Polychaete production system including a retractable tray and polychaete production method

Abstract

A system for the production of polychaetes, comprising at least one culture unit (100), the culture unit (100) including at least one inlet (120) and outlet (130) for the supply and discharge of water and feed, and at least one retrievable tray (300) for culturing polychaetes. A method for producing polychaetes in the culture unit (100) is also disclosed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for high intensity polychaete production.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a method for high intensity polychaete production. Background Art

[0003] The animal farming industry is constantly searching for sustainable solutions. Research currently underway suggests that the use of polychaetes in fish or other animal feeds is advantageous due to their fatty acid profile and essential amino acid content. Other uses for polychaetes could include the ability for polychaetes to replace other less sustainable ingredients, such as those in cosmetics.

[0004] Currently, there is no solution for how to provide large-scale polychaete production.

[0005] Furthermore, there is no solution how to provide continuous polychaete production.

[0006] Furthermore, there is no solution how to provide high intensity production of polychaetes.

[0007] Furthermore, there is no solution how to provide high-intensity production of polychaetes and adapt this production to the farming of various types of polychaetes.

[0008] Furthermore, there is no solution how to provide high intensity production of polychaetes and adapt this production to light, sound, temperature, water quality regulation or application of polychaete farming feeds in order to systematically influence the desired yield of farmed polychaetes.

[0009] There is also a need to produce marine proteins and fats. Current production is not sufficient to meet market demand.

[0010] There is also a need to produce feed close to production sites such as fish that require large amounts of feed.

[0011] There is a need to produce polychaetes for use as feed for other species / livestock.

[0012] Therefore, a system and method are needed to solve the above-mentioned deficiencies. Summary of the invention

[0013] It is a primary object of the present invention to provide systems and methods for large scale polychaete production.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method that enables continuous production of polychaetes.

[0015] It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method that enables high-intensity production of polychaetes.

[0016] The object of the present invention is to provide a system and method which enables sludge, waste or other organic material to be used as feed for polychaetes either directly or by pretreatment or by bioconversion.

[0017] Another object of the invention is to provide a system which is compact and space-saving.

[0018] It is an object of the present invention to provide an energy and resource efficient system.

[0019] It is an object of the present invention to provide a system which is easily expandable by comprising modules.

[0020] It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method designed for simple and efficient feeding and harvesting.

[0021] Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings.

[0022] The system for high-intensity polychaete production according to the invention comprises a plurality of units which can be divided into modules making the system easily expandable.

[0023] The system according to the invention comprises at least one cultivation unit. The at least one cultivation unit comprises at least one inlet at a first end for supplying water (preferably seawater) and feed from a feeding unit, and an outlet at a second end, and at least one retractable tray for cultivating polychaetes.

[0024] According to the invention, the feed may be directly used sludge / waste, such as fish farm sludge, fertilizer or organic waste, such as food waste, garbage, etc., or other organic products / matter, such as plant material, seaweed, kelp, etc. The feed may also be pre-treated sludge waste, such as by water separation, hygenization, stabilization, hydrolysis or dissolution, sieving, etc.

[0025] The feed can also be sludge / waste converted into other biomass (after pre-treatment), such as microorganisms, bacteria, microalgae, or similar, or an enrichment of biologically produced organic linkers, such as polyhydroxy alkanoates, etc.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the system according to the invention, the cultivation unit comprises several retractable trays arranged in series in the longitudinal direction of the cultivation unit.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the system of the invention, the cultivation unit comprises several rows or a series of retractable trays in height direction.

[0028] According to another embodiment of the system according to the invention, at least one tray is provided with at least one longitudinally extending dividing wall forming at least two longitudinally extending parallel compartments or chutes in the tray.

[0029] According to another embodiment of the invention, at least one tray is provided with a fixed or replaceable corrugated bottom.

[0030] According to another embodiment of the system according to the invention, at least one tray is provided at its ends with means allowing water and feed to flow into and out of the tray.

[0031] According to another embodiment of the invention the cultivation unit is formed by a housing which surrounds the at least one tray or series of trays at a spacing in longitudinal direction in such a way that an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber are formed at respective ends of the at least one tray or series of trays.

[0032] According to another embodiment of the system of the present invention, it comprises two or more cultivation units.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the invention, the system comprises at least one harvesting unit adapted to sort the polychaetes ready for harvesting from small polychaetes, attached shoots, eggs, water and feed.

[0034] According to another embodiment of the invention, the system comprises at least one sowing unit adapted to sow the empty trays with sorted small polychaetes, attached shoots and eggs and fresh feed.

[0035] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the system can also use polychaetes that lay eggs once. In such an embodiment, the polychaetes are harvested before laying eggs, and then some polychaetes are transferred to a separate unit for producing eggs / seedlings that can be used in the sowing unit.

[0036] According to another embodiment of the invention, when the polychaetes are planktonic spawning species, an additional harvesting unit is used capable of capturing the eggs from the effluent water of the cultivation unit, ie forming an egg collector, which is then sown as described above.

[0037] According to another embodiment of the system of the present invention, it comprises one or more means for subjecting the cultured polychaetes to a specific temperature, specific light or specific sound in order to influence the growth, development and composition of the polychaetes.

[0038] According to the high-intensity method for producing polychaetes of the present invention, the method comprises cultivating polychaetes in at least one tray in at least one cultivation unit by supplying seawater and feed.

[0039] According to one embodiment of the method according to the invention, the method comprises initially seeding at least one empty tray with polychaetes.

[0040] According to another embodiment of the present invention, it includes recovering the polychaetes to be harvested from the culture unit and separating the polychaetes to be harvested from the small polychaetes, attached shoots, eggs, water and feed.

[0041] According to another embodiment of the invention, it comprises sowing isolated small polychaetes, attached shoots and eggs together with feed in an empty tray and inserting the tray into a cultivation unit for a new production cycle.

[0042] According to another embodiment of the method of the present invention, it comprises self-stripping the harvested polychaete.

[0043] According to another embodiment of the method of the present invention, it includes using polychaetes that lay eggs once. The method also includes harvesting the polychaetes before laying eggs and then transferring some of the polychaetes to separate containers or the like for use in producing eggs / seedlings that can be used in seeding units, as described above.

[0044] According to another embodiment of the method of the invention, it consists in using planktonic spawning polychaete species and capturing the eggs from the effluent water of the culture unit and then sowing as described above.

[0045] According to another embodiment of the method of the invention, it comprises subjecting the cultured polychaetes to a specific temperature, specific light or specific sound in order to influence the growth, development and composition of the polychaetes.

[0046] According to another embodiment of the invention, it consists in repeating these steps for all pallets in the production cell.

[0047] Therefore, after the initial sowing, further production of polychaetes will be based on small polychaetes, attached shoots, eggs, i.e. the offspring of the first production. However, it may be preferred to introduce fresh polychaetes from time to time to ensure a healthy population of polychaetes.

[0048] Thus, the present invention provides a system and method for high-intensity polychaete production.By using several production units, continuous polychaete production can be achieved, because when polychaetes are harvested from one production unit, other production units will continue production.

[0049] The present invention enables the use of small polychaetes, larvae and eggs in a new production cycle.

[0050] Further preferred features and advantageous details of the invention will emerge from the following example description and the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0052] Figures 1a to 1e is a schematic diagram of a culture unit and its components according to the present invention,

[0053] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an example of a harvesting unit according to the present invention,

[0054] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the system and production steps according to the present invention, and

[0055] Figures 4a to 4c is a schematic diagram of manipulating the trays to harvest cultured polychaetes. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] The system for high-intensity polychaete production according to the present invention comprises a plurality of units which can be divided into modules so that the system is easily expandable. The main components of the system are at least one cultivation unit 100 and a feeding unit 400 for cultivating polychaetes. The system preferably also comprises at least one harvesting unit 500 and at least one sowing unit 700.

[0057] First reference Figures 1a to 1e , which shows a schematic diagram of polychaete production in a cultivation unit 100 according to one embodiment of the system of the present invention.

[0058] According to the present invention, the at least one culture unit 100 is formed by a housing 110, which is roughly rectangular in this embodiment, wherein at least one end of the housing is detachable or provided with a door, cover or port, which can be opened to allow access to the interior of the housing. In another embodiment, the top side is also detachable. The housing 110 can also be arranged to a support structure 200 comprising one or more legs 210.

[0059] According to the present invention, the cultivation unit 100 comprises at least one retractable tray 300 accommodated in the housing 110 and retractably arranged in the housing 110. The cultivation unit 100 is also provided with at least one inlet 120 at a first end for supplying water (preferably seawater) and feed, and at least one outlet 130 at a second end for discharging water, so as to provide a continuous or discontinuous water flow through the cultivation unit 100, and to discharge excess feed.

[0060] According to one embodiment of the invention, the water supply is provided by a suitable controllable pump unit 170, see Figure 3The pump unit is arranged at its outlet side at the inlet 120 via one or more controllable valves 171 and at its inlet side to a water reservoir, preferably a seawater reservoir. The outlet 130 of the at least one cultivation unit 100 will further typically be arranged at the inlet side of a controllable pump 180 for discharge water and excess feed, the controllable pump 180 at the outlet side will typically be arranged at its outlet side in a water treatment unit / system 190, which is suitable for treating the discharged water for reuse and discharge to the environment, such as Figure 3 According to one embodiment of the present invention, the effluent water from the treatment unit / system 190 for reuse is supplied to a reservoir or directly to the pump unit 170, in this way providing water recycling. This will reduce water consumption and thus reduce the environmental footprint.

[0061] The removable or openable side or door, cover or port of the at least one cultivation unit 100 is preferably arranged at the outlet side of the housing 110 .

[0062] The housing 110 surrounds at least one tray 300 at a certain interval at least at its ends, providing an inlet chamber 121 in fluid communication with the inlet 120 and an outlet chamber 131 in fluid communication with the outlet 130. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the inlet chamber 121 is formed in the housing 110 by a vertically extending wall 122, which will also serve as a stopper for at least one tray 300 in the culture unit 100. In an alternative embodiment, the vertically extending wall 122 is replaced by a vertically extending beam at each side of the housing 110, which serves as a stopper for at least one tray 300. In yet another alternative embodiment, the guide or track 140 is provided with at least one vertically extending component at the rear end, i.e., the end facing the inlet chamber 121, serving as a stopper for at least one tray. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the inlet 120 and the outlet 130 are arranged at the lower part of the housing 110. The arrangement of the inlet 120 at the lower portion will help to avoid the sedimentation of the feed in the inlet chamber 121 , thereby ensuring that the sedimentation of the feed is carried out in the at least one tray 300 .

[0063] The housing 110 is also provided with a pair of longitudinal rails or tracks 140 for arranging the at least one retractable tray 300 in the housing 110. In the illustrated embodiment, the retractable tray 300 is generally rectangular and has a shape and size suitable for the interior of the housing to be accommodated in the housing and can move on the rails or tracks 140.

[0064] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the housing 110 is adapted to accommodate a plurality of retractable trays 300 in its height direction and longitudinal direction, which will be further described below.

[0065] exist Figure 1b In the illustrated embodiment, the cultivation unit 100 includes several trays 300 arranged in series in the longitudinal direction (three trays 300 are connected in series in the illustrated embodiment), and several trays 300 arranged in rows in the height direction (in the illustrated embodiment, there are twelve rows of trays in the height direction).

[0066] According to another embodiment of the at least one retractable tray 300, the at least one retractable tray 300 is provided with at least one longitudinally extending partition wall 311, such as Figure 1d As shown, at least two longitudinally extending parallel compartments or slides 320 are formed in the retractable tray 300. In the illustrated embodiment, there are two longitudinally extending parallel partition walls 311 that are spaced apart so that the interior of the retractable tray 300 is divided into three longitudinally extending compartments or slides 320.

[0067] According to another embodiment of the system of the invention, the retractable tray 300 is further provided with a corrugated bottom 321 in the longitudinally extending compartment or chute 320 in the embodiment shown. According to the invention, the corrugated bottom 321 can be fixed or replaceable, and the corrugated bottom 321 is adapted to the polychaete to be cultured. By using a replaceable corrugated bottom 321, the profile of the corrugated bottom 321 can be changed according to the needs of the user and adapted to the polychaete to be cultured. Different profiles of the corrugated bottom 321 with different cross-sections (e.g. V-shaped, square, triangular, etc.) can be used, for example Figure 1e The corrugations extend in the transverse direction of the bottom, and recesses for culturing polychaetes are formed between the corrugations.

[0068] The retractable tray 300 is also provided with means to allow water and feed to flow into and out of the retractable tray 300 when inserted into the cultivation unit 100. In this way, when several trays 300 are arranged in series, water and feed can flow from one tray 300 to an adjacent tray 300 and are allowed to flow from the inlet chamber 121 to the adjacent tray 300, and from the adjacent tray 300 to the outlet chamber 131. In the embodiment shown, this feature is formed by a hole or opening 330, preferably at the upper part of the end wall of the retractable tray 300. When the tray 300 is provided with several parallel compartments or chutes 320, the hole or opening 330 will be arranged to be in fluid communication with the corresponding compartment or chute 320, thereby allowing flow into and out of the tray 300. In an alternative embodiment, the end wall of the tray 300 is provided with a recess that allows flow into and out of the tray 300. Other options will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

[0069] In connection with said holes or openings 330 , corresponding sealing means or sealing joints (male / female) (not shown) are preferably arranged to provide a watertight connection of the trays 300 arranged in series.

[0070] The vertically extending wall 122 of the inlet chamber 121 will further be provided with a hole or opening (not shown) which is adapted to a hole or opening 330 in the tray 300 arranged in the housing 110 for allowing fluid communication between the inlet chamber 121 and the end of the tray 300 facing the inlet chamber 121.

[0071] It is further preferred that the locking device is arranged, for example, as Figure 1c The embodiment of the present invention is in the form of a clip 340, which is arranged on opposite ends of two trays 310 arranged in series along the longitudinal direction of the housing 110, wherein the clip 340 holds / locks the two trays 300 arranged in series with each other. The clip 340 is easily removable when the trays 300 are to be separated. Other means for holding the two trays 300 together will be apparent to the skilled person.

[0072] Via the longitudinal guide or track 140, as Figure 1b As shown, the retractable tray 300 can be easily inserted into and retracted from the housing 110 via a detachable or openable side or door, cover or port at the exit side of the housing 110. The locking device ensures that all trays 300 arranged in series will be easily retracted from the culture unit 100 by pulling the first tray 300 in series.

[0073] like Figure 1a and Figure 1b As shown, the cultivation unit 100 may include several rows of at least one tray 300. In the embodiment shown, there are three trays 300 arranged in series in each row in the cultivation unit 100. The cultivation unit 100 shown is also suitable for twelve rows of trays 300 in the height direction, with a total of 108 trays per cultivation unit 100.

[0074] Thus, the housing 110 forms a container or tank for the tray 300, and wherein the tray 300 is arranged such that it forms a "dam" between the inlet chamber 121 and the outlet chamber 131. The difference in the level of water (water and sludge) supplied between the inlet chamber 121 and the outlet chamber 131 is the hydraulic driving force through the compartments or chutes 320 in the tray 300.

[0075] According to another embodiment of the invention, the inlet chamber 121 is provided with a sealed top so that the inlet chamber can be pressurized to make the water and feed flow faster through the chamber or chute 320 of the tray 300, especially in the initial stage.

[0076] In the latter sealed embodiment, since the entire culture unit 100 is pressurized by the pump unit 170 to provide the hydraulic driving force required to pass through the compartments or chutes 320 in the tray 300, there is no reliance on water head differences.

[0077] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the inlet chamber 121 and the outlet chamber 131 are respectively provided with bottom valves 150 for drainage, so as to quickly drain the water when harvesting the cultivated polychaetes, and for maintenance or cleaning.

[0078] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the outlet chamber 131 and the inlet chamber 121 are provided with overflow ports 160 to avoid possible damage to the cultivation unit 100 and / or overflow in case of failure of level control to ensure a desired water level in the cultivation unit 100 .

[0079] According to another embodiment of the invention, the outlet 130 is arranged to a device 132 for hydraulically controlling (regulating) the liquid level in the cultivation unit 100. For example, the device 132 is at least one controllable valve or an overflow device (tank).

[0080] The culture units 100 may be arranged as modules in a larger system, wherein a plurality of such culture units 100 are arranged to a common support structure 200, thereby realizing a module-based system. In the case where several such modules / culture units 100 are arranged to each other, the inlet 120 and outlet 130 of each culture unit 100 may be arranged to an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold that respectively control the inlet of the culture unit 100 and the outlet of the culture unit. Of course, separate inlets and outlets may be used, but using a manifold will save space.

[0081] According to the present invention, the polychaetes to be cultured are fed with sludge, such as fish farm sludge or other types of sludge or waste, or other types of feed or organic particles or materials as described above may be used.

[0082] According to the invention, the system comprises at least one feeding unit 400 for supplying feed to the cultivation unit 100. The feed can be supplied directly to the cultivation unit 100 via a dedicated inlet in the cultivation unit 100 via one or more controllable valves 401 or via a water flow from the water pump unit 170.

[0083] The feeding unit 400 is adapted for feed treatment, i.e. sludge treatment in the shown embodiment, and comprises at least one controllable pump 402 for supplying feed to the water flow or directly to the cultivation unit 100, supplying feed to at least one tray 300 via at least one dedicated inlet (not shown) in the cultivation unit 100. The feeding unit 400 is provided with feed from a feed reservoir.

[0084] The feeding unit 400 according to the present invention is suitable for supplying feed according to a desired feeding pattern, for example with high or low frequency, continuously, discontinuously, at high or low concentration, etc.

[0085] In the case where the feed is supplied to the water flow, the water flow may, for example, be increased to facilitate delivery of the feed to the cultivation unit 100, and then the water flow may be stopped to allow the feed to settle in the cultivation unit 100. For example, feeds having different dry matter percentages may be used, for example from 1% to about 50% dry matter.

[0086] According to another embodiment of the system, the cultivation unit 100 is provided with one or more sensors or sensor systems for controlling the cultivation of polychaetes. Examples of such systems are temperature, light, weight, flow sensors, moisture content, feed inlet, flow sensors, turbidity, oxygen content, flow rate, etc., wherein one or more of these may be arranged at the inlet and outlet to monitor the cultivation and thus be used to control the at least one feeding unit 400 and the supply of water. Sensors or sensor systems may also be used to indicate when the cultivated polychaetes are ready for harvesting.

[0087] According to another embodiment of the system, the culture unit 100 includes one or more devices or systems for subjecting the cultured polychaetes to specific temperatures, specific lights, or specific sounds in order to influence the growth, development, and composition of the polychaetes.

[0088] According to another embodiment, the cultivation unit 100 is provided with means for varying / regulating the internal flow with respect to the sediment.

[0089] According to a further embodiment of the cultivation unit 100 , it is provided with means for an additional supply of water and / or light.

[0090] Reference now Figure 2 , which is a schematic diagram of an example of a harvesting unit 500 according to the present invention. The harvesting unit 500 according to this example comprises a support structure 510 for arranging a hopper 520, a screen or screening unit 530 and a settling tank or container 540. The hopper 520 is arranged at the highest position in the support structure 510, wherein the material (water, sludge, cultured polychaetes) in the tray 300 retrieved from the cultivation unit 100 is emptied when the polychaetes are ready for harvesting. The screen or screening unit 530 is arranged below the hopper 520, which is suitable for sorting the polychaetes ready for harvesting from the remaining material (water, sludge, cultured polychaetes not ready for harvesting (small polychaetes, attached fry, eggs)). To this end, the screen or screening unit 530 is provided with a mesh size suitable for blocking polychaetes of a size ready for harvesting, while letting all other materials (small polychaetes, attached fry, eggs, water, feed (sludge)) pass through.

[0091] A settling tank or container 540 is arranged below the screen or screening unit 530 , and is provided with an open side facing the screen or screening unit 530 for receiving the material not sorted by the screen or screening unit 530 .

[0092] The separated polychaetes ready for harvesting sorted by the screen or sieving unit 530 are then transferred to the self-stripping unit 600.

[0093] The sludge, small polychaetes, parasitic fry and eggs are separated from the water in the sedimentation tank or container 540 by removing the water, for example, by a controllable pump 550 connected at its inlet side to the upper part of the sedimentation tank or container 540 and at its outlet side to the water treatment unit / system 190. Figure 3 Excess sludge (some sludge) with small polychaetes, attached seedlings, eggs is removed from the sedimentation tank or container 540 and transferred to the sowing unit 700, for example by using a controllable pump 701, which is connected to an outlet at the lower part of the sedimentation tank or container 540 via one or more controllable valves 702.

[0094] The remaining water and the remaining sludge are removed from the settling tank or vessel 540 and discharged through one or more controllable valves 801 and pumps 802 to a waste outlet or biological residue treatment unit / system 800 connected to the settling tank or vessel 540 .

[0095] The sowing unit 700 is also connected to the feeding unit 400 via one or more controllable valves 403 for supplying feed to the sowing unit 700. In the sowing unit 700, empty trays 300 are prepared for a new production cycle in the cultivation unit 100. By sowing / distributing excess sludge with small polychaetes, attached shoots and eggs in the empty trays 300 together with new fresh feed (sludge in the embodiment shown), this ensures that a new generation of polychaetes can be cultivated in culture by reinserting the filled trays 300 into the cultivation unit 100 for a new production cycle.

[0096] According to one embodiment of the invention, the self-stripping unit 600 is formed by a tank or container 601 in which the harvested polychaetes are processed. The tank or container 601 is provided with or connected to a device for conditioning / controlling the water quality (e.g. but not limited to using chemicals and / or gases) to different qualities. The desired quality will depend on the type of polychaete and the result to be achieved. For Capitella Capitata, the water quality is conditioned, for example by reducing the oxygen content, so that the polychaetes release the capsule (sluice bag), and the polychaetes can then be transferred to a polychaete pre-treatment unit 900 for treatment with the purpose of constituting an ingredient in fish feed or for other uses. The residue in the self-stripping unit 600 can be transferred to a biological residue treatment unit / system 800 for further treatment.

[0097] Reference now Figure 3 , which is a schematic diagram of the system according to the present invention. The figure also shows the flow of feed, water and polychaetes in the system and their processes. Polychaete production according to the present invention will now be described.

[0098] After initially sowing the polychaetes in the tray 300, the tray 300 is inserted into the culture unit 100 for culture. The culture of the polychaetes in the culture unit 100 is carried out by supplying water and feed during the desired production cycle. Depending on the species grown, polychaetes usually take about two months to be harvested.

[0099] When the polychaetes are ready for harvesting, the supply of water and feed to the cultivation unit 100 is stopped, and the cultivation unit 100 is emptied. If arranged in series, the trays 300 are then retracted from the cultivation unit 100 and disconnected from each other. The retractable trays 300 are transported to the harvesting unit 500 by means of a transport device, such as a truck 950, a robot system, or a similar system capable of moving the retracted trays 300, where the contents of the retracted trays 300 are emptied into the harvesting unit 500.

[0100] Reference now Figures 4a to 4c, which shows a schematic diagram of the retrieval process and the transport process to the harvesting unit 500, and the transport to the sowing unit 700 after emptying at the harvesting unit 500. In order to handle the tray 300, a handling unit 960 is preferably used, which is suitable for receiving the tray 300 and is provided with a locking device to fix the tray 300 to the handling unit 960. The handling unit 960 is also preferably adapted to have an opening 961 to allow access to the tray 300 to be processed, so that people can insert a suitable tool (not shown), such as a winch wire or a manipulator arm, for engaging the tray 300 to be processed, so as to remove the tray 300 from the housing 110 and place it in the handling unit 960. In one embodiment according to the present invention, the tray 300 can be provided with a hook 962 for simple engagement by a suitable tool.

[0101] Figure 4b to Figure 4c An example of use of a truck 950 is shown, wherein the processing unit 960 is disposed on the truck 950. Figure 4b A schematic diagram of a truck 950 retrieving a tray 300 from a culture unit 100 via a handling unit 960 is shown in FIG. Figure 4c , a schematic diagram is shown in which a truck 950 empties the contents of a tray 300 into a harvesting unit 500 by a rotational movement of a handling unit 960 with the tray 300 and then moves the emptied tray to a sowing unit 700.

[0102] As described above, the polychaetes ready for harvest are sorted in the harvesting unit 500, and the remaining small polychaetes, attached fry and eggs, as well as some settled feed (sludge) are transferred to the sowing unit 700, wherein the emptied trays 300 are sown with the said small polychaetes, attached fry and eggs and fresh / new feed (sludge) from the feeding unit 400, and the trays 300 are again ready to enter the cultivation unit 100 for a new production cycle.

[0103] For the embodiment of polychaete species that spawn pelagic (i.e. spawn in a fluid stream), an additional harvesting unit (not shown) is provided at the outlet 130 of the cultivation unit 100, wherein the additional harvesting unit is adapted to capture eggs in the discharge water of the cultivation unit, i.e. form an egg collector.

[0104] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a separate container (not shown) or the like is included for producing eggs / attached seedlings prior to sowing by the sowing unit 700 .

[0105] According to another embodiment, the system according to the invention comprises one or more units for converting sludge or waste into biomass / bacteria for use as polychaete feed.

[0106] According to another embodiment, the polychaete species cultured is a species cultured on a hard surface and it enters the water mass in the culture unit 100 to find feed. In this case, the bottom of the tray 300 can be adapted to the species concerned. In this case, only a small amount of sludge / waste is required in the tray 300 and wherein the feed is adapted to supply fluid to the culture unit 100, i.e. fluid flows through the culture unit 100.

[0107] The advantage of having several culture units 100 as modules in the system is that by performing the initial seeding and starting the culture at different starting times, continuous polychaete production is achieved because the polychaetes in different culture units 100 will be ready for harvest at different times, so that while one culture unit 100 is being harvested, the remaining culture units 100 will continue to produce.

[0108] Thus, the present invention provides an industrial system for continuous polychaete production, particularly for use as an ingredient in fish feed, but polychaetes may also have other uses, such as as an ingredient in agricultural feed, livestock feed, ornamental fish feed, fish bait, fishing bait, and cosmetics.

[0109] The described embodiments of the system and its components also require less space.

[0110] The present invention also provides a system in which feeding and harvesting is simple and efficient and the system is easily expandable by adding additional units / components of the system.

Claims

1. A system for the production of high-strength polychaetes, characterized in that, the system comprises at least two culture units (100), each culture unit (100) being formed by a housing (110) provided with at least one inlet (120) at its first end and an outlet (130) at its second end, the inlet being for supplying water and feed from a feeding unit (400), the outlet being for discharging water and excess feed, wherein the culture unit (100) for culturing polychaetes comprises a plurality of trays (300) arranged in rows along the height direction of the housing (110), the trays (300) being retractable from the housing (110), wherein each row of trays (300) comprises a plurality of trays (300) arranged in series in the longitudinal direction of the culture unit (100), wherein the housing (110) surrounds a series of trays (300) at a spacing in the longitudinal direction in such a way as to form an inlet chamber (121) and an outlet chamber (131) at respective ends of the series of trays (300), wherein the inlet chamber (121) is in fluid communication with the inlet (120) and the outlet chamber (131) is in fluid communication with the outlet (130), and wherein the trays (300) are provided at their ends with means for allowing water and feed to flow into and out of the trays (300).

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, the at least one tray (300) is provided with at least one longitudinally extending partition wall (311) which forms at least two longitudinally extending parallel compartments or chutes (320) in the tray (300).

3. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, the at least one tray (300) is provided with a fixed or replaceable corrugated bottom (321).

4. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, the system comprises at least one harvesting unit (500) adapted to sort out polychaetes ready for harvesting from small polychaetes, spat, eggs, water and feed.

5. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that, the system comprises at least one seeding unit (700) adapted to seed empty trays (300) based on sorted small polychaetes, spat and eggs and fresh feed.

6. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, the system comprises at least one self-stripping unit (600).

7. The system according to claim 5, characterized in that, the system comprises one or more separate units for the production of eggs / spat used in the seeding unit.

8. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, the system comprises an additional harvesting unit capable of being arranged at the outlet of the at least one culture unit (100), wherein the additional harvesting unit is adapted to capture eggs in the discharge water of the culture unit.

9. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The system includes one or more units for converting sludge or waste into biomass / bacteria for use as polychaete feed.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein, the system includes one or more devices for subjecting the cultured polychaetes to temperature, light or sound in order to affect the growth, development and composition of the polychaetes.

11. A method for high-intensity polychaete production by means of the system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein, polychaetes are cultured in trays (300) by supplying seawater and feed from a feed unit (400) to an inlet (120) and discharging water and excess feed from an outlet (130).

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein, it includes initially sowing polychaetes in at least one empty tray (300).

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein, it includes retrieving the polychaetes ready for harvest from the at least one culture unit (100) and separating the polychaetes ready for harvest from small polychaetes, spat, eggs, water and feed.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein, it includes sowing the separated small polychaetes, spat and eggs together with feed in an empty tray (300) and inserting the tray (300) into at least one culture unit (100) for a new production cycle.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein, auto-stripping of the harvested polychaetes is carried out.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein, polychaetes that spawn once and / or planktotrophic spawning species are used.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein, the polychaetes are harvested before spawning, and then some of the polychaetes are transferred to a separate unit for egg / spat production before being sown in an empty tray (300).

18. The method according to claim 11 or 14, wherein, polychaetes are used for planktotrophic spawning, and the eggs are captured from the discharge water of the culture unit (100) and then sown.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein, the cultured polychaetes are subjected to temperature, light or sound to affect the growth, development and composition of the polychaetes.

Images