual tubes. The supply ship has a separation station configured for introducing individual clams into the individual supply tubes at a periodic interval. The clam planter includes an underwater vehicle and a plurality of row components that are slideably engaged with the underwater vehicle. Each of the row components is coupled to one of the individual tubes. As the underwater vehicle travels in a forward direction, the row components plow furrows and transport the individual clams into the furrows as they exit the individual tubes according to the periodic interval. A clam farm results having rows of clams near node points spaced from one another by node and row separation distances.

Abstract: A method of processing abalone is disclosed. The first step involves placing live abalone in a tank of water where they are given an opportunity to de-stress. Thereafter the salinity of the water is decreased to about 2.5%. This has the effect of additional weight being taken up on the musculature of the abalone. Thereafter the abalone are anaesthetised in the tank to minimise any muscular activity during subsequent processing. The abalone are then taken out of the tank and shucked to detach the meat or musculature from the shell and gut exposing the three main blood vessels of the abalone. These blood vessels are then blocked by inserting a blocking material into the open end of the vessel where it forms a plug. This resists the flow of body fluid including blood out of the abalone and assists in retaining the weight of the meat. After the meat has been cleaned a liquid is injected into the meat typically by a multipoint injector.

Abstract: A system and method for clam farming includes a supply ship coupled to a clam planter via a supply tube bundle having a plurality of individual tubes. The supply ship has a separation station configured for introducing individual clams into the individual supply tubes at a periodic interval. The clam planter includes an underwater vehicle and a plurality of row components that are slideably engaged with the underwater vehicle. Each of the row components is coupled to one of the individual tubes. As the underwater vehicle travels in a forward direction, the row components plow furrows and transport the individual clams into the furrows as they exit the individual tubes according to the periodic interval. A clam farm results having rows of clams near node points spaced from one another by node and row separation distances.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recirculating marine aquaculture process for production of a crab species, including (i) a broodstock conditioning, (ii) spawning, (iii) egg incubation, (iv) larval growth, (v) nursery post-larval growth, and (vi) grow-out of the crab to a final product weight, in which each stage (i)-(vi) of the process involves operation in an aqueous medium that is coupled in liquid recirculation relationship with waste component removal from the aqueous medium and returning purified aqueous medium to the external environment. The process involves operation in a closed, recirculating aquaculture system in which photoperiod, water temperature, water chemistry, and diet are optimized and then continuously monitored and controlled to obtain optimal production at each of the six phases (i)-(vi) of the life cycle.

Abstract: Mussels are commonly grown on ropes which have been seeded with immature molluscs. Past techniques for farming mussels have suffered from low product yields because of the low surface area of a mussel rope, and mussel detachment from the rope. Existing devices for solving these problems are cumbersome and difficult to use. The present invention solves the problems by providing a mussel farming device including a planar body with a slot in one side thereof for receiving a rope or mesh bag, an aperture at the center of the body, and a clip in the aperture for attaching the body to the rope or bag. A plurality of such devices are attached to a rope or bag at intervals along its length, thereby providing a large surface area for mussel attachment and creating stable platforms on which the mussels can mature.

Abstract: The invention (the process, its supporting devices, and applications) serves the endeavor of shellfish aquaculture. The invention improves and innovates: 1) tidally powered systems for raising shellfish seed, 2) grow-out, 3) brood stock conditioning, 4) market conditioning, & food supplement, 5) hatchery systems, 6) hatchery/nursery integration, resource sharing and optimization, ergonomics and economics, 7) water treatment, 8) Propulsion, 9) Anchorage, 10) Security, and 11) Devices for the Integration of Neighborhood Values and Shellfish Production. Such large increased economies of production suggest new uses for shellfish. Shellfish grow-out can provide cost effective and ecologically advantageous infrastructure benefits to eroding beaches, unstable channels, and water quality and the health of estuaries in general. The system is flexible in operation so that it may maximize the use of estuarine tidal energy and phytoplankton in order to maximize the ecological and economic benefits of the operation.

Abstract: An aquaculture system for cultivation, containment and rearing of various mollusks, particularly abalone, which includes a habitat which supports a plurality of molded panels including openings for communicating between adjacent panels, whereby food is available throughout the habitat. An outer netting or open structure which allows water to flow through the habitat, but protects the mollusks from predators, while still containing the food and permitting the flow of water therethrough, selected ones of said panels being configured to provide buoyancy for the habitat which is tethered from the bottom of the ocean.

Abstract: An aquaculture system for cultivation, containment and rearing of various mollusks, particularly abalone, which includes a habitat which supports a plurality of molded panels including openings for communicating between adjacent panels, whereby food is available throughout the habitat. An outer netting or open structure which allows water to flow through the habitat, but protects the mollusks from predators, while still containing the food and permitting the flow of water therethrough, selected ones of said panels being configured to provide buoyancy for the habitat which is tethered from the bottom of the ocean.

Abstract: A system and a method of growing shrimp, allowing balanced processes to accomplish the intensive culture of shrimp while reducing the risk of loss due to disease or environmental contaminants. Specifically, the present invention involves a unique combination of elements including: the use of specific pathogen free marine animal stocks, facilities which are effectively disinfected and isolated from sources of disease vectors and environmental contaminants, a beneficial, synergistic microbial population, and an aqueous medium of controlled composition. The system also comprises a specialized feed for supporting the microorganisms and marine animals, with zero-exchange of aqueous medium throughout the growout cycle such that the solids formed during operation, uneaten feeds, and fecal matter are retained in the system to provide an environment suitable for high yields and growth rates of marine animals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method rearing abalone. The apparatus comprises a water channel defining by lateral sides, the top edge of the individual longer lateral side being mounted with a reinforcing board; a plurality of partitioning boards having a plurality of holes thereon, and the top end of the board being extended with two clipping boards, a gap formed in between the two clipping boards and providing engagement with the reinforcing boards, the top of the upper clipping plate being provided with at least one hole for the mounting of a pin so as to fasten the partitioning board onto the reinforcing board and forming into a plurality of rearing troughs; and a water channel liner being mounted at the front end of the water channel. Further, a semi-automatic feeding machine may be used for replacing manual labor to feed the abalone.

Abstract: A deep ocean, mid-water farming apparatus, for propagating bi-valves, kelp and sea weed comprising a plurality of air-containing tanks arranged in a frame and including a lower frame element and an upper frame element, a device for anchoring the tanks in deep water and including connectors to connect the anchor to the lower frame element for holding the device in deep water, a plurality of upwardly directed elongated tubular substrates, on which to grow the bi-valves, the substrates arranged about a vertically-oriented center strut, each substrate defined by a first, lower terminal end, for connection to the upper frame element, and a second, upper terminal end, spaced-apart from the first end and, a top hat centered about the strut for connecting to the upper ends of the tubular substrates for holding them in a fixed configuration thereabout.

Abstract: An aquaculture system for allowing live seafood such as clam seeds to grow on a floatation raft which can be positioned in water dock spaces of a marina. A first embodiment allows for an air source such as a regenerative blower to pump air into airlifts under the floatation raft causing seawater to become aerated to flow into and up through screens in container units in the raft allowing for the live seafood on the screens to become both aerated and fed. A second embodiment is a downwell unit where the aerated water flows down the container units through the screens. The upwell air lifts can be modified with spray arm attachments to convert the system from upwell to downwell flow operations. The airlifts can have forty-five degree angled cut bottoms, and include extension tubes for allowing deeper seawater to be introduced into the system. Removable filters can be attached to the airlifts to filter out undesirable contaminants from the system.

Abstract: A methodology for the asexual propagation of a plurality of species of substantially sedentary marine invertebrates which naturally attach to or hold fast to a support where propagation is achieved by employment of segmentation and transplantation which is accomplished by intentionally forced segmentation of a predeterminable portion of the invertebrate's tissue and where the segmented tissue is manipulated to become substantially attached to a suitable support by a temporary holding device thereby resulting in a condition where the primary invertebrate as well as the propagated invertebrate can survive independently of one another.

Abstract: An apparatus is used to connect shellfish to a culture rope, which includes a shellfish transfer unit (5, 23, 29, 31) that transfers shellfish in a predetermined direction, shellfish (7) being transferred, two by two, in parallel upstanding orientation with their ear end portions (7a) down. The shellfish transferred by the shellfish transfer unit is stopped at a predetermined stop position defined by stoppers (39, 41). A culture rope (51) is supplied to a space between the ear end portions of two shellfish in the stop position. An ear spacer (50) and a pair of shellfish supporting pads (43, 45) cooperate each other to secure the scallops in the stop position where they are subjected to the piercing operation by a piercing unit and the pin-inserting operation by a pin inserting unit so that the ear end portions of two scallops held in parallel relation in the stop position are connected to the culture rope positioned and extending therebetween.

Abstract: Provided by this invention are novel tetraploid mollusks, including oysters, scallops, clams, mussels and abalone. Also, provided are a method for producing the tetraploid mollusks and a method for producing triploid mollusks by mating the novel tetraploid mollusks with diploid mollusks.

Abstract: A land-based, closed facility for the production of bivalve mollusks in a fluidized bed using shrimp pond water. The facility comprises a vertical column built on a base tank that circulates shrimp pond water from a system of pipes. The shrimp pond water flows upward through the vertical column at specific intermediate velocities, allowing oysters in the column to be individually suspended in the fluid currents. The bed remains motionless relative to the column walls. At low velocities, the oysters in the vertical column lie on one another and on the bottom of the column, and at high flow velocities the fluid flow become a hydraulic transport, pushing the oysters out of the column. The column has a vertical viewing window. An overflow valve releases water from the column. Attached to the base tank is a site gauge to determine the pressure of the fluid supplied to the base of the column. The pipe carrying the shrimp pond water to the base tank has two shut-off valves.

Abstract: The present invention describes vectors and methods useful for the production of transgenic mollusks, in particular, transgenic abalone. The invention further describes transgenic mollusks having enhanced growth properties. In addition, the isolation and characterization of an abalone actin gene promoter region is disclosed.

Abstract: This process involves the flowing of wastewater across a mass of zebra mussels that are attached to a fixed media such as a steel plate. The filtering action of the zebra mussels will remove contaminants. These contaminants will be used as food and incorporated into the mussels body tissue or excreted as feces. Filtered material that is not used as food is encapsulated and excreted as psuedofeces. Periodically the accumulated feces and psuedofeces, along with dead mussels, will have to be removed from the system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of reducing the effects of hydrodynamic forces of waves and water currents in coastal environments (e.g., oceans, and coastal, river, lake, and reservoir banks). The apparatus is an oysterbreak having two basic designs adapted to allow for the attachment of oysters and other bio-fouling marine organisms, using the least amount of material. In one embodiment, the oysterbreak comprises a support structure and plurality of slats (i.e., relatively planar sections or surfaces) having growth layers made from tubing coated with a material capable of inducing aquatic sessile organism attachment and growth. In another embodiment, the oysterbreak comprises a plurality (e.g., two, three, four, five, six, etc.) of growth layers of regular polygonal-shaped members made from a material capable of inducing aquatic sessile organism attachment and growth that when stacked, form a relatively portable, breakwater module.