An automated oyster maturation system including a containment assembly rotatably disposed within a housing. The containment assembly includes a spiral construction that includes compartments that are in communication with one another, walls that define the compartments, and ramps. Openings disposed in the walls and ramps increase in size from the outer diameter to the inner diameter of the spiral construction so that, with every complete rotation of the containment assembly, every oyster will tumble further into the spiral construction and ascend from its original compartment into the adjacent inner compartment where opening size is larger than in the original compartment such that only oysters which have grown sufficiently can remain in the adjacent inner compartment while oysters that have not grown sufficiently yet will fall through the openings of the adjacent inner compartment into the original compartment.

An automated oyster maturation system including a containment assembly rotatably disposed within a housing. The containment assembly includes a spiral construction that includes compartments that are in communication with one another, walls that define the compartments, and ramps. Openings disposed in the walls and ramps increase in size from the outer diameter to the inner diameter of the spiral construction so that, with every complete rotation of the containment assembly, every oyster will tumble further into the spiral construction and ascend from its original compartment into the adjacent inner compartment where opening size is larger than in the original compartment such that only oysters which have grown sufficiently can remain in the adjacent inner compartment while oysters that have not grown sufficiently yet will fall through the openings of the adjacent inner compartment into the original compartment.

The invention relates to a submerged observation unit (6) for a fish tank, wherein the observation unit (6) is suspended in a node cable (5) from a hoist winch (3) of a surface buoy (2). The node cable (5) is torsion-resistant, wherein the node cable (5) is at its upper end wound on the hoist winch (3) having a horizontal drum axis. The observation unit (6) is arranged to be motorized and to azimuthally rotate about a vertical axis. The surface buoy (2) is arranged to be motorized and to move along a main span (10) of a surface cable (1), wherein the main span (10) is arranged to be spanned across a float ring (9) of the fish tank.

The invention relates to a submerged observation unit (6) for a fish tank, wherein the observation unit (6) is suspended in a node cable (5) from a hoist winch (3) of a surface buoy (2). The node cable (5) is torsion-resistant, wherein the node cable (5) is at its upper end wound on the hoist winch (3) having a horizontal drum axis. The observation unit (6) is arranged to be motorized and to azimuthally rotate about a vertical axis. The surface buoy (2) is arranged to be motorized and to move along a main span (10) of a surface cable (1), wherein the main span (10) is arranged to be spanned across a float ring (9) of the fish tank.

A pen system is for farming aquatic organisms. The pen system has an outer surrounding rigid structure and an internal, closed enclosure. The outer surrounding rigid structure forms an upper portion and a lower portion. The pen system further has: an internal surrounding connecting element, the closed enclosure being attached to the connecting element; and a heave-compensation system having a plurality of fluid-filled cylinders, each fluid-filled cylinder being hingedly attached, in a first end portion, to the connecting element, and being hingedly attached, in a second end portion, to the inside of the rigid structure.

A pen system is for farming aquatic organisms. The pen system has an outer surrounding rigid structure and an internal, closed enclosure. The outer surrounding rigid structure forms an upper portion and a lower portion. The pen system further has: an internal surrounding connecting element, the closed enclosure being attached to the connecting element; and a heave-compensation system having a plurality of fluid-filled cylinders, each fluid-filled cylinder being hingedly attached, in a first end portion, to the connecting element, and being hingedly attached, in a second end portion, to the inside of the rigid structure.

An apparatus for cleaning aquaculture nets underwater. The appartus employs a propeller housing with a centrally disposed axis with a plurality of propeller blades extending therefrom. An outer perimeter ring secured to an outer tip of each propeller blade with a plurality of knuckles secured to the outer perimeter ring. Each knuckle including a curved surface constructed and arranged to strike the aquaculture net upon rotation of the blades for removal of growth by impact and shaking of the aquaculture net.

An apparatus for cleaning aquaculture nets underwater. The appartus employs a propeller housing with a centrally disposed axis with a plurality of propeller blades extending therefrom. An outer perimeter ring secured to an outer tip of each propeller blade with a plurality of knuckles secured to the outer perimeter ring. Each knuckle including a curved surface constructed and arranged to strike the aquaculture net upon rotation of the blades for removal of growth by impact and shaking of the aquaculture net.

A pneumatically controlled aquaculture apparatus is provided. The apparatus has a lift vessel that lifts containers holding shellfish out of the water when the lift vessel is floating in order to allow air desiccation to prevent bio-fouling of the equipment and shellfish. The apparatus also has a buoy bladder positioned above the containers holding shellfish. The buoy bladder is retained in a centered position of the apparatus. The apparatus may be deployed in a suspended position with the buoy bladder floating on the water surface and the containers holding shellfish suspended below the buoy bladder. In addition, the apparatus may be deployed in a submerged position in which the buoy bladder is deflated and the apparatus is either resting on the water bottom or retained in a desired position in the water column.

A pneumatically controlled aquaculture apparatus is provided. The apparatus has a lift vessel that lifts containers holding shellfish out of the water when the lift vessel is floating in order to allow air desiccation to prevent bio-fouling of the equipment and shellfish. The apparatus also has a buoy bladder positioned above the containers holding shellfish. The buoy bladder is retained in a centered position of the apparatus. The apparatus may be deployed in a suspended position with the buoy bladder floating on the water surface and the containers holding shellfish suspended below the buoy bladder. In addition, the apparatus may be deployed in a submerged position in which the buoy bladder is deflated and the apparatus is either resting on the water bottom or retained in a desired position in the water column.