This invention provides a vessel system and methodology that can be used to promote growth of phytoplankton in the oceans. Unmanned self-controlled wave-powered vessels are equipped with storage units for dispensing a fertilizer, and with sensors to monitor ocean conditions and effects. Fleets of vessels move autonomously by on-board processing of GPS and directional information, piloting a path that is coordinated by a central processing unit. The vessels travel through a defined target area, creating a detailed survey of chemical and biological characteristics that affect grown. The data are processed in a computer model to identify precise locations and precise amounts of fertilizer that will produce the best results. Projected benefits of fertilizing plankton include sequestering CO.sub.2 from the atmosphere, and enhancing the marine food chain to improve the fish stock in and around the treated area.

This invention provides a vessel system and methodology that can be used to promote growth of phytoplankton in the oceans. Unmanned self-controlled wave-powered vessels are equipped with storage units for dispensing a fertilizer, and with sensors to monitor ocean conditions and effects. Fleets of vessels move autonomously by on-board processing of GPS and directional information, piloting a path that is coordinated by a central processing unit. The vessels travel through a defined target area, creating a detailed survey of chemical and biological characteristics that affect grown. The data are processed in a computer model to identify precise locations and precise amounts of fertilizer that will produce the best results. Projected benefits of fertilizing plankton include sequestering CO.sub.2 from the atmosphere, and enhancing the marine food chain to improve the fish stock in and around the treated area.

The innovative systems and methods described herein use a high-resolution imaging microscope for capturing images of marine microorganisms and particles in situ in an aquatic environment. Using darkfield illumination, high-resolution images may be obtained, capturing features of the microorganism or particle as small as 10 μm in remarkable clarity. Utilizing an open flow-through approach in sample imaging, the delicate structures of the plankton and particles may be imaged completely intact without damage and in their natural orientation. The images can be classified at high accuracy based on physiological and morphological in-formation captured in the image including features as fine as 1 μm. The disclosed classification method utilizes adaptable training sets of taxonomic categories and a novel method of discerning in-focus targets, providing a highly accurate identification system.

The innovative systems and methods described herein use a high-resolution imaging microscope for capturing images of marine microorganisms and particles in situ in an aquatic environment. Using darkfield illumination, high-resolution images may be obtained, capturing features of the microorganism or particle as small as 10 μm in remarkable clarity. Utilizing an open flow-through approach in sample imaging, the delicate structures of the plankton and particles may be imaged completely intact without damage and in their natural orientation. The images can be classified at high accuracy based on physiological and morphological in-formation captured in the image including features as fine as 1 μm. The disclosed classification method utilizes adaptable training sets of taxonomic categories and a novel method of discerning in-focus targets, providing a highly accurate identification system.

The invention relates to a device, a system and a method for grading live aquatic organisms in fluid into batches by using a central control system (7) that controls the grading process in a continuous manner resulting in optimisation of the grading process, said control system (7) optimizing individual grading components, namely concentration control (3) of fish, pump (4) speed and grader (5) settings, based on a software and a database (8) containing pre-set counting data.

An apparatus for producing ventral images of aquatic organisms, such as amphibians, for example, of newts the apparatus comprising a hollow conduct and a watertight container. The hollow conduct has a first opening and a second opening being opposed from each other. The hollow conduct and the watertight container are separated by a wall which transmits the wavelengths comprised between 390 nm and 1.4 μm. The apparatus is opaque to the wavelengths comprised between 390 nm and 1.4 μm. The watertight container comprises an underwater video camera oriented towards the wall. The apparatus is remarkable in that the watertight container is positioned below the hollow conduct, the watertight container being filled with clean water. Additionally, a method for detecting, identifying and/or individualizing aquatic animals.

An apparatus for producing ventral images of aquatic organisms, such as amphibians, for example, of newts the apparatus comprising a hollow conduct and a watertight container. The hollow conduct has a first opening and a second opening being opposed from each other. The hollow conduct and the watertight container are separated by a wall which transmits the wavelengths comprised between 390 nm and 1.4 μm. The apparatus is opaque to the wavelengths comprised between 390 nm and 1.4 μm. The watertight container comprises an underwater video camera oriented towards the wall. The apparatus is remarkable in that the watertight container is positioned below the hollow conduct, the watertight container being filled with clean water. Additionally, a method for detecting, identifying and/or individualizing aquatic animals.

The invention comprises a method, a device and a fish-farm for controlling the concentration of living organisms in fluid in order to facilitate the handling of the organisms such as grading and counting. Said apparatus comprises a first in-feed channel for a flow of living organism in a fluid (1), a second in-feed channel for a flow of fluid (2), a chamber (4) containing a lever (11) for regulating the flow from the first and the second in-feed channel through the chamber, an outlet (15), and a computer, wherein a sensor (9) is positioned in the first in-feed channel for detecting the density of living organism in the flow, and wherein the computer continuously and automatically regulates the ratio of flow from the first and the second in-feed channel through the chamber and towards the outlet by the lever in response to the density of living organism in the flow determined by the sensor.

The invention comprises a method, a device and a fish-farm for controlling the concentration of living organisms in fluid in order to facilitate the handling of the organisms such as grading and counting. Said apparatus comprises a first in-feed channel for a flow of living organism in a fluid (1), a second in-feed channel for a flow of fluid (2), a chamber (4) containing a lever (11) for regulating the flow from the first and the second in-feed channel through the chamber, an outlet (15), and a computer, wherein a sensor (9) is positioned in the first in-feed channel for detecting the density of living organism in the flow, and wherein the computer continuously and automatically regulates the ratio of flow from the first and the second in-feed channel through the chamber and towards the outlet by the lever in response to the density of living organism in the flow determined by the sensor.

An organism evaluation system for analyzing organisms within a fluid flow, comprising one or more of a stimulation section comprising a means for inducing a motive response in a living organism within the fluid flow passing through the stimulation section and a shepherding section comprising a means for temporarily separating such an organism from and then returning it to the fluid flow, a flow normalizing section in fluid communication with the stimulation section and/or shepherding section, and a viewing section in fluid communication with the flow normalizing section, the viewing section comprising a body having formed therein a body cavity defining a viewing port, the viewing section further comprising an optical system mounted relative to the body for viewing the fluid flow within the viewing port through a cavity first opening, whereby image data relating to the fluid flow and organisms therein is acquired via the optical system for analysis.