Abstract: A shoreline restoration method utilizes a plurality of apparatuses facilitating the formation of a vertical oyster reef. Each apparatus includes a rod frame and a plurality of individual mesh bags are positioned between an inner and an outer frame. The inner and outer frames include top and bottom frame portions and a plurality of side support frame members extending there between. Each individual mesh bag is aligned with at least one outer side support frame member and at least one inner side support frame member and wherein each individual mesh bag is coupled to an adjacent mesh bag. A plurality of cross ties extends between the inner frame and the outer frame and cultch material fills each individual mesh. The shoreline restoration method promotes shell accumulation and expands the tidal zone.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide oysters which are highly safe and not contaminated with microorganisms including viruses and bacteria, the oysters moreover being fresh and having high nutritional value, and being available throughout the year in the same state as oysters from the in-season period. Provided is a method for cultivating oysters on land, the method including growing oyster larvae into adult shellfish in seawater containing deep-sea water in a water tank through feeding microalgae cultured in seawater containing deep-sea water to the oyster larvae.

Abstract: An environmentally supportive seawater intake system includes a first filtering system in communication with raw seawater for providing a flow of seawater in a first direction into a raceway. A second filtering system is also in communication with seawater in the raceway and is adapted to receive a portion of the seawater in the raceway and directing it in a second direction away from the flow of residual water in the raceway. An input device receives the second portion flowing in the second direction, and a recovery system receives and returns the first, residual portion to the sea environment.

Abstract: Methods of reef construction are disclosed that include exposing a man-made scaffold to environmental conditions such that bivalve organisms grow on the man-made scaffold for a duration sufficient to create a scaffold having two generations of bivalve attachment. Certain methods involve moving the biologically accreted scaffold to a second location to serve as a reef or breakwater after substantial growth of bivalve organisms has occurred.

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: An improved spat collection system and method of use thereof, said system comprising a plurality of spat collection panels suspended from a floatation device placed in a marine environment, said panels attached to said floatation device by a suspension mechanism, and a predator protection device adapted to surround the panels to minimize predation of spat collected thereon; said method comprising the steps of placing said spat collection system in a suitable marine environment, allowing said spat collection system to remain in the marine environment for an appropriate length of time, then withdrawing one or more spat collection panels from the marine environment and scraping accumulated spat from said panel into a container before replacing said panel in the marine environment.

Abstract: A device for example for the harvesting of farmed bivalves (6) in water (4), the bivalves (6) being attached to and growing on a bivalve net (10) in the water (4). According to the invention, the device, a bivalve harvester (2), has a propulsion device arranged thereto, and is formed of a frame with for example at least one rotatable harvesting roller (90, 92), which is pressed and rotated against the bivalve net (10) and the bivalves (6) during the harvesting of the bivalves (6), so that the bivalves (6) are thereby scraped or milled loose from the bivalve net (10), after which the bivalves (6) are collected and sucked into a catching device enclosing the harvesting roller(s) (90, 92). The bivalves (6) and bivalve bunches (8) are then pumped by means of a pumping device in a downstream direction into a pipe for further transport and collecting onto a vessel or a device placed in the vicinity of the bivalve harvester (2).

Abstract: A device for example for the harvesting of farmed bivalves (6) in water (4), the bivalves (6) being attached to and growing on a bivalve net (10) in the water (4). According to the invention, the device, a bivalve harvester (2), has a propulsion device arranged thereto, and is formed of a frame with for example at least one rotatable harvesting roller (90, 92), which is pressed and rotated against the bivalve net (10) and the bivalves (6) during the harvesting of the bivalves (6), so that the bivalves (6) are thereby scraped or milled loose from the bivalve net (10), after which the bivalves (6) are collected and sucked into a catching device enclosing the harvesting roller(s) (90, 92). The bivalves (6) and bivalve bunches (8) are then pumped by means of a pumping device in a downstream direction into a pipe for further transport and collecting onto a vessel or a device placed in the vicinity of the bivalve harvester (2).

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: 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: 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: A cage for growing abalone, or other suitable underwater species, includes a ballast device having a device for holding the cage steady in flowing water. The cage is constructed substantially from a stiff mesh material, with at least two opposite faces of the cage being constructed so that folds of mesh form collection chambers. The collection chambers are substantially U-shaped and sealed at their innermost ends while having a V-shaped funnel entrance, so that an escape of an underwater species held within the cage is prevented. A large surface area of mesh is presented to water flowing through the cage. As a result, drift weed or other food material is able to be captured on the large surface area of mesh for providing a food source for the underwater species within the cage. The construction of the cage allows for the collection of drift weed, regardless of the direction that the tide is flowing.

Abstract: Holders (10) for growing individual oysters each including a cup-like member (12) having a lip (20) defining a cylindrical cavity (16) of a size sufficient to allow a seedling or juvenile oyster to be at least partially, and preferably completely, placed therein prior to the juvenile oyster's setting with the oyster's hinge located at the cavity's rear. At least one aperture (24/26; 124/126) is formed through the cavity's bottom and side walls with dimensions sufficient to prevent the seedling or juvenile oyster from passing through the aperture(s) but large enough to allow the oyster spat to initially anchor itself to the holder by growing into the aperture(s). The holder further includes a flared, radially extending, shelf extension portion (14) into which the lip of the cavity leads. The shelf portion along with the higher, underside side of the lip directs the growth of the growing oyster's shell over the shelf as it grows up past and outside of the walls of the cup-like member.

Abstract: An aquatic cultivator (12) suitable for culturing aquatic invertebrates, fishes, and the like requiring broad surfaces for attachment, comprising a base (26), a hub (28), and a plurality of partitions (24). The base (26) contains a plurality of cutouts (36). A socket (34) and post (30), arranged on opposite ends of the hub (28), provide a mortise-and-tenon-like connection for assembling a plurality of aquatic cultivators (12). The aquatic cultivator (12) is contained within a porous container (14) which has openings (38) to permit culturing activities within. A tether (20) with a knot (22) secures the aquatic cultivator (12) to a float and/or anchor at a desired position within the water.

Abstract: The invention relates to the cultivation of shellfish. A first type of shellfish capable of securing themselves to a cultch such as by producing byssus are seeded onto a culture rope together with a second type of shellfish which are not capable of securing themselves. The seeding process is carried out using a seeding machine, and the shellfish are retained against the culture rope by way of a seeding stocking. The seeding stocking, the culture rope, and all of the shellfish, are then transferred to a suitable environment for cultivation. The first type of shellfish produce byssus and thereby secure themselves to the culture rope. The second type of shellfish are also secured by way of the byssus produced by the first type of shellfish. The seeding stocking is then no longer required and degrades or is burst by both types of the shellfish.

Abstract: A method for forming an oyster reef, includes setting seed oysters on cultch material, placing the cultch material containing the seed oysters in water permeable panels to form a vertical permeable wall of cultch material through which water may flow, and placing the panels in water having favorable conditions for oyster growth. The apparatus includes water permeable panels for holding cultch material in a vertical permeable wall to expose the entire column or wall of cultch to water having favorable conditions for oyster growth, and blocks formed from the panels.