In one aspect, a trap for capturing a marine animal, e.g., a lobster, is disclosed, which includes a housing having an inlet port for receiving a marine animal, said inlet port being configured to prevent the marine animal from leaving the container, and a sensor coupled to the housing for detecting the presence of the marine animal in the housing. In some embodiments, a stretchable netting is coupled to the inlet port such that the marine animal passes through the netting before entering the housing via the inlet port. A stretch detector can be coupled to the netting to register the passage of a marine animal via the netting into the housing. The passage of a marine animal through the netting can result in a stretch of the netting, which is registered by the stretch signal. The stretch signal indicates the passage of the marine animal into the housing.

An octopus trap that includes a housing defining an interior containment space; an entrance opening to the interior containment space through which an octopus may enter the interior containment space; a trap door assembly that includes a trap door that is biased toward a first, closed position in which the entrance opening is blocked, the trap door being displaceable between the closed position and a second, open position in which the entrance opening is revealed; a trigger assembly that is capable of retaining the trap door in its open position against its bias, and that is capable of being triggered by an octopus from inside the containment space such that, when triggered, it causes the trap door to displace from its open position to its closed position and wherein the trigger assembly is capable of retaining the trap door in its closed position once triggered.

An octopus trap that includes a housing defining an interior containment space; an entrance opening to the interior containment space through which an octopus may enter the interior containment space; a trap door assembly that includes a trap door that is biased toward a first, closed position in which the entrance opening is blocked, the trap door being displaceable between the closed position and a second, open position in which the entrance opening is revealed; a trigger assembly that is capable of retaining the trap door in its open position against its bias, and that is capable of being triggered by an octopus from inside the containment space such that, when triggered, it causes the trap door to displace from its open position to its closed position and wherein the trigger assembly is capable of retaining the trap door in its closed position once triggered.

A bait container that is attached to inside of a trap, the bait container having a sidewall that forms an enclosure along with an cover that may open and close, a first connector that connects the cover to a door on the trap and a second connector that has some elasticity and that connects the cover to a lower or bottom portion of the container or the trap, the second connector securing the cover in a closed position when the trap door is closed and the first connector opening the cover when the trap is open such that the cover to the bait container is opened or closed as a user opens and closes the door to the trap.

A bait container that is attached to inside of a trap, the bait container having a sidewall that forms an enclosure along with an cover that may open and close, a first connector that connects the cover to a door on the trap and a second connector that has some elasticity and that connects the cover to a lower or bottom portion of the container or the trap, the second connector securing the cover in a closed position when the trap door is closed and the first connector opening the cover when the trap is open such that the cover to the bait container is opened or closed as a user opens and closes the door to the trap.

A handheld crabtrap for catching crabs includes a shaft having a handle with a lever on a proximal end, a trap head with a lid at a distal end of the shaft, and a linkage within the shaft attached to the lever and the trap head. The handle further includes a crab alert bell attached to a cable that also extends to and into the trap head, where it ends in a clip to which the crabber's bait is attached. The trap head is held open via the linkage and lever until a crab pulls on the bait ringing the bell and alerting a crabber to pull on the lever and close the trap head via a string therebetween.

A handheld crabtrap for catching crabs includes a shaft having a handle with a lever on a proximal end, a trap head with a lid at a distal end of the shaft, and a linkage within the shaft attached to the lever and the trap head. The handle further includes a crab alert bell attached to a cable that also extends to and into the trap head, where it ends in a clip to which the crabber's bait is attached. The trap head is held open via the linkage and lever until a crab pulls on the bait ringing the bell and alerting a crabber to pull on the lever and close the trap head via a string therebetween.

In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a crustacean trap can include a cage configured to trap one or more crustaceans, and a propulsion system connected to the cage and configured to provide propulsion to the cage. In certain embodiments, the trap can include a controller configured to control the propulsion system to autonomously pilot the trap.

In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a crustacean trap can include a cage configured to trap one or more crustaceans, and a propulsion system connected to the cage and configured to provide propulsion to the cage. In certain embodiments, the trap can include a controller configured to control the propulsion system to autonomously pilot the trap.

The present invention relates to a harvesting system for harvesting zooplankton or mesopelagic fishes and a method of harvesting zooplankton or mesopelagic fishes.