Fish Pot Bait and Method for Fish Pot Fishing

Abstract

Fish pot bait and related method comprising attractant and at least one additional material that serves to determine the release rate of attractant to the environment. The at least one additional material serving to determine the release rate of attractant can be hydrated lime (Ca(OH).sub.2) as well as a further additive selected from the group consisting of balls of expanded clay, salt, seaweed meal and any ratio combination of salt, expended clay and seaweed meal.

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12. A fish pot bait for use in an environment, comprising: an attractant; and materials that impact a rate at which the attractant is released to the environment, wherein the materials that impact a rate at which the attractant is released to the environment comprises hydrated lime (Ca(OH).sub.2) and one or more of another additive selected from the group consisting of expanded clay, salt and seaweed meal.

13. The fish pot bait of claim 12, wherein the attractant is present with a dry substance content between 30% and 60%.

14. The fish pot bait of claim 13, wherein the attractant is present with a dry substance contend between 40% and 50%.

15. The fish pot bait of claim 12, wherein the ratio of attractant to hydrated lime is within a range of 1:10 to 6:10 by weight.

16. The fish pot bait of claim 13, wherein the ratio of attractant to hydrated lime is within a range of 1:10 to 6:10 by weight.

17. The fish pot bait of claim 15, wherein the ratio of attractant to hydrated lime is approximately 4:10.

18. The fish pot bait of claim 12, wherein the further additive is present in an amount of up to 60% by weight of the total weight of the fish pot bait.

19. The fish pot bait of claim 18, wherein the further additive is present in an amount within the range of 2-40% by weight of the total weight of the fish pot bait.

20. The fish pot bait of claim 12, wherein an amount of additive in the form of salt is present in the range 5-60% by weight of the total weight of the fish pot bait.

21. The fish pot bait of claim 12, wherein the further additive is a salt selected from the group consisting of NaCl, KCl and a mixture thereof.

22. The fish pot bait of claim 12, further comprising an enveloping foil of polyvinyl-alcohol.

23. The fish pot bait of claim 22, wherein the enveloping foil has holes.

24. The fish pot bait of claim 23, wherein the holes are micro-holes.

25. The fish pot bait of claim 17, further comprising an enveloping foil of polyvinyl-alcohol.

26. The fish pot bait of claim 19, further comprising an enveloping foil of polyvinyl-alcohol.

27. The fish pot bait of claim 21, further comprising an enveloping foil of polyvinyl-alcohol.

28. The fish pot bait of claim 12, wherein the attractant is released to the environment at a rate such that the fish pot bait has an effective lifetime of at least 14 days.

29. A method for crab fishing using fish pots with fish pot bait in an environment, comprising providing an attractant; and providing materials that impact a rate at which the attractant is released to the environment; providing an additive selected from the group consisting of balls of expanded clay, salt, seaweed meal and combinations thereof to form the fish pot bait; and placing the fish pot bait in the environment, wherein the materials that impact a rate at which the attractant is released to the environment comprises calcium dihydroxide, and the rate of dissolution of calcium dihydroxide in seawater impacts the rate at which the attractant is released to the environment.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the fish pot bait is placed in a coating of polyvinyl-alcohol for prolonged time period for delayed start of release of attractant to the environment.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the coating of polyvinyl-alcohol is perforated.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG. 1A shows change in bait composition over a test period of 14 days for a bait according to the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 1B shows leakage of attractant in the same period as FIG. 1A.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows effect on leakage rate of addition of different amounts of salt with different grind fineness.

[0032] FIG. 3 shows effect on leakage rate of different amounts of salt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] In fish pot fishing, controlling the release of odors and the ability to adapt odors to different species of fish and crabs are the most important features in order to achieve efficient catch. The new fish pot bait opens for an entirely new way of controlling the release of odors to attract fish/crabs into fish pots and other traps. Use of bi-products from the fishing industry combined with hydrated lime and expanded clay provides a possibility of controlling release of odor. This is done by adjusting the amount of hydrated lime and expanded clay in the bait. During tests, we have experienced that the bait is effective for more than 3 weeks. According to the present invention, it is used in a weight ratio between attractant and hydrated lime in the range from 1:10 to 6:10, more preferred about 4:10.

[0034] Table 1 below shows the result from our test capture of cod. As can be seen, the fishing is improved with attractant from shrimps and snow crabs in comparison with herring as more commonly used for fish pot fishing.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Test catch Number Sums of Sums of Sums of Sums of of fish Row labels cod saithe other Total pots Divided herring 38 27 2 67 18 (Known technique) Shrimp attractant 49 38 8 95 18 (present invention) Snow crab attractant 78 41 7 126 18 (present invention) Total sum 165 106 17 288 54

[0035] Experimentally: Leakage of Attractant

[0036] Leakage Test 1

[0037] The results of studies of fishing in September 2015 at a depth of 70 m in seawater is shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. These show that there is good relation between leakage of attractant and dissolution of the lime in the water for a period of 14 days.

[0038] Leakage Test 2

[0039] 5 portions of bait paste (lime+hydrolysate) of 30 g were weighed out and salt was added to four of these. 15 and 30g (33 and 50%) salt was used of both coarse and fine grinded salt, i.e. 4 different compositions. The fine grinded salt was sieved from the coarse salt and was in practice identical to the coarse salt with the exception of the grain size.

[0040] A portion of 30 g bait paste was additionally mixed in the same concentration as for the samples described above (about 1.8 L saline water) to find final concentration, i.e. the value the solution would theoretically reach when everything had leaked out. Sampling was then performed in a timespan of near 100 days.

[0041] Table 2 below shows composition and time for each of the samples to reach 50% leakage.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Leakage test with salt Base paste (lime + Coarse salt Fine grinded 50% leakage attractant (g) (g/%*) salt (g/%*) (hours) 1 30 (control) 0/0 0/0 58 2 30 15/33 0/0 30 3 30 30/50 0/0 28 4 30 0/0 15/33 49 5 30 0/0 30/50 50 *% of total weight after addition of salt

[0042] FIG. 2 shows graphically the progress of leakage for a period of 100 hours (4 days).

[0043] As shown, the leakage is influenced by the presence of salt and more influenced by coarse salt than by fine grinded salt. Using coarse salt, the leakage rate was nearly doubled to 50% leakage. The leakage rate, however, was not influenced much by the concentration of the salt within the tested concentration range.

[0044] The texture of the control sample was significantly different from the other samples. It was still quite hard/ductile. The other samples felt more porous/soft. No grains of salt.

[0045] What is not disclosed by the tables or the figures, but which was observed visually, was that a visible coating of lime, possibly carbonate, was reduced when salt was added to the samples.

[0046] Leakage Test 3

[0047] The leakage test was repeated with more and lower concentration of salt, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0048] At these lower concentrations a clear relation between concentration of salt and rate of leakage was observed. This means that it is possible to tailor the bait for a specific purpose, dependent upon whether it is desirable that the leakage be comparatively rapid, e.g. lasting for a period of a few days, such as 4 days, or if it is desirable that it lasts for e.g. at least 8 days or at least 14 days. While there was little difference observed between 33% and 50% salt, a significant increase in leakage rate was observed in the range from 5% to 20%, but also a not insignificant increase already from 0% to 5%.

[0049] Without limiting the scope of the invention to a certain theory, it is believed that the presence of salt, which is soluble in water, contributes to forming channels in the block or matrix of the bait so that its effective surface is increased and thereby the leakage rate to the environment. Addition of salt in a desired amount thus represent a variant of the inventive concepts disclosed herein.

[0050] In total, the results show that a combination of attractant with Ca(OH).sub.2 implies an extension of the functional leakage time of the bait, in that the attractant is released more slowly to the environment. Adding additives in the form of salt, seaweed meal or balls of expanded clay, or any combination thereof moderates this effect. The additional additive is used in an amount of up to 60% by weight of the total weight of the fish pot bait, water included. In some embodiments the mentioned additive may be used in an amount of 2-40% by weight of the total weight of the bait, water included. In other embodiments, additive in the form of salt can be used in the range from 5 to 60% by weight of the total weight of the bait, water included. The salt typically is NaCl, KCl or a combination thereof.

[0051] The bait is produced by combining attractant and dry-slaked lime in the ratio 45/50 depending upon the dry weight percentage of the attractant. Thereafter salt is added so that leakage time can be controlled by the amount added. Salt has the property of being dissolved by water and forming channels in the bait, something which allows attractant to leak out more rapidly. The dry substance content of the attractant is typically between 30 and 60%, more preferred between 40 and 50%, particularly preferred about 45%.

[0052] Where it is not a requirement that salt is added, expanded clay or seaweed meal can be added to achieve the same effect. The clay will open the bait to increased leakage rate.

[0053] Practical tests with snow crabs in Kaarvika show that snow crab and sea urchin are attracted by seaweed. Seaweeed contains, in other words, low molecular substances which have an attractive effect on shellfish. Seaweed and sea tangle contain important nutrients for sea urchin, edible crab, lobster, king crab and snow crab, which explains why these animals are attracted to seaweed and sea tangle.

[0054] Further extension of the leakage time can be achieved by the use of a coating of a PVA polymer foil of desired thickness.

[0055] The bait can be used as is in standard bait bags or in PVA plastic bags used as bait bags. These are bags with holes to ensure circulation with the surrounding water, that being micro-holes or larger holes.