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: 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: A shellfish aquaculture upweller system utilizes one or more upwellers having a volume-defining silo, a selectively removable exhaust port and a selectively removable and liquid permeable assembly. The silo includes a top end, an apertured bottom end and an apertured side wall. The exhaust port can be affixed to the silo and, when affixed thereto, provides controlled fluid communication between the liquid ambient environment and the volume defined by the silo. The liquid permeable assembly covers the bottom aperture when the assembly is mounted to the silo to permit liquid to pass therethrough while retaining the shellfish seed in the silo volume when the upweller is in use. The assemblies can be interchanged as desired and a plurality of the upwellers can be stored and transported in a compact manner due to the shape of the upweller silos.

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 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.