A marine specimen capture system for use in capturing a marine specimen alive and intact from an underwater environment includes a specimen capture assembly comprising at least one specimen capture member. The at least one specimen capture member having a capture member inlet and a capture member outlet. A thruster assembly comprising at least one thruster unit is interconnected to the specimen capture assembly. More in particular, the thruster assembly is operative to generate an induced flow along an induced flow path into at least a portion of the at least one specimen capture member through the capture member inlet, wherein the induced flow is sufficient to pull a marine specimen into and through at least the capture member inlet of the at least one specimen capture member.

A marine specimen capture system for use in capturing a marine specimen alive and intact from an underwater environment includes a specimen capture assembly comprising at least one specimen capture member. The at least one specimen capture member having a capture member inlet and a capture member outlet. A thruster assembly comprising at least one thruster unit is interconnected to the specimen capture assembly. More in particular, the thruster assembly is operative to generate an induced flow along an induced flow path into at least a portion of the at least one specimen capture member through the capture member inlet, wherein the induced flow is sufficient to pull a marine specimen into and through at least the capture member inlet of the at least one specimen capture member.

A method of packaging live shellfish, the method including placing live shellfish in a sealable receptacle, inserting an oxygen-enriched, aqueous-based liquid medium in the receptacle in an amount that permits a gaseous-phase headspace within the receptacle, inserting a gas in the receptacle, the gas including oxygen, wherein the gas is inserted in an amount to fill the receptacle headspace with the gas, and sealing the receptacle to thereby retain the contents of the receptacle in a sealed environment.

A method of packaging live shellfish, the method including placing live shellfish in a sealable receptacle, inserting an oxygen-enriched, aqueous-based liquid medium in the receptacle in an amount that permits a gaseous-phase headspace within the receptacle, inserting a gas in the receptacle, the gas including oxygen, wherein the gas is inserted in an amount to fill the receptacle headspace with the gas, and sealing the receptacle to thereby retain the contents of the receptacle in a sealed environment.

The invention relates to a catcher basket assembly including a main body, at least one confining container for containing an animal, and at least one directing part in the main body, for assisting to direct the animal from the main body to the confining container. In use, the directing part directs an animal towards one or more confining container and the confining container enables the animal to be visually inspected and sorted without the need to make direct contact with the animal. The invention also relates to a catcher basket assembly for confining and sorting a crab. The invention also relates to a method of use of a catcher basket assembly.

The invention relates to a catcher basket assembly including a main body, at least one confining container for containing an animal, and at least one directing part in the main body, for assisting to direct the animal from the main body to the confining container. In use, the directing part directs an animal towards one or more confining container and the confining container enables the animal to be visually inspected and sorted without the need to make direct contact with the animal. The invention also relates to a catcher basket assembly for confining and sorting a crab. The invention also relates to a method of use of a catcher basket assembly.

Various embodiments relating to insulated and ventilated shellfish storage, for transport for example, are disclosed. An insulated container includes a bottom and walls defining an interior space to accommodate live shellfish. A CO.sub.2 handling feature to handle CO.sub.2 that is released into the interior space by the live shellfish is also provided. The CO.sub.2 handling feature could include, for example, a ventilated wall having a vent at a location toward the bottom of the insulated container, CO.sub.2 scrubbing, a CO.sub.2 accumulation structure to accumulate CO.sub.2 below the live shellfish, and/or a ventilated wall substantially parallel to the bottom to divide the interior space into an animal section to accommodate the live shellfish and a CO.sub.2 accumulation section to accumulate CO.sub.2. Embodiments are based on a discovery by the inventor that CO.sub.2 is a limiting factor for storage time of crustaceans out of water.

Various embodiments relating to insulated and ventilated shellfish storage, for transport for example, are disclosed. An insulated container includes a bottom and walls defining an interior space to accommodate live shellfish. A CO.sub.2 handling feature to handle CO.sub.2 that is released into the interior space by the live shellfish is also provided. The CO.sub.2 handling feature could include, for example, a ventilated wall having a vent at a location toward the bottom of the insulated container, CO.sub.2 scrubbing, a CO.sub.2 accumulation structure to accumulate CO.sub.2 below the live shellfish, and/or a ventilated wall substantially parallel to the bottom to divide the interior space into an animal section to accommodate the live shellfish and a CO.sub.2 accumulation section to accumulate CO.sub.2. Embodiments are based on a discovery by the inventor that CO.sub.2 is a limiting factor for storage time of crustaceans out of water.

Apparatus and method for collecting and decompressing one or more live specimens from a relatively high-pressure environment. The apparatus includes at least one hyperbaric chamber having an inner jar and an outer jar, the inner jar being insertable into the outer jar. A pump is configured to provide a pressurized fluid to the hyperbaric chamber. The inner and outer jars are respectively dimensioned such that an annular gap is created between them when the inner jar is inserted into the outer jar. The annular gap is configured as a return path for the pressurized fluid to travel from a second outer end to a first outer end of the outer jar. At least one pressure control valve is operatively connected to and configured to control an internal pressure of the hyperbaric chamber. The pressure control valve is selectively adjusted to decompress the live specimens.

Apparatus and method for collecting and decompressing one or more live specimens from a relatively high-pressure environment. The apparatus includes at least one hyperbaric chamber having an inner jar and an outer jar, the inner jar being insertable into the outer jar. A pump is configured to provide a pressurized fluid to the hyperbaric chamber. The inner and outer jars are respectively dimensioned such that an annular gap is created between them when the inner jar is inserted into the outer jar. The annular gap is configured as a return path for the pressurized fluid to travel from a second outer end to a first outer end of the outer jar. At least one pressure control valve is operatively connected to and configured to control an internal pressure of the hyperbaric chamber. The pressure control valve is selectively adjusted to decompress the live specimens.