Cultivation device and cultivation method

Abstract

To promote growth of abalone and produce large abalone that can be shipped in a short period of time.SOLUTION: A cultivation device comprises: a cultivation tank filled with cultivation seawater for cultivating abalone; a storage tank storing the cultivation seawater to be supplied to the cultivation tank; a water supply pipe supplying the cultivation seawater from the storage tank to the cultivation tank; an oxygen supply device supplying oxygen to the cultivation seawater supplied through the water supply pipe; an in-tank water supply pipe connected to the water supply pipe and supplying the cultivation seawater within the cultivation tank; support means supporting the in-tank water supply pipe horizontally; and a growth instrument having a substantially U-shaped cross section in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction on which the abalone attach. The in-tank water supply pipe has a plurality of discharge holes for discharging the cultivation seawater at an upper portion, and the growth instrument is installed such that an opening thereof faces downward at a bottom of a cage placed on the in-tank water supply pipe.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an aquaculture device and aquaculture method that can significantly promote the growth of young abalone such as abalone, black abalone, Ezo abalone, Madaka abalone, Megai abalone, and Tokobushi abalone (hereinafter simply referred to as "abalone"). [Background technology]

[0002] For example, abalone shells such as black abalone, Hokkaido abalone, Madaka abalone, Megai abalone, and Tokobushi abalone live in clean environments with good tidal flow in natural ocean areas.

[0003] Techniques for cultivating such abalone shells on land are disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3, etc.

[0004] Conventional aquaculture techniques have been primarily aimed at making the aquaculture environment as close to the natural environment as possible. The amount of dissolved oxygen is ensured by aeration in the breeding tanks using aeration, water pressure, submersible pumps, etc. However, these methods generate vibrations and noise that abalone dislike, making it difficult to promote abalone growth. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-119169 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-125668 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-135562 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a technique that can promote the growth of abalone and produce large abalone that can be shipped in a short period of time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, the present invention provides: A breeding tank filled with seawater for raising abalone, a reservoir tank for storing the breeding seawater to be supplied to the breeding aquarium; a water supply pipe for supplying the breeding seawater from the storage tank to the breeding aquarium; an oxygen supply device for supplying oxygen to the breeding seawater supplied through the water supply pipe; an in-tank water supply pipe connected to the water supply pipe and supplying the breeding seawater into the breeding aquarium; a support means for horizontally supporting the in-tank water supply pipe; A culture vessel in which the abalone is attached and which has a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and is substantially U-shaped; Equipped with The in-tank water supply pipe has a plurality of discharge holes at an upper portion for discharging the rearing seawater, This is an aquaculture device characterized in that the incubator is installed at the bottom of a cage placed on the water supply pipe in the tank, with its opening facing downward.

[0008] This allows the abalone to be kept in the hollow interior of the incubator, which has a cross-section roughly U-shaped, by supplying breeding seawater with a high concentration of dissolved oxygen from the outlet hole of the in-tank water supply pipe installed below the incubator through the downward-facing opening of the incubator with the abalone attached, and this prevents the abalone from being exposed to vibrations and other harmful substances. Because it does not make noise, it promotes the growth of abalone and allows the production of large abalone that can be shipped in a short period of time.In addition, even if the weight of the cage containing the incubation device increases as the abalone grow, the water supply pipe in the tank does not tilt, so the seawater can be supplied to the abalone evenly.

[0009] In addition, in the present invention, A substantially semi-cylindrical retraction member may be installed between the incubator and the bottom of the basket with its opening facing downward.

[0010] According to this, by irradiating light at least onto the incubation container in a light-shielded incubation tank during breeding, the abalone, which dislike light, can be easily moved from the incubation container to the hollow interior of the evacuation member where the light is blocked, and the abalone can be removed from the incubation container without being damaged.

[0011] In addition, in the present invention, a pump that supplies the breeding seawater from the storage tank to the breeding tank using power supplied from a commercial power system; an emergency power supply that supplies power to the pump in the event of a power outage in the commercial power system; a first flow path for discharging the breeding seawater absorbed through a water intake opening at the bottom of the breeding tank under normal conditions, and a first valve for opening and closing the first flow path; a second flow path that supplies the rearing seawater sucked from the water intake port to the storage tank, and a second valve that opens and closes the second flow path; a switching means for switching the position of the water intake to the center of the breeding tank in the height direction during the power outage; Equipped with In the event of a power outage, the switching means may switch the position of the water intake to the center of the breeding aquarium, close the first valve, and open the second valve.

[0012] With this, under normal circumstances, the piping includes a flow path that can be used as a flow path to discharge dirty breeding seawater containing feces and other materials that have accumulated at the bottom of the breeding tank, but in the event of a power outage, clean breeding seawater from the center of the breeding tank's height can be supplied to the storage tank.Even during a power outage when seawater cannot be drawn in, clean breeding seawater can be circulated between the breeding tank and the storage tank, allowing the supply of breeding seawater to the breeding tank to continue.

[0013] The present invention also provides A culture method using the culture device, The method is characterized in that bait is placed so as to block a hole opened in the wall surface opposite to the opening.

[0014] According to this, even if the incubation container has a hole in the wall opposite the opening, by placing food so that it covers the hole, the breeding seawater with a high concentration of dissolved oxygen will remain in the incubation container for a longer period of time, thereby increasing the abalone's feeding ability and promoting their growth.

[0015] The present invention also provides A culture method using the culture device, The abalone is reared in the rearing tank in a light-shielded state, The method is characterized in that the abalone attached to the incubation container are moved to the evacuation member by irradiating light onto at least the incubation container from a state in which the breeding tank is shaded.

[0016] According to this, by irradiating light at least onto the incubation container in a light-shielded incubation tank during breeding, the abalone, which dislike light, can be easily moved from the incubation container to the hollow interior of the evacuation member where the light is blocked, and the abalone can be removed from the incubation container without being damaged.

[0017] In addition, in the present invention, The growth state of the abalone may be managed based on the shell veins of the abalone.

[0018] This allows the age of abalone to be determined by the shell veins, making it possible to accurately grasp the growth status of farmed abalone.

[0019] The present invention also provides A culture method using the culture device, The breeding seawater used for breeding the abalone in the breeding tank is temporarily stored in a temporary storage section before being discharged into the sea by a drainage section.

[0020] According to this, when the seawater used for breeding contains spores of seaweed such as Ulva, the oxygen concentration and temperature of the breeding seawater for cultivating abalone in the aquaculture device create a favorable growth environment for the seaweed, and the abalone feces and the like act as fertilizer for the Ulva, promoting its growth. Furthermore, by temporarily storing the breeding seawater discharged from the breeding tank in a temporary storage tank before discharging it into the sea, seaweed such as Ulva can be propagated. [Effects of the Invention]

[0021] According to the present invention, it is possible to promote the growth of abalone and produce large abalone that can be shipped in a short period of time. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the aquaculture device according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the arrangement of water supply pipes in the breeding aquarium according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a breeding tank according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the cage according to this embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a shelter according to this embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows a shelter according to this embodiment in a state where food has been administered. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of the aquaculture facility according to this embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the piping configuration of the aquaculture device according to this embodiment at the time of a power outage. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another piping configuration in the event of a power outage in the aquaculture device according to this embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the peeling method in the aquaculture device according to this embodiment. [Figure 11]FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of peeling an abalone using the peeling method according to this embodiment. [Figure 12] Figures 12(A) and 12(B) are photographs illustrating a method for determining the age of abalone. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a photograph of abalone showing the effect of the culturing method according to this example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] An example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described below. However, unless otherwise specified, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative positions, etc. of the components described in this example do not necessarily reflect the scope of the present invention. It is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to only those items.

[0024] An aquaculture apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. In the following embodiment, a case will be described in which juvenile abalone such as abalone, black abalone, Hokkaido abalone, Madaka abalone, and Megai abalone are cultivated.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a culturing device 1 for cultivating abalone juveniles according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] As shown in Figure 1, an aquaculture device 1 for raising abalone juveniles is mainly composed of a breeding tank 100 and a stock tank 200. The breeding tank 100 and the stock tank 200 correspond to the breeding tank and the storage tank of the present invention, respectively.

[0027] Seawater is treated to produce breeding seawater, which is temporarily stored in a stock aquarium 200. A submersible pressure pump 201 installed underwater in the stock aquarium 200 supplies the produced breeding seawater into the breeding aquarium 100. The submersible pressure pump 201 corresponds to the pump of the present invention.

[0028] The breeding tank 100 and the stock tank 200 are both roughly rectangular parallelepiped in shape and made of a seawater-resistant material, such as plastic, particularly FRP or polyvinyl chloride resin, etc. Furthermore, the piping that makes up the aquaculture device 1 can be made of, for example, polyvinyl chloride resin piping.

[0029] Seawater is supplied to the stock tank 200 from an external source via a water supply pipe 203. Abalone breeding typically involves UV-sterilized seawater to prevent muscular atrophy, a condition fatal to abalone, or filtered seawater to stabilize water quality. However, adopting such expensive systems increases breeding costs and is undesirable from a business perspective. In this embodiment, the aquaculture device 1 experimentally cultivated abalone using seawater directly drawn from the ocean maintains feeding ability and achieves comparable growth, allowing for the use of raw seawater. However, water temperature significantly affects feeding ability. Water temperatures above 27°C (82°F) are particularly important in the summer, so the use of underground seawater, which maintains stable low temperatures through well drilling, is desirable to prevent this. Using such underground seawater also helps prevent abalone deaths due to red tides.

[0030] The stock water tank 200 is provided with an overflow drain pipe 202 for discharging the seawater outside the stock water tank 200 when the seawater level S1 stored therein exceeds a predetermined water level.

[0031] A cock 320 for controlling the amount of seawater is located in the water supply pipe 300 that supplies breeding seawater from the stock aquarium 200 to the breeding aquarium 100. A connecting pipe 321 for connecting an oxygen supply hose 420 is provided to the cock 320. The oxygen generator 401 is connected to a float-type liquid supply regulator 402 that adjusts the amount of oxygen supplied via the oxygen supply hose 410, which is equipped with check valves 411 and 412 to prevent backflow of seawater. The liquid supply regulator 402 is connected to the connecting pipe 321 of the cock 320 via the oxygen supply hose 420, which is equipped with a check valve 421. In this way, the amount of oxygen generated by the oxygen generator 401 is adjusted by the liquid supply regulator 402, and the oxygen is drawn into the water supply pipe 300 via the connecting pipe 321 of the cock 320 by the flowing water pressure of the seawater flowing through the water supply pipe 300. The supplied oxygen dissolves in the seawater supplied to the breeding aquarium 100. As a result, processed seawater with a high oxygen concentration is supplied to the breeding aquarium 100. The water supply pipe 300 corresponds to the water supply pipe of the present invention. The oxygen supply system of the present invention includes the cock 320, the oxygen supply hoses 410 and 420, the check valves 411, 412 and 421, the supply regulator 402 and the oxygen generator 401. A supply device is configured.

[0032] The dissolved oxygen content of natural seawater is around 8.2 mg / L (liter), but due to recent environmental deterioration, it has tended to drop even further to between 4 mg / L and 7 mg / L. It is generally known that high concentrations of oxygen contribute to the growth of living organisms, so the dissolved oxygen content of the breeding seawater is adjusted between 9 mg / L and 16 mg / L while monitoring feeding ability.

[0033] The amount of oxygen delivered from the oxygen generator 401 can be, for example, 3 L / min. It is desirable to check that the 5 L display always shows 3 L. If the amount of oxygen delivered from the oxygen generator 401 shows 0 L, a problem has occurred and should be investigated. One possible cause of such a problem is the formation of salt crystals at the connection between the hose and the cock 320 fixed to the water supply pipe 300 that delivers breeding seawater from the stock aquarium 200. These crystals may stop the delivery of oxygen, causing the display on the oxygen generator 401 to show 0 L. If this phenomenon occurs, it is necessary to disconnect the oxygen delivery hose 420 from the connecting pipe 321 and drain the salt inside.

[0034] If there is a problem with the oxygen supply, oxygen deficiency will occur, leading to the death of the abalone, so daily management is required.

[0035] 2 is a plan view of the breeding aquarium 100 as seen from above. The breeding aquarium 100 is roughly divided into two sections by a central wall 101 located in the center along the extension direction of water supply pipes 301-304 and 305-308 that supply processed seawater. The water supply pipes 301-304 and 305-308 correspond to the in-tank water supply pipes of the present invention.

[0036] Abalone suffer from a fatal disease called contagious muscular atrophy, which has been known to slow growth even if they survive and to have a negative impact on the young abalone after breeding. As a countermeasure, large aquariums are avoided, and a central wall 101 is installed as a partition to separate the inside of the aquarium in order to separate the breeding water, as mentioned above. This also serves as a countermeasure against deaths from red tides when natural seawater is used.

[0037] 2, the breeding aquarium 100 is divided by the central wall 101 into eight water supply pipes 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, each of which supplies breeding seawater with a high concentration of dissolved oxygen, arranged in the longitudinal direction of each of the divided aquariums. Drain outlets 301a to 308a are connected by sockets to the end of each of the water supply pipes 301 to 308 opposite to the end connected to the stock aquarium 200.

[0038] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a direction perpendicular to the central wall 101, showing the schematic configuration of the breeding aquarium 100 during breeding.

[0039] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, each of the water supply pipes 301-308 is supported from above at multiple locations in the longitudinal direction by support members 110. The support members 110 are stainless steel processed parts that include a ring-shaped support portion 111 formed at one end and a rod-shaped portion 112 that extends linearly from the support portion 111. The other end of the rod-shaped portion 112 is threaded so that it can be fixed to an angle 120 (described below) with a nut 110a. The stainless steel L-shaped angle 120 is installed so as to span the edge 103 on the upper surface of the end wall 102 of the breeding aquarium 100 in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the water supply pipes 301-308. A plurality of angles 120 are installed in the extension direction of the water supply pipes 301-308, and are arranged so that the water supply pipes 301-308 can be supported by support members 110 at the front and rear of the cage 130 in which the abalone are reared in the extension direction of the water supply pipes 301-308. The angles 120 are fixed by bolts 103a to the edge 103 of the breeding aquarium 100 on the side of the end wall 102 in the direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the water supply pipes 301-308, and similarly, are fixed to the top surface of the central wall 101 by bolts 101a. The support member 110 corresponds to the support means of the present invention. The support member 110 may also include an angle 120 or the like to constitute the support means of the present invention.

[0040] In this way, the water supply pipes 301-308 are supported horizontally at approximately the center of the height of the breeding aquarium 100 by the multiple support members 110. A plurality of outlet holes 310 for discharging the supplied oxygen-enriched seawater are formed on the upper surfaces of the water supply pipes 301-308 along the extension direction of the water supply pipes 301-308. Cages 130 for breeding abalone are placed on top of the water supply pipes 301-308. A plurality of cages 130 are placed along the extension direction of the water supply pipes 301-308 so as to span the four parallel water supply pipes 301-304 and 305-308, respectively. This arrangement of the water supply pipes 301-308 and the cages 130 allows clean water containing high oxygen concentrations to be sprayed evenly upward from the water supply pipes 301-308 to each of the cages 130. This method prevents contamination of the bottom 140 of the breeding tank with waste, and together with the high oxygen concentration, improves the feeding ability of the abalone and accelerates their growth. The outlet hole 310 corresponds to the outlet hole of the present invention. The basket 130 corresponds to the basket of the present invention.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 4, the basket 130 is made of a frame of PVC pipes 131 and is covered with a netron net 132, giving it a cubic shape that opens upward.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 1, shelters 150 having a substantially U-shaped cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction are arranged on the bottom 133 of the basket 130 so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the water supply pipes 301-308. As shown in FIG. 5, the shelters 150 have openings 153 that open downward and are shaped like hollow rectangular parallelepipeds that are closed on the sides and top. Here, eight shelters 150 are arranged side by side in the extension direction of the water supply pipes 301-308. A plurality of circular holes 152 are formed in the top surface 151 of each shelter 150. The shelters 150 correspond to the incubators of the present invention. The openings 153 correspond to the openings of the present invention, and the top surface 151 corresponds to the wall surface opposite the openings of the present invention. The circular holes 152 correspond to the holes of the present invention.

[0043] By positioning the shelter 150 so that it opens downward, oxygen-rich seawater is discharged from discharge holes 310 located at the top of the water supply pipes 301-308 located below the cage 130 and supplied into the shelter 150 through the opening 153. The oxygen-rich seawater supplied through the opening 153 circulates inside the shelter 150 and is supplied to the abalone attached to the inner surface of the shelter 150.

[0044] As the abalone grow and gain weight, the water supply pipes 301-308 that deliver the high-concentration oxygen seawater may tilt, which could hinder the stable supply of the high-concentration oxygen seawater. In contrast, as described above, by supporting the water supply pipes 301-308 with the support members 110, the water supply pipes can be kept parallel to each of the baskets 130, allowing the high-concentration oxygen seawater to be supplied evenly to each of the baskets 130.

[0045] Furthermore, by arranging the shelter 150 so that it opens downward, the droppings can be allowed to fall to the bottom 104 of the breeding tank, and not accumulated within the shelter 150.

[0046] In the semicircular shelters commonly used in abalone farming, the adhesive surface for the abalone is not uniform, reducing the abalone's feeding ability. In contrast, the square-shaped shelter 150, which has a U-shaped cross section and is composed of flat surfaces, has a flat adhesive surface that provides stable adhesion, increasing the abalone's feeding ability. Furthermore, abalone do not defecate inside the shelter, which is their habitat, but rather defecate after moving outside. The circular hole 152 on the top surface of the shelter 150 and the openings 155 on both ends are designed to allow for such abalone to move around.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 1, the upper portion 100a of the breeding aquarium 100 is placed on the water supply pipes 301 to 308. The lower part 100b of the breeding tank 100 is an area where the abalone are reared in shelters 150 placed in cages 130. In contrast, the lower part 100b of the breeding tank 100 is an area where polluted seawater containing feces, decayed leftover food 160, etc. settles.

[0048] The lower part 100b of the breeding tank 100 is also an area where nitrite gas is generated and accumulates from feces and decaying leftover food 160. Because of its high specific gravity, excrement settles to the bottom 104 of the breeding tank, but when oxygen is supplied by aeration, the waste becomes cloudy, causing stress to the abalone. Furthermore, the vibrations caused by aeration stress the abalone and reduce their feeding ability. As mentioned above, by placing the cage 130 in the upper part 100a of the breeding tank 100 and increasing the distance between the bottom 133 of the cage 130 and the bottom 104 of the breeding tank, the water can be prevented from becoming cloudy and the purity of the water can be maintained. Furthermore, the absence of vibrations caused by aeration also promotes the growth of the abalone.

[0049] When raising abalone, excrement begins to settle at the bottom 104 of the breeding tank two days after a water change, and as it decays, nitrite gas is produced after four or five days, which leads to the death of the abalone. After that, when a white mold-like substance appears at the bottom 104 of the breeding tank, it also begins to fill the shelter, and the abalone stop feeding altogether. At this stage, the abalone begin to move to the top due to discomfort, so the breeding tank 100 is cleaned, using tap water to sterilize bacteria in the seawater.

[0050] 1, 3, and 6, in this embodiment, seaweed 170 such as wakame seaweed or kombu seaweed, which serves as food, is inserted into circular holes 152 in the top surface 151 of the shelter 150, and the food is administered by blocking the circular holes 152. By this method, the circular holes 152 in the top surface 151 of the shelter 150 are blocked, so that high-oxygen seawater remains in the hollow interior 154 of the shelter 150, and the seaweed 170 comes into contact with the abalone, increasing their appetite, not only improving their feeding ability but also lengthening the time they spend feeding, which contributes to their growth.

[0051] Furthermore, the inventors have confirmed that abalone require more oxygen during feeding than during normal life, and therefore increasing the amount of oxygen can also promote abalone growth. The oxygen supply concentration is preferably controlled within the range of an upper limit of 17 mL to a lower limit of 10 mL.

[0052] Similarly, when raising baby abalone, growth can be promoted by administering seaweed 170 so that the abalone come into contact with it. When raising baby abalone, shelter 150 is placed so that it opens upward, and seaweed 170 is placed in hollow interior 154 so that the baby abalone can come into contact with the seaweed.

[0053] Abalone are nocturnal creatures and in nature, they tend not to feed on moonlit nights. Taking advantage of this tendency, abalone are reared in a completely dark room, which increases their feeding rate and accelerates their growth rate.

[0054] Sound is also a factor that stresses abalone and interferes with their feeding. Examples of such sounds include the sound of rain hitting the roof inside the building where the breeding tank 100 is installed, and the flapping of the sheet covering the outdoor tank. By taking soundproofing measures against these sounds, the abalone can maintain their feeding activity, which increases their growth rate.

[0055] (Overall structure of aquaculture facilities) FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the overall structure of the land-based aquaculture facility 1000. The aquaculture device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is mainly composed of a set of a breeding tank 100 and a stock tank 200. The land-based aquaculture facility 1000 can be operated by combining a plurality of aquaculture devices 1. In FIG. 7, the configuration of the piping connected to the breeding tank 100, the stock tank 200 and the oxygen generator 401 of each aquaculture device is the same as that shown in FIG. The piping structure is omitted as appropriate. The number, combination, and arrangement of the aquaculture devices 1 included in the land-based aquaculture facility 1000 are not limited to the configuration shown in Figure 7, and can be designed as appropriate. In the following, when distinguishing between the aquaculture devices, symbols such as A to F will be used.

[0056] The land-based aquaculture facility 1000 shown in Fig. 7 is composed of two levels, upper and lower, with a plurality of aquaculture devices 1 arranged on the upper and lower levels. Here, the upper level includes aquaculture device 1A including aquaculture tank 100A, stock tank 200A, and oxygen generator 401A, aquaculture device 1B including aquaculture tank 100B, stock tank 200B, and oxygen generator 401B, and aquaculture device 1C including aquaculture tank 100C, stock tank 200C, and oxygen generator 401C. The lower level includes aquaculture device 1D including aquaculture tank 100D and stock tank 200D, aquaculture device 1E including aquaculture tank 100E and stock tank 200E, and aquaculture device 1F including aquaculture tank 100F and stock tank 200F (aquaculture tanks 100D to 100F are not shown). In the land-based aquaculture facility 1000, the oxygen generator 401A of the upper aquaculture apparatus 1A is shared with the lower aquaculture apparatus 1D. Similarly, the oxygen generator 401B of the upper aquaculture apparatus 1B is shared with the lower aquaculture apparatus 1E, and the oxygen generator 401C of the upper aquaculture apparatus 1C is shared with the lower aquaculture apparatus 1F.

[0057] Seawater is supplied to the land-based aquaculture facility 1000 from a pump located outdoors through a facility water supply pipe 210. Within the land-based aquaculture facility 1000, the facility water supply pipe 210 branches into a lower stage water supply pipe 211 that supplies seawater to the lower stage and an upper stage water supply pipe 212 that supplies seawater to the upper stage. Water supply pipes 203A to 203C that supply seawater to the stock tanks 200A to 200C, respectively, are connected to the upper stage water supply pipe 212. Water supply pipes 203D to 203F that supply seawater to the stock tanks 200D to 200F, respectively, are connected to the lower stage water supply pipe 211.

[0058] The overflow drains 202A to 202C connected to the stock tanks 200A to 200C installed on the upper level are connected to the drain outlet through an upper drain pipe 222. Similarly, the overflow drains 202D to 202F connected to the stock tanks 200D to 200F installed on the lower level are connected to the drain outlet through a lower drain pipe 221.

[0059] (For power outages) A method for rearing animals during a power outage will be described with reference to FIG.

[0060] Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the piping structure between the breeding aquarium 100 and the stock aquarium 200 during a power outage. Fig. 8 shows the case of external drainage piping.

[0061] In this example, an opening 104a that opens into the breeding aquarium bottom 104 of the breeding aquarium 100 placed on a stand 190 is connected to the stock aquarium 200 by a pipe 500. A pipe 502 that branches off from the opening 104a and exits the breeding aquarium 100 is connected to a pipe 501 that is connected to the opening 104a. A valve 521 is provided at the end of this pipe 502. This valve 521 is normally closed, and when the breeding aquarium bottom 104 is to be completely cleaned, the valve 521 is opened to function as a full drain valve. The opening 104a corresponds to the water supply port of the present invention.

[0062] Pipe 501 connected to opening 104a is connected to U-shaped pipe 503, which extends upward, then bends and extends downward, via a branched portion of pipe 502. Bent portion 503a of U-shaped pipe 503 is positioned so that the upper end of its hollow interior is at the same height as water surface S2 of the water stored in breeding aquarium 100.

[0063] The U-shaped pipe 503 extending downward branches into two via a T-shaped socket 504, and one of the pipes An end 505a of piping 505 is open so that water can be supplied from the top surface of the stock aquarium 200. A valve 522 is provided midway along this piping 505. This valve 522 is a circulation valve that opens in the event of a power outage and supplies water from the breeding aquarium 100 to the stock aquarium 200. The piping 501, U-shaped piping 503, T-shaped socket 504, and piping 505 correspond to the second flow path of the present invention, and the valve 522 corresponds to the second valve of the present invention.

[0064] The other pipe 506 is normally used for full drainage, and is provided with a valve 523 midway through the pipe. This valve 523 is open during normal full drainage, and by closing this valve 523 during a power outage, the pipe functions as a circulation pipe. The pipe 501, U-shaped pipe 503, T-shaped socket 504, and pipe 506 correspond to the first flow path of the present invention, and valve 523 corresponds to the first valve of the present invention.

[0065] The control procedure in the event of a power outage in the aquaculture device 1 shown in FIG. 8 will be described in detail.

[0066] During normal breeding, the valve 523 for all drainage is closed. At this time, the valves 511 and 512 are also closed.

[0067] When draining all the water from the breeding aquarium 100 to clean it, the valve 523 is opened. At this time, the valves 521 and 522 are closed.

[0068] During normal breeding, valves 521 and 522 are kept closed except during power outages.

[0069] In the event of a power outage, valve 522 is opened to put the piping into a circulation mode.

[0070] The submersible pressure pump 201 is normally supplied with power from a commercial power grid. In the event of a power outage, a small generator is operated to operate the submersible pressure pump 201 of the stock tank 200, and water is supplied from the stock tank 200 to the water supply pipes 301-308 in the breeding aquarium 100. The small generator corresponds to the emergency power source of the present invention.

[0071] In the event of a power outage, a pipe 530 is connected to the opening 104a in the bottom 104 of the breeding tank, and the water supply position is changed from the bottom 104 to the center in the vertical direction of the breeding tank. At this time, the upper end of the connected pipe 530 opens at a position where seawater in the upper part 100a of the breeding tank 100 can be used as circulating water, so seawater containing feces, etc. 160 that remains on the bottom 104 of the breeding tank will not be sucked into the circulating piping. Here, the pipe 530 corresponds to the switching means of the present invention, and the end of the connected pipe 530 corresponds to the water intake of the present invention.

[0072] FIG. 9 shows the piping structure between the breeding aquarium 100 and the stock aquarium 200 in the event of a power outage in FIG. 9, with the U-shaped piping 503 portion disposed inside the breeding aquarium 100.

[0073] Here, end 503b of U-shaped pipe 503 opens to bottom 104 of the breeding aquarium. End 503b is connected to one end of interchangeable pipe 503c. Pipe 503d, which extends upward and then bends and extends downward, is connected to the other end of interchangeable pipe 503c via a socket. Bend portion 503a of U-shaped pipe 503 is positioned so that the upper end of its hollow interior is aligned with water level S2 of the water stored in breeding aquarium 100. Here, end 503b corresponds to the water inlet of the present invention. Furthermore, U-shaped pipe 503 constitutes part of the first flow path and second flow path of the present invention, just as in the piping configuration of FIG. 8.

[0074] An end 503e of the U-shaped pipe 503 extending downward extends from an opening 104a of the breeding aquarium bottom 104 to the outside of the breeding aquarium 100. A pipe for supplying water to the stock aquarium 200 is connected to the end 503e of the U-shaped pipe 503 extending outside the breeding aquarium 100, as shown in FIG. Therefore, the description will be omitted.

[0075] In the piping structure shown in Figure 9, when draining all the water under normal conditions, the entire U-shaped pipe 503 is removed from the breeding aquarium 100, and when breeding seawater into the breeding aquarium 100, the U-shaped pipe 503 is inserted into the opening 104a in the breeding aquarium 100 as shown in Figure 9. Since the specific gravity of contaminated breeding seawater increases due to feces and the like, removing the breeding seawater that settles to the bottom 104 of the breeding aquarium can prevent water contamination of the breeding seawater.

[0076] In the piping structure shown in Figure 9, in the event of a power outage, the end 503b and the replacement pipe 503c are removed. When the replacement pipe 503c is removed, the end of the U-shaped pipe 503 opens at the center in the height direction, at a position where seawater in the upper part 100a of the breeding aquarium 100 can be used as circulating water, so that seawater containing feces and the like that remains at the bottom 104 of the breeding aquarium will not be sucked into the circulating piping. Here, the end 503b and the replacement pipe 503c correspond to the switching means of the present invention.

[0077] This type of piping structure does not require the valve 521 shown in Figure 8 for drainage. Since the breeding water at the bottom 104 of the breeding tank is constantly drained, it is possible to separate contaminated water. This piping structure eliminates the need for aeration, which does not separate the seawater and causes stress to the abalone.

[0078] (Removal method) If abalone, which hate light, are raised in a completely dark room as described above, they will quickly flee when exposed to light. When releasing abalone into the ocean, the usual method is to remove the abalone attached to their shelters using seawater with 1% alcohol, but this is known to burn the abalone's protective membrane, resulting in injury and death in many cases. As explained below, by taking advantage of abalone's aversion to light, the protective membrane can be removed without damaging it, compared to using alcohol, and death is prevented.

[0079] Figure 10 illustrates a culturing method that utilizes the aforementioned characteristics of abalone. As described above, abalone are attached to the hollow interior 154 of the square-shaped shelter 150. A roughly semi-cylindrical separate shelter 180 is installed beneath the shelter 150. Multiple separate shelters 180 are arranged in parallel, with their downward openings. When the room in which the shelters 150 and 180 are installed is illuminated, the hollow interior 181 of the separate shelter 180 becomes dark due to the shadow. For this reason, abalone 2, which dislike light, move by overlapping on the semi-cylindrical inner surface 182 of the separate shelter 180, as shown in Figure 11. Although abalone 2 are known to only prefer flat surfaces for attachment, by utilizing the above-described arrangement of the shelters 150 and 180 and their tendency to dislike light, the abalone 2 rapidly move to the dark, semi-cylindrical inner surface 182 of the separate shelter 180. The separate shelter 180 can be released as is, and it is possible to prevent the abalone 2 from being weakened by being peeled off by force. Here, the separate shelter 180 corresponds to the retraction member of the present invention.

[0080] A semi-cylindrical separate shelter 180 can be created by cutting a rain gutter.

[0081] (Age determination by shell veins) The inventor discovered that abalone do not feed in the summer when the water temperature is above 26 degrees Celsius, and that the veins in their shells (also known as "nacre veins") turn orange and appear with age. In other words, one orange vein indicates one year of age. This eliminates the need to determine the age of abalone by cleaning the shells and examining the nacre on the underside.

[0082] The above-mentioned shell veins become more clearly visible when light is shone from inside the abalone shell 3, making it easier to determine its age. Figure 12(A) shows the age of an abalone that has grown to six years old and weighs 300g. FIG. 12(B) shows the same shell 3 illuminated from the inside. In FIG. 12(B), the orange shell veins 3a can be more clearly seen.

[0083] An example of black abalone produced by the aquaculture apparatus 1 and aquaculture method of this embodiment using this age determination method is shown in Figure 13. Shown on the left side of Figure 13 are black abalone 21 and 22 produced by the aquaculture apparatus 1 and aquaculture method of this embodiment, and shown on the right side of Figure 13 are comparative examples of Ezo abalone 23 and 24 from Korea. Judging from the fact that the black abalone 21 and 22 produced by the aquaculture apparatus 1 and aquaculture method of this embodiment only have two shell veins 21a and 22a (encircled by dashed lines), they are 1.5 to 2 years old and weigh 250g to 300g. In contrast, judging from the number of shell veins 23a and 24a, the comparative Ezo abalone 23 and 24 are 4 to 5 years old and weigh less than 100g.

[0084] The aquaculture device 1 and aquaculture method of this embodiment have been confirmed by using this age determination method to have a strong growth promotion effect during the rearing period, allowing the abalone to grow around the summer season, eliminating the need to go through multiple summers, and enabling large black abalone to be shipped in a short period of time.In this way, the growth condition of farmed abalone can be managed by using the age determination method based on shell veins.

[0085] The abalone cultivated by the aquaculture device 1 and aquaculture method according to this embodiment have longer antennae than normal abalone, are more energetic, and have evolved so that edible parts protrude from the outside of the shell. When these abalone are used as seedlings for the production of mother abalone, evolved baby abalone are born, and there are high expectations for their production.

[0086] In the aquaculture method using the aquaculture apparatus 1 described above, when seawater is taken into the stock tank 200, Ulva spores present in the seawater may be taken in. The Ulva spores are sent from the stock tank 200 to the breeding tank 100 together with seawater. During this process, a high concentration of oxygen is supplied to the seawater containing the Ulva spores. Furthermore, since nitrogen and other nutrients that serve as nutrients for Ulva are present in the breeding tank 100, the seawater is taken into the stock tank 200 and sent to the breeding tank 100. A temporary storage unit may be provided on land to temporarily store the seawater used for abalone farming in the breeding tank 100, or the seawater that has been drained from the breeding tank 100 and then supplied back to the breeding tank 100 as running water before being discharged from the breeding tank 100 into the sea by the drainage unit, and the drainage from the temporary storage unit may then be returned to the sea. The temporary storage section can be formed, for example, on a concrete or asphalt foundation by surrounding it with a wall about 4 cm high, but is not limited to this configuration. The drainage section can be configured to drain the breeding seawater in the breeding aquarium 100 through a drain pipe or drain outlet by gravity or by suction using a drainage pump, but is not limited to this. Here, the drainage section and temporary storage section correspond to the drainage section and temporary storage section of the present invention.

[0087] The temperature of the seawater used in abalone farming is controlled according to the season, resulting in temperatures that differ from those of natural seawater. As a result, Ulva spores drifting in the seawater undergo an accelerated growth stage and develop into spores in a short period of time. In natural oceans, Ulva spores cannot proliferate while drifting, so they only attach to shallow reefs. In abalone farming, abalone feces accumulate in the rearing tank 100, and the wastewater used to clean the rearing tank 100 contains this feces. In other words, the rearing seawater used in abalone farming contains fertilizers for growing high-quality Ulva. Therefore, as described above, by establishing a temporary storage area on land before discharging the rearing seawater used in abalone farming and discharging it into the sea, the growth of Ulva seeds is promoted and released into the sea, effectively preventing coastal barrenness in natural oceans. Ulva grown on land using the abalone farming process produces numerous sporophytes when exposed to temperature stimulation. By releasing wastewater according to the season, Ulva can be constantly produced and a large amount of Ulva can be propagated. The type of Ulva that appears varies depending on the season; when it rains, button Ulva appears, and in winter, thread-like Ulva appears. As temperatures rise, sea lettuce changes into flat sea lettuce, pocket lettuce, etc. Sea lettuce is a good food source for sea urchins, resulting in beautifully colored, firm flesh. It is also a good food source for many fish, including rockfish, harbour finfish, black porgy, barracuda, black porgy, and horse mackerel. Ecologically, sea lettuce is grown using the abalone farming process, and is additive-free and safe to use. It can be used as food and can also be stored as dried food. Sea lettuce can be used in the same way as processed seaweed, and is expected to be a substitute for seaweed in the event of a poor harvest. Furthermore, when used as feed for sea urchins, it has the advantage of being inexpensive and can be obtained in large quantities. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] 1 Aquaculture equipment 100 breeding tanks 200 Reservoir 300 Water supply pipe 301~308 Tank water supply pipe 150 Shelter 110 Support member

Claims

1. A breeding tank filled with seawater for raising abalone, a reservoir tank for storing the breeding seawater to be supplied to the breeding aquarium; a water supply pipe for supplying the breeding seawater from the storage tank to the breeding aquarium; an oxygen supply device for supplying oxygen to the breeding seawater supplied through the water supply pipe; an in-tank water supply pipe connected to the water supply pipe and supplying the breeding seawater into the breeding aquarium; a support means for horizontally supporting the in-tank water supply pipe; A culture vessel in which the abalone is attached and which has a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and is substantially U-shaped; Equipped with The in-tank water supply pipe has a plurality of discharge holes at an upper portion for discharging the rearing seawater, A farming device characterized in that the incubator is installed at the bottom of a cage placed on the water supply pipe in the tank with its opening facing downward.

2. 2. The aquaculture device according to claim 1, wherein a substantially semi-cylindrical retraction member is installed between the incubator and the bottom of the cage with its opening facing downward.

3. a pump that supplies the breeding seawater from the storage tank to the breeding tank using power supplied from a commercial power system; an emergency power supply that supplies power to the pump in the event of a power outage in the commercial power system; a first flow path for discharging the breeding seawater sucked through a water intake opening at the bottom of the breeding tank under normal conditions, and a first valve for opening and closing the first flow path; a second flow path that supplies the rearing seawater sucked through the water intake port to the storage tank, and a second valve that opens and closes the second flow path; a switching means for switching the position of the water intake to the center of the breeding tank in the height direction during the power outage; Equipped with The aquaculture device described in claim 1, characterized in that, during the power outage, the switching means switches the position of the water intake to the center of the breeding tank, closes the first valve, and opens the second valve.

4. A farming method using the farming device according to claim 1, A culture method characterized by placing feed so as to block a hole opened in the wall opposite the opening.

5. A farming method using the farming device according to claim 2, The abalone is reared in the rearing tank in a light-shielded state, A farming method characterized by irradiating light onto at least the incubation container while the breeding tank is shielded from light, thereby moving the abalone attached to the incubation container to the evacuation member.

6. 6. The abalone farming method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the growth condition of the abalone is controlled based on the shell veins of the abalone.

7. A farming method using the farming device according to claim 1, A culture method characterized by temporarily storing the breeding seawater used for breeding the abalone in the breeding tank in a temporary storage section before discharging it into the sea through a drainage section.

Images