Artificial material conducive to attract and grow oysters, mollusks or other productive and/or stablizing organisms

Abstract

Structures constructed from an artificial material facilitate the setting and growing of oysters, other mollusks, and other organisms for the purposes of food production, artificial reefs / breakwaters, and the like. The artificial material is a composite that acts as both an attractant and nutrient environment for mollusks and other aquatic organisms. The binder for the composite material includes both cement and an organic material. The organic material is selected to attract and feed the aquatic organisms.

Description

[0001] This application claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 737,145 filed Nov. 15, 2005.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to an artificial material that is conducive to attract and grow organisms and, more specifically, to such an artificial material that is also operable as a building material for the production of structures. Structures constructed from the artificial material of the present invention facilitate the setting and growing of oysters, other mollusks, and other organisms for the purposes of food production, artificial reefs / breakwaters, and the like. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0003] No federal funds were used in the creation of this invention. BACKGROUND [0004] Shellfish, such as mollusks and, more specifically, oysters, act as both a food source and a natural protectant to coastlines. Mollusks are in the scientific class Biealvia and include species such as clams, oysters, scal...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] In accordance with the present invention, an artificial material for the production of underwater structures wherein the material facilitates the setting and / or growing of many organisms is provided. The material is suited for oysters and other mollusks. The material is a composite that acts as both an attractant and nutrient environment for mollusks or other aquatic organisms Therefore, the material attracts and / or encourages the growth of bacteria, plant life, or non-mollusk animals. These organisms often serve as a food source for mollusks. The structure can be formed into a breakwater or may be specifically used for the purpose of cultivation of desirable species. Optionally, the material can reduce the impact of predators on cultched mollusks.

[0012] In one preferred embodiment, the material is a composite material containing one or more binding materials, one or more types of coarse filler materials, and one or more organic materials. The binder can be a cement or other adhesive. A fine filler may also be added. Short fiberglass fibers are optionally added to the composite material to reduce predation to mollusks due to oyster drill or other predators. These fibers may also add structural strength to the building material.

[0013] The ratio of the various components by weight can vary. The range of the components by weight of the composite material is, in one preferred embodiment, as follows: binder 1 part; fine filler 0 to 3 parts; coarse filler 1 to 10 parts; organic material 0.0005 to 1 part; and (optionally) fiberglass fibers 0.5 to 10 pounds per cubic yard. Optionally, common concrete additives such as accelerants, water reducers, viscosity modifiers, and the like are added to the building material production. The binder may optionally include pozzolan, fly ash, or the like. In another preferred embodiment, the binder used to produce the artificial cultch material can be a slowly biodegradable adhesive such as cornstarch polymers. The biodegradable adhesive creates a matrix to which the oyster, shellfish, or other organisms will initially adhere. Biodegration of the structure will later allow easy crushing of the material for isolation of the harvested organism, such as oysters, from the structure for food production operations.

Problems solved by technology

The freshly settled or cultched oysters are prone to predators, such as crabs, starfish, oyster drills, and other predators.

For instance, shrimp are known to burrow into oyster beds, which can smother young oysters and / or damage the desirable oyster-growing conditions.

The problems with known techniques include the fact that the dredging of old mollusk beds for mollusk shells may negatively impact the environment.

Special tanks or cultch structures have often proven to be expensive or ineffective.

The equipment, along with the types and size of the artificial material, can damage the area that the breakwater is intended to protect by the placements of the artificial reefs.

Current materials used for artificial reefs can include scrap material that is not suitable or desirable for organism growth.