Abstract: A pneumatically controlled aquaculture apparatus is provided. The apparatus has a lift vessel that lifts containers holding shellfish out of the water when the lift vessel is floating in order to allow air desiccation to prevent bio-fouling of the equipment and shellfish. The apparatus also has a buoy bladder positioned above the containers holding shellfish. The buoy bladder is retained in a centered position of the apparatus. The apparatus may be deployed in a suspended position with the buoy bladder floating on the water surface and the containers holding shellfish suspended below the buoy bladder. In addition, the apparatus may be deployed in a submerged position in which the buoy bladder is deflated and the apparatus is either resting on the water bottom or retained in a desired position in the water column.

Abstract: A system for cultivating a large quantity of oysters is disclosed herein. The system includes a device that can be placed either on the seabed or the surface of a water environment. The device may be placed at either location and may also be placed further offshore and still be safe from extreme weather conditions. As a result, the benefits of each location are implemented into the system. The system includes an oyster cultivating device including a rectangular frame holding various crates with multiple internal baffles or dividers, and an attached buoyant member for keeping the cultivating frame at or near the surface of the water. The crates are placed such that they fill the volume within the rectangular frame. A buoyant member is then placed on the top end of the rectangular frame. The system provides increased agitation capabilities for oysters to provide a larger and rounder cultivated oyster.

Abstract: The present invention is an anchor for an artificial structure for attracting fish within a body of water. The structure is comprised of a base and has a central attachment post, a central column configured to secure to the attachment post, and a protective plate.

Abstract: A modular habitat apparatus for attaching and anchoring aquatic life hiding units thereto comprises a weighted apparatus comprising a mat or platform for submersion in waterways wherein aquatic life hiding units may be attached thereto. The present invention further comprises a modular system of one or more habitat apparatuses having aquatic life hiding units attached thereto. Moreover, a plurality of habitat apparatuses may be fastened together and installed horizontally to cover a relatively large area, and/or connected together both horizontally and vertically to create three-dimensional habitats for aquatic life. Systems and methods of making and using the same are further provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cage farming apparatus. The cage farming apparatus includes: a buoy configured to float on the surface of the sea; a central structure configured to be seated on the bottom surface of the sea and to be connected to the buoy by a lifting rope; a floating means fitted around the lifting rope, and configured to be lifted along the lifting rope due to buoyancy or to be lowered along the lifting rope due to a load; an auxiliary structure configured to be located on the bottom surface of the sea and to be spaced apart from the central structure; a cage net configured to be located above the auxiliary structure and to be connected to the floating means by a connecting rope; and pulleys formed on the central structure and the auxiliary structure, and configured to guide the connecting rope through its movement.

Abstract: An elongate rectangular cultivation box having an open top, is configured so as to allow an outer tank, which serves as a cultivating water storage part, and an inner tank, which serves as a receptacle for bivalves (benthic organisms) S that are to be cultivated, to be both combined and separated. A gap that serves as a water supply opening and a gap that serves as a space in which sediments can accumulate on the bottom of the outer tank are defined when the inner tank is accommodated in the outer tank. Water passage holes are provided in the bottom of the shellfish receptacle (inner tank) and a mesh filter such as netting is stretched across the top face of the bottom. The cultivation boxes are arranged in a vertically stacked manner, with the front portions and rear portions thereof staggered so that cultivation water W that overflows over a front ledge of a shellfish receptacle flows downward into the supply water storage part of a lower cultivation box.

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: A method for establishing a clam bed which includes raising clam larvae in a captive environment in which they are provided with adequate food and habitat requirements and kept isolated from predation by natural predators. In addition, a mobile, floating hatchery/nursery facilitates implementation of the method by providing a captive environment.

Abstract: The present invention provides aquaculture assemblies for culturing oysters in deep waters and includes at least one structure adapted for culturing an aquacultural species; at least one floatation means; and at least one anchoring means connecting said floatation means to the sea bed; wherein said structure is connected to or comprises said floatation means or said floatation means comprises said structure; and wherein said assembly is adapted for supporting said at least one structure either: a) substantially above the water surface at low-tide, and at least substantially below the water surface at high-tide, or b) substantially just below the water surface at low-tide, and fully below the water surface at high-tide. Methods for culturing aquacultural species using assemblies according to the invention are also provided.

Abstract: A marine habitat system comprising one or more assembled units, each formed of a flotation element and a plurality of habitat tiers fixed to and spaced below the flotation element. The habitat tiers are comprised of frame assemblies formed of upper and lower open frame elements and side walls, forming a space. The space is filled with a mesh matrix of plastic fibers which forms an ideal environment in which various desirable juvenile marine creatures (crabs, lobsters, oysters, etc.) can thrive. Upwardly projecting, simulated prop roots can be provided on the habitat tiers to provide additional anchorage area for marine life to attach.

Abstract: A system for culture and storage of benthic organisms in an aquatic environment including at least two containers for storing organisms, releasably interconnected and forming a stack in the height direction, at least two lines attached to the stack and connected to at least the upper portion of the stack, and a suspension device connected to the lines. The system may also include a working platform and raising/lowering device(s) for raising and lowering stacks. A method for handling containers for storage of benthic organisms in an aquatic environment is also disclosed.

Abstract: A nested pair of perforated containers floats partially submerged in seawater, tethered to a fixed object such as a dock or pier. The inner container is partially filled with oyster spat, closed and laid within the outer container which is then closed and secured. The immature oysters are protected from predators and immersed in the upper 24 inches of seawater where optimum growing conditions exist. Floatation attached to the outer container maintains the top at the water's surface and replaceable filter material around the outside periphery absorbs harmful oils and chemicals. Periodically the inner container is removed, opened and the grown oysters are harvested or dumped onto an oyster bed and the process is repeated.

Abstract: A marine habitat system comprising one or more assembled units, each formed of a flotation element and a plurality of habitat tiers fixed to and spaced below the flotation element. The habitat tiers are comprised of frame assemblies formed of upper and lower open frame elements and side walls, forming a space. The space is filled with a mesh matrix of plastic fibers which forms an ideal environment in which various desirable juvenile marine creatures (crabs, lobsters, oysters, etc.) can thrive. Upwardly projecting, simulated prop roots can be provided on the habitat tiers to provide additional anchorage area for marine life to attach.

Abstract: Fish-breeding apparatus (10), which comprises a frame, supporting one or a plurality of breeding cages (11) and provided with hollow buoyancy elements (17), and at least one device for controlling the buoyancy of the apparatus by filling, totally or partially, the buoyancy elements with water and emptying them of the water, totally or partially, whenever desired. The buoyancy elements are emptied of water by replacing the water with air. The buoyancy elements are such that when they are empty of water to a predetermined extent, the entire apparatus floats, even when it is fully charged. The frame has depending legs (17), so that even in its lowermost position the bottoms of the breeding cage will be spaced from the sea bed.

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: Method and apparatus for reducing or eliminating the contamination by algae or phytoplankton in a fish farm (100). A series of tarpaulins (112) are suspended from buoyant members (103) which support the netting (102) of the farm (100). The tarpaulins (112) are connected at their lowermost ends (115) to a movable series of horizontal booms (122) that may take on air for positive buoyancy or which may displace the air with water for negative buoyancy. The booms (122) reciprocate on generally vertically oriented spars (113) which are maintained in position using anchors (104) and stays (111). As the booms (122) are raised or lowered, the tarpaulins (112) are similarly raised or lowered to allow or prevent algae from entering the farm (100). A water pipe (200) is maintained in position within each cage (101). Air is injected into the water pipe (200) from a compressor (214). The injected air initiates water flow upwardly within the water pipe (200).

Abstract: A modular apparatus for cultivating marine animals caged within rearing units submerged in a body of water of the natural environment of the animals includes a row and column structure that floats at the water surface. The apparatus is moored by anchors deployed at the column ends and at position intermediate the column ends. The members of the rows, and optionally the columns, are constructed from substantially rigid tubes, especially plastic, corrugated wall, culvert pipe, filled with a substantially incompressible foam. The row members are releasably attached between adjacent columns in perpendicular orientation to the longitudinal axes of the columns.Each rearing unit is a perforated wall container suspended from a row member by a suspension assembly so as to hang above the water floor. Multiple rearing units can be suspended from each row member. The rearing units contain vertically oriented panels of substrate material, especially sheets of cementitious backer unit.

Abstract: The device for growing mollusks and in particular oysters incorporates at least one element constituting a tray (30) for carrying the mollusks that is disposed within a net (24) of tubular shape and adapted to be suspended from a hawser anchored in the sea. The tray element (30) comprises on its periphery a flange (42) extending generally in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the tray. The element constituting a tray further comprises a separate clamping element (32) for clamping the net against the flange (42).

Abstract: Anchorable mobile pens for growing fish or shellfish that have an elongate central vertical spar buoy surrounded by at least one horizontal net-supporting ring with continuous netting extending from an upper end of the buoy to the ring and thence to a lower, submerged end of the buoy to produce an enclosed pen. The pen is optionally not anchored and free to float with the currents although it may more often be anchored by conventional means. The mobility of the pens provides the benefits of avoidance of localized hazards, like toxic plankton blooms, and the capability to move the pen to a more convenient fish-harvesting location, if necessary.

Abstract: The invention provides a plant for the storage of fish and shellfish that includes a net cage for submerging in a body of water. The cage includes a floor section, surrounding walls with bottom ends thereof attached to a perimeter of the floor section, and an upper roof section of netting with bottom ends thereof attached to top ends of the walls. The roof conforms to a frustoconical shape when in use and includes a central buoyant member in an upper end thereof. In use, the roof extends slackly from the central buoyant member to the points of attachment at the surrounding walls. The surrounding walls are vertically supported by a plurality of buoyant bodies attached to the upper edge of the walls. The entire cage is supported in water by a support section supplied with a buoyant element. The support section is, in turn, held in place by an anchoring section that includes a plurality of substantially parallel vertical cables that are anchored to bottom.

Abstract: An oyster cultivating apparatus 10 is provided including a first cylindrically shaped elongated member 12 having an open area 14 extending therethrough and a first plurality of openings 16 formed thereabout. An upper member 20 is provided to cover an upper portion of the first elongated member 12 and a base member 24 is provided to cover a lowermost portion of the first elongated member. A second cylindrically shaped elongated member 38 having an open area 40 extending therethrough and having a second plurality of openings 44 formed thereabout, which are smaller than the first plurality of openings 16, is provided to be aligned in the first elongated member 12 so that the second plurality of openings 44 are in direct alignment with the first plurality of openings 16.

Abstract: A method for the cultchless cultivation of mollusks comprises placing the mollusks in an elongate bag of mesh material, which is preferably about 100 feet long. The bag has a longitudinal slit therein for providing access to the bag. The bag is suspended under tension in an underwater off-bottom location whereby the slit is maintained in a closed position by the tension. The invention also includes apparatus for raising the bag into an elevated position above the water for husbandry and harvesting purposes. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a raft provided with a pair of spiked rollers thereon for moving the bag along the top of the raft.