Method for growing fish and shellfish and microwave irradiation device for fish and shellfish

Abstract

To provide means that can exert preferable action to living fishes and shellfishes.SOLUTION: A method for growing fishes and shellfishes includes a step of irradiating living fishes and shellfishes with a microwave. An irradiation device for emitting a microwave is provided with a drain part, thereby performing an irradiation work with a microwave after bringing the fishes and shellfishes in a detention part into a drained state.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for growing fish and shellfish and a microwave irradiation device for fish and shellfish. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, in the fish and shellfish farming industry, attention has been focused on land-based aquaculture as well as marine fish farming. Land-based aquaculture involves farming in an artificially created environment on land, and can be broadly categorized into "free-flowing," "semi-circulation," and "closed circulation" types.

[0003] In recent years, trout salmon (also known as salmon trout) has been attracting attention as a type of farmed seafood. This is because rainbow trout (scientific name: Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)), a freshwater fish, is raised in a saltwater environment, which allows it to be shipped at a more accelerated growth rate than if it were in a freshwater environment.

[0004] Known methods for cultivating rainbow trout in a seawater environment include using deep ocean water under specified conditions (Patent Document 1) and repeating the culture process in freshwater and seawater environments (Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4468278 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6626608 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] During fish and shellfish farming, a certain number of fish and shellfish may not grow sufficiently or may even die. There are many possible reasons for this, including the introduction of disease, water temperature control, and the stress on the fish and shellfish caused by acclimatization, and measures to address these factors are being considered on a daily basis.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a means capable of exerting a favorable effect on living fish and shellfish. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention is characterized by irradiating live fish and shellfish with microwaves. In addition, in the present invention, cultured fish that require an acclimation process may be irradiated with microwaves before the acclimation process is carried out. The present invention also provides an irradiation device for irradiating microwaves to seafood, comprising at least a storage section in which the seafood can be stored together with water, a draining section provided within the storage section and capable of transitioning the seafood stored in the storage section to a draining state by discharging the water from the storage section or by moving the seafood relative to the storage section, and an irradiation section capable of irradiating the microwaves to the seafood in the draining state. In addition, in the present invention, the draining portion can be constructed by a combination of silicone rubber or Teflon (registered trademark) having water passage holes and punching metal. In addition, the present invention allows the storage section to be configured with a waterway section through which the seafood moves in one direction and which has an opening / closing section at the bottom, and a pair of movable walls which can partition a certain section of the waterway section, including the opening / closing section, so as to block the passage of the seafood. In the present invention, of the pair of movable walls, the front movable wall in the traveling direction of the seafood may be made of a punching metal. Effect of the Invention

[0009] The method according to the present invention can have a beneficial effect on live fish and shellfish. Furthermore, the irradiation device according to the present invention makes it possible to efficiently irradiate seafood with microwaves. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a first embodiment of an irradiation device according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a seafood draining mechanism (1). [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a blocking unit. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a seafood draining mechanism (2). [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a second embodiment of an irradiation device according to the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a usage image of an irradiation device according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. EXAMPLES

[0012] <1> overview The main theme of the present invention is to impart beneficial effects to fish and shellfish and improve their cultivation efficiency by irradiating living fish and shellfish with microwaves under specified conditions.

[0013] (1) Fish and shellfish to be irradiated In the present invention, the fish and shellfish to be irradiated with microwaves are not particularly limited, and include all kinds of fish such as rainbow trout (trout salmon), flounder, and mackerel. In addition, in the present invention, "living seafood" is not limited to farmed seafood, but also includes, for example, caught seafood and seafood that is managed alive by wholesalers, intermediate distributors, retailers, restaurants, etc.

[0014] (2) Microwave irradiation conditions In the present invention, the conditions for irradiating live seafood with microwaves (frequency, irradiation output, irradiation time, irradiation cycle, number of irradiations, irradiated area, etc.) are expected to be appropriately determined taking into consideration the type of seafood (fish species), size of the seafood, and various other factors, and therefore are not particularly limited in the present invention at this time. Microwaves generally refer to electromagnetic waves with a frequency of 300 MHz to 30 GHz (wavelength of 1 m to 1 cm), but it is preferable to use microwaves in the 2.45 GHz band, which are approved for general-purpose use in the medical, industrial, and scientific fields.

[0015] (3) Microwave irradiation location In the present invention, the location where microwave irradiation is performed is not particularly limited, but since microwaves are significantly attenuated in water and it is difficult to irradiate microwaves, it is preferable to perform the work on land.

[0016] (4) Microwave irradiation equipment In the present invention, the microwave irradiation device is not particularly limited, but for example, a microwave semiconductor oscillator can be used.

[0017] <2> Experimental Example Rainbow trout were selected as the experimental subjects, and the following irradiation experiments were carried out.

[0018] (1) Experimental conditions Before the acclimation process, 30 rainbow trout fry were scooped up from the tank with a net and immediately exposed to 100W microwaves in a microwave irradiation device (2.45GHz band) installed on land, with pulses spaced 1.5 seconds apart for 6 seconds (effectively 3 seconds of exposure). They were then moved to a different section of the same tank before the acclimation process began, and the survival rate after 80 days was calculated. As comparative examples, 30 rainbow trout fry before the acclimation process were scooped up from the tank with a net and left in the microwave irradiation device for 6 seconds (no microwave irradiation), then transferred to another tank and the acclimation process was started, and the survival rate after 80 days was calculated (Comparative Example 1). In addition, 493 rainbow trout fry before the acclimation process were transferred directly to the tank where the acclimation process would be carried out without being brought ashore, and the acclimation process was started, and the survival rate after 80 days was calculated (Comparative Example 2).

[0019] (2) Experimental results The experimental results are shown in Table 1. [Table 1] TIFF2025027267000001.tif21164

[0020] In Comparative Example 1, a decrease in the number of survivors was observed from about the 20th day when the acclimation process was completed, and after 80 days, the survival rate had fallen to about 57%. In Comparative Example 2, even though there was no landing process, the survival rate after 80 days was about 89%. On the other hand, in Experimental Example 1 in which the microwave irradiation step according to the present invention was carried out, only one animal died after 80 days, resulting in a survival rate of approximately 97%. Therefore, it was found that the method of bringing live fish and shellfish ashore and irradiating them with microwaves was more efficient at cultivating them than Comparative Example 2, in which the fish and shellfish were not brought ashore.

[0021] (3) Summary In this way, it was found that adding a microwave irradiation process to live fish and shellfish can impart desirable effects, such as suppressing the subsequent death toll and improving the growth efficiency.

[0022] <3> others The method according to the present invention is expected to not only suppress the mortality of fish and shellfish, but also to have another favorable effect of further promoting the growth of fish and shellfish after irradiation. EXAMPLES

[0023] Next, a first embodiment of an apparatus for irradiating seafood with microwaves (hereinafter, also simply referred to as an "irradiation apparatus") will be described.

[0024] <1> Basic configuration (Figure 1) The irradiation device A according to the present invention comprises at least a retention section 10, a draining section 20 and an irradiation section 30. When using the irradiation device A of the present invention, first, seafood B is placed in the storage section 10, and then the seafood B is drained in the draining section 20, and then microwaves are irradiated by the irradiation section 30. The details of each part will be explained below.

[0025] <2> Placement area (Figure 1) The retaining portion 10 is a member for retaining (holding) the seafood B. The inside of the retention section 10 may be filled in advance with water suitable for the growth of fish and shellfish, such as seawater or fresh water, or the fish and shellfish B may be introduced into the retention section 10 together with the water. In FIG. 1, the indwelling section 10 is configured to have a water tank shape with an openable lid on top.

[0026] <3> Draining section (Fig. 1) The draining section 20 is a member for transitioning the fish or shellfish B held in the holding section 10 to a draining state. The draining section 20 may be any member that has a planar shape on which seafood B can be placed and has water passage holes 21 that allow water to pass in the vertical direction, and may be constructed from a plate-like member with through holes or a mesh-like member with a mesh pattern. In the present invention, the draining portion 20 may or may not be flexible. In addition, the draining section 20 can reduce friction caused by the movement of the seafood B while it is drained, and it is preferable that the draining section 20 is made of a material that has low or no absorption of the microwaves irradiated from the irradiation section 30, for example, silicone rubber or Teflon.

[0027] <3.1> Example of drainage mechanism (Figs. 2 to 4) As a mechanism for causing the draining section 20 to transition the fish and shellfish B in the retention section 10 to the draining state, for example, the following mechanism may be considered.

[0028] <3.1.1> Mechanism example 1 (Fig. 2, Fig. 3) In this example of mechanism, as shown in Figure 2, a lifting mechanism (not shown) is provided in the draining section 20 provided in the storage section 10, and the draining section 20 is raised in the storage section 10 to lift the fish and shellfish B from the water in the storage section 10 (Figure 2). In this method, it is preferable to have a structure in which the microwaves irradiated from the irradiation section 30 are not absorbed by the water present below the draining section 20. For example, as shown in Figure 3, it is possible to provide a mechanism that can add a blocking section 40 capable of blocking microwaves below the raised draining section 20. The blocking portion 40 may be made of punched metal, which is also used in constructing a Faraday cage. Punched metal is a metal plate made by punching holes in it using a punching press. These holes also function as water drainage holes, making them preferable in that they do not impede drainage. In addition, the blocking section 40 may be configured as a separate member from the draining section 20 so as to be freely attachable and detachable within the retention section 10, as shown in Figure 3(a), or may be configured as an integral part of the draining section 20, as shown in Figure 3(b).

[0029] <3.1.2> Mechanism example 2 (Fig. 4) In this example mechanism, as shown in FIG. 4, an opening / closing section 11 is provided at the bottom of the storage section 10, and by opening the opening / closing section 11, the water contained inside the storage section 10 is discharged from below, thereby draining the seafood B placed on the draining section 20. After the water in the storage section 10 is drained, the opening / closing section 11 is returned to its original position, and the seafood B is left in the storage section 10 with the water drained, and then it can be irradiated with microwaves by the irradiation section 30. In this case, if a Faraday cage can be constructed by the inner wall of the retention section 10, there is no need to separately provide the blocking section 40 described in the first mechanism example.

[0030] <4> Irradiation unit (Figure 1) The irradiation unit 30 is a member for irradiating microwaves. In the present invention, the positions and number of the irradiation units 30 on the irradiation device A are not particularly limited.

[0031] <5> Usage example An example of a procedure for using the irradiation device A according to this embodiment is as follows. (1) Seafood B is transferred from a fish preserve or the like to the retention section 10. (2) The fish and shellfish B in the retention section 10 are brought into a draining state by performing an operation such as draining water from the retention section 10 or moving the draining section 20 relatively. (3) Using the irradiation unit 30, the seafood B in the drained state is immediately irradiated with microwaves under specified conditions. (4) Return fish and shellfish B to the underwater environment to complete the task. Possible methods for returning fish and shellfish B to the underwater environment include the following: (Method 1) In the case where water is discharged from the retention section 10 by opening the opening / closing section 11, water is immediately introduced into the retention section 10 after closing the opening / closing section, and the fish or shellfish B is placed in an aquatic environment. (Method 2) When the irradiation device A is positioned above the fish cage, the draining section 20 is opened and the fish and shellfish B are dropped directly from the holding section 10 into the fish cage.

[0032] <6> summary According to the irradiation device of the present embodiment, the irradiation work of irradiating microwaves to fish and shellfish can be performed more efficiently. More specifically, the microwave irradiation work can be performed while shortening the time that the fish and shellfish are outside the water. EXAMPLES

[0033] <1> Basic configuration (Figure 5) Next, a second embodiment of the irradiation device according to the present invention will be described. The irradiation device A according to this embodiment has a structure that assumes a case in which microwave irradiation work is performed on the way of transporting seafood. The irradiation device A according to this embodiment includes at least a retaining section 10, a draining section 20 and an irradiation section 30, similar to the first embodiment described above. Each component will be described in detail below.

[0034] <2> Placement area (Figure 5) The retention section 10 is a member that is provided midway along the transport path of the fish and shellfish B, and is used to retain the fish and shellfish B, which are to be irradiated with microwaves, in place. In this embodiment, the retention section 10 has a water channel section 12 and a pair of movable walls 13a, 13b.

[0035] <2.1> Waterway section (Fig. 5) The waterway portion 12 is a member that functions as a part of the passageway for transporting fish and shellfish. The water channel portion 12 can be formed, for example, of a tubular member or a rail-shaped member. The peripheral wall of the water channel portion 12 is preferably made of a material that does not impede the irradiation of microwaves by the irradiation portion 30 . Further, an opening / closing part 121 is provided at the bottom of the water channel part 12, which can drain the water within the water channel part by opening and closing the opening / closing part.

[0036] <2.2> A pair of movable walls (Fig. 5) The pair of movable walls 13a, 13b are members for partitioning the waterway portion 12 so as to block the passage of fish and shellfish B. The movable wall 13a on the rear side in the direction of travel of the seafood B is made of a material that can completely block water so that new water does not flow into the waterway section 12 when the waterway section 12 is blocked, and that does not interfere with the irradiation of microwaves by the irradiation section 30. On the other hand, the movable wall 13b on the front side in the direction of movement of the seafood does not need to be made of a material that completely blocks water if there is no risk of new water flowing in from the movable wall 13b side, and a material that does not interfere with the irradiation of microwaves by the irradiation unit 30 (such as punched metal used in constructing a Faraday cage) can be used.

[0037] <3> Draining section (Fig. 5) The draining section 20 is a member for draining the fish and shellfish B in the retention section 10 . The draining section 20 is constructed of a water-permeable material that is placed inside the bottom of the water channel section 13 and is configured so as not to prevent water from being discharged even when the opening / closing section 121 provided at the bottom of the water channel section 13 is opened.

[0038] <4> Irradiation unit (Fig. 5) The irradiation section 30 is a member for irradiating the seafood in the storage section 10 with microwaves. The description of the irradiation unit 30 in this embodiment is omitted since the description of the first embodiment described above is sufficient.

[0039] <5> Example of use (Figure 6) An example of a procedure for using the irradiation device A according to this embodiment is as follows. (1) An irradiation device A is installed in the transport path connecting one fish cage to the other. (2) The pair of movable walls 13a, 13b are appropriately operated to close the waterway section 13, thereby trapping the fish and shellfish B together with the water in the waterway section 12 (FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b)). (3) The opening / closing section 121 is opened to drain the water from the bottom of the waterway section, and the fish and shellfish B in the waterway section 13 are put into a draining state, and then the irradiation section 30 is used to immediately irradiate the fish and shellfish B in the draining state with microwaves of predetermined conditions (FIG. 6(b)). At this time, if the draining section 20 has a microwave blocking function, it does not matter whether the opening / closing section 121 is opened or closed. (4) After confirming that the opening / closing section 121 is closed, the pair of movable walls 13a, 13b are returned to their original positions, allowing water to flow into the storage section 10 and resuming the transfer of the fish or shellfish B that has been returned to the underwater environment (Figure 6(c)). At this time, the timing for opening and closing the rear movable wall 13a and the front movable wall 13b may be set appropriately.

[0040] <6> summary According to the irradiation device of this embodiment, not only can the irradiation work of irradiating microwaves to seafood be performed efficiently, but also a microwave irradiation process can be easily added by simply incorporating the irradiation device in the middle of an existing transport path. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] A Irradiation device B. Seafood 10 Detention Section 11 Opening and closing section 12 Waterway section 121 Opening and closing section 13 Movable wall 20 Draining section 30 Irradiation unit 40 Breaking section

Claims

1. A method comprising irradiating live seafood with microwaves.

2. The fish and shellfish are farmed fish that require an acclimatization process, The cultured fish is irradiated with microwaves and then the acclimatization process is carried out. The method of claim 1.

3. An irradiation device for irradiating seafood with microwaves, A storage section capable of storing the seafood together with water; a draining section provided in the retention section, capable of transitioning the fish and shellfish retained in the retention section to a draining state by discharging the water from the retention section or by moving the fish and shellfish relative to the retention section; An irradiation unit capable of irradiating the seafood in a drained state with the microwaves; The present invention is characterized by comprising at least Microwave irradiation device for seafood.

4. The draining portion is The device is characterized by being made of a combination of silicone rubber or Teflon having water passage holes and punched metal. The microwave irradiation device for fish and shellfish according to claim 3.

5. The retention section is A waterway section through which the fish and shellfish move in one direction and which has an opening and closing section at its bottom; A pair of movable walls capable of partitioning a certain section including the opening / closing section in the waterway section so as to block the passage of the fish and shellfish; The present invention is characterized in that it is composed of The microwave irradiation device for fish and shellfish according to claim 3.

6. The movable wall on the front side in the direction of movement of the seafood of the pair of movable walls is made of punching metal. The microwave irradiation device for fish and shellfish according to claim 5.

Images