A module for retrofitting a boat for collection of floating biomass has a telescoping beam that spans the width of the boat and connects to aft-ends of levers that rest on the gunwales. The telescoping beam extends beyond both gunwales such that outboard net holders can be disposed thereon. Nets are attached to and held open by the net holders. The nets are at least partially submerged and fill with sargassum as the boat moves forward. Longitudinal drag forces are resisted by chains that connect the levers to the bow. Torsion around the telescoping beam is resisted by pretensioned straps that pass under the boat and over the aft-ends of the levers, which extend towards the bow to minimize strap tension and reaction force against gunwales. Horizontal moments in the outboard portions of the telescoping beam are absorbed by the inboard portion of the telescoping beam.

A floating seaweed and floating aquatic plant farming system includes an enclosed area positioned in a water body. The enclosed area is defined by one or more floating booms each including an attached mesh skirt. The system also includes a harvesting system for collecting seaweed growth in the floating enclosed area. The harvesting system is static or dynamic in relation to the floating enclosed area. The system may also include a processing system on a vessel containing the harvesting system. The one or more floating booms are secured in a location in the water body with an anchor system or with pilings. Alternatively, the enclosed area is defined by one or more mesh panels each secured to, and extending across spaces between, pilings. The seaweed is grown within the enclosed area and harvested by the harvesting system.

A floating seaweed and floating aquatic plant farming system includes an enclosed area positioned in a water body. The enclosed area is defined by one or more floating booms each including an attached mesh skirt. The system also includes a harvesting system for collecting seaweed growth in the floating enclosed area. The harvesting system is static or dynamic in relation to the floating enclosed area. The system may also include a processing system on a vessel containing the harvesting system. The one or more floating booms are secured in a location in the water body with an anchor system or with pilings. Alternatively, the enclosed area is defined by one or more mesh panels each secured to, and extending across spaces between, pilings. The seaweed is grown within the enclosed area and harvested by the harvesting system.

Methods and systems, including computer programs encoded on computer-storage media, for controlling a system for growing seaweed are described. Some implementations of a method include forming a substrate loop inoculated with seaweed spores; arranging the substrate loop about a pulley; submerging the substrate loop to grow the seaweed; determining, using a seaweed farm controller, that the seaweed has grown to a pre-determined size; and based on the determination that the seaweed has grown to a pre-determined size: providing instructions to the pulley to feed a section of the substrate loop to a harvesting unit; providing instructions to the harvesting unit to separate the seaweed attached to the section of the substrate loop; providing instructions to a cleaning unit to clean the section of the substrate loop that is freed from seaweed; and providing instructions to a seeding unit to inoculate the cleaned section of substrate loop with seaweed spores.

Methods and systems, including computer programs encoded on computer-storage media, for controlling a system for growing seaweed are described. Some implementations of a method include forming a substrate loop inoculated with seaweed spores; arranging the substrate loop about a pulley; submerging the substrate loop to grow the seaweed; determining, using a seaweed farm controller, that the seaweed has grown to a pre-determined size; and based on the determination that the seaweed has grown to a pre-determined size: providing instructions to the pulley to feed a section of the substrate loop to a harvesting unit; providing instructions to the harvesting unit to separate the seaweed attached to the section of the substrate loop; providing instructions to a cleaning unit to clean the section of the substrate loop that is freed from seaweed; and providing instructions to a seeding unit to inoculate the cleaned section of substrate loop with seaweed spores.

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media that implement an autonomous or semi-autonomous growth platform used to control live cargo exposures to environmental parameters by changing depth in an offshore environment. For example, the growth platform can be lowered at night so that farmed seaweed can perform luxury uptake of nutrients and raised during the daytime so that the farmed seaweed can capture sunlight.

The present invention relates to a multipurpose tool that is configured to collect seaweed and other debris from the edges of a body of water and from shorelines. The tool has an elongated handle having an ergonomic grip, a head portion, a plurality of tines extending from the head portion, and a removably attached net-like filter. Each tine has an elongated length with a downwardly extending distal portion and is supported by a curved brace, wherein the curved brace extends laterally across the tines for providing mechanical support to the tines. The tines are oriented in a tapered manner having less spacing between the tines near the head portion and more spacing between the tines at the distal end which allows the width of the tines to be larger at the distal end than near the head portion.

The present invention relates to a multipurpose tool that is configured to collect seaweed and other debris from the edges of a body of water and from shorelines. The tool has an elongated handle having an ergonomic grip, a head portion, a plurality of tines extending from the head portion, and a removably attached net-like filter. Each tine has an elongated length with a downwardly extending distal portion and is supported by a curved brace, wherein the curved brace extends laterally across the tines for providing mechanical support to the tines. The tines are oriented in a tapered manner having less spacing between the tines near the head portion and more spacing between the tines at the distal end which allows the width of the tines to be larger at the distal end than near the head portion.

A method of using algae to remove a contaminant or pollutant from a first fluid is provided. The method can include providing a growing apparatus having a first reservoir containing the first fluid and a second reservoir containing a second fluid, and growing the algae using the growing apparatus. The method can further include exposing the algae to the first fluid within the first reservoir where the algae uptakes the contaminant or pollutant from the first fluid, and exposing the algae via a belt to the second fluid in the second reservoir where the algae is stimulated to release the contaminant or pollutant. Exposing the algae to the first fluid within the first reservoir or the second fluid may change a growth rate of the algae.

A method of using algae to remove a contaminant or pollutant from a first fluid is provided. The method can include providing a growing apparatus having a first reservoir containing the first fluid and a second reservoir containing a second fluid, and growing the algae using the growing apparatus. The method can further include exposing the algae to the first fluid within the first reservoir where the algae uptakes the contaminant or pollutant from the first fluid, and exposing the algae via a belt to the second fluid in the second reservoir where the algae is stimulated to release the contaminant or pollutant. Exposing the algae to the first fluid within the first reservoir or the second fluid may change a growth rate of the algae.