Aquaculture Systems

Abstract

Disclosed is an aquaculture system disposed in a body of water, the body of water having a water surface and a land surface below the body of water. The system includes a surface buoy, a control buoy, and a buoyant backbone floating on the water surface. The system further includes a pulley fixed to the ground and a control line extending between the surface buoy, the control buoy, and the backbone. The buoyant force of the surface buoy is greater than the buoyant force of the control buoy minus the buoyant force of the backbone, so that the control buoy floats in the body of water below the surface, and the backbone also floats in the body of water below the surface. The surface buoy, control buoy, and backbone are arranged such that when the water surface rises and the surface buoy rises away from the ground, the surface buoy pulls on the tension line between the surface buoy and the control buoy, causing the control buoy to move toward the ground, and simultaneously, the backbone rises away from the ground due to the control buoy moving toward the ground by pulling on the tension line between the control buoy and the backbone.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an aquaculture system. [Background technology]

[0002] Aquaculture systems have been used for many years in the aquaculture industry to cultivate shellfish such as mussels, clams, oysters, and scallops. Aquaculture systems require buoys or support systems that are installed on the water surface, which can interfere with the use of the water surface and can be unsightly. Current systems require anchor points on the seabed, and current submersible aquaculture systems require manual adjustments to maintain the desired depth, resulting in depth fluctuations due to the tidal influence on the system.

[0003] Where reference is made herein to patent specifications, other external documents, or other sources of information, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for explaining features of the present invention. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the reference to such external documents or sources shall not be construed as an admission that such documents or sources are prior art or form part of the common general knowledge in the art in any jurisdiction.

[0004] It is an aim of at least preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide an aquaculture system that addresses one or more of the above-mentioned problems and / or at least provides the public with a useful alternative. Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aquaculture system installed in a body of water, the body of water having a water surface and an earth surface below the body of water, the system comprising: a surface buoy having buoyancy that floats on the water surface; and a control buoy having buoyancy; a buoyant backbone having buoyancy; A surface buoy fixed to the ground - a control buoy pulley; a surface buoy-to-control buoy tension line extending between the surface buoy, the surface buoy-to-control buoy pulley, and the control buoy; A control buoy-backbone pulley fixed to the ground; a control buoy-to-backbone tension line extending between the control buoy, the control buoy-to-backbone pulley, and the buoyant backbone; The buoyancy of the surface buoy is greater than the buoyancy of the control buoy minus the buoyancy of the buoyant backbone, so that the control buoy floats in the subsurface water body and the buoyant backbone floats in the subsurface water body; The surface buoy, the control buoy, and the buoyant backbone are arranged so that when the water surface rises away from the ground together with the surface buoy, the surface buoy pulls the tension line between the surface buoy and the control buoy, causing the control buoy to move towards the ground, and at the same time, the buoyant backbone pulls the tension line between the control buoy and the buoyant backbone, causing the control buoy to move towards the ground, thereby causing the backbone to rise away from the ground.

[0006] In one embodiment, the buoyancy of the surface buoy is adjustable.

[0007] In one embodiment, the buoyancy of the control buoy is adjustable.

[0008] In one embodiment, the surface buoy-to-control buoy tension line and the control buoy-to-backbone tension line are a single line.

[0009] In one embodiment, the surface buoy-to-control buoy tension line and the control buoy-to-backbone tension line are separate lines.

[0010] In one embodiment, the aquaculture system further comprises an additional control buoy-backbone tension line.

[0011] In one embodiment, the aquaculture system further comprises two or more additional control buoy-backbone tension lines.

[0012] In one embodiment, each of the control buoy-backbone tension lines branches into two or more lines attached to the backbone.

[0013] In one embodiment, each pulley is attached to the surface by an anchor.

[0014] In one embodiment, the anchor is or includes a screw anchor. Additionally or alternatively, the anchor is or includes a concrete block.

[0015] In one embodiment, the surface buoy has a buoyancy of approximately 4.2 tons.

[0016] In one embodiment, the control buoy has a buoyancy of approximately 6.2 tons.

[0017] In one embodiment, the backbone has a buoyancy of approximately 4.2 tons.

[0018] In one embodiment, the backbone comprises a buoyancy tube or multiple buoyancy tubes.

[0019] In one embodiment, if the seabed is flat or uniformly sloping, each pulley is positioned at a height of about 1 m above the surface.

[0020] In another embodiment, the ground may be sloped and / or uneven, and the position of each pulley is adjusted to accommodate the variations in the ground, for example, 2 m, 3 m, or more above ground level.

[0021] In one embodiment, the surface buoy is located near one end of the backbone and spaced apart from the end of the backbone along the length of the system.

[0022] In one embodiment, the control buoy is positioned longitudinally of the system between the surface buoy and the backbone.

[0023] In one embodiment, the control buoy is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the backbone or is offset from the longitudinal axis of the backbone.

[0024] In one embodiment, the surface buoy is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the backbone or is offset from the longitudinal axis of the backbone.

[0025] In one embodiment, the surface buoy-control buoy pulley is fixed to the ground at or near the same location on the longitudinal axis of the backbone as the surface buoy, or at a location offset from the longitudinal axis of the backbone.

[0026] In one embodiment, the control buoy-backbone pulley is fixed to the ground at or near the same location at the end of the backbone on the longitudinal axis of the backbone, and a second pulley offsets the control buoy and surface buoy from the longitudinal axis of the backbone.

[0027] In one embodiment, the backbone is submerged between about 1 m and about 10 m below the surface of the water.

[0028] In one embodiment, the backbone is submerged about 2 m to about 4 m below the surface of the water.

[0029] In one embodiment, the aquaculture system includes a first buoyancy control subassembly at one end of the backbone, with the surface buoy, the control buoy, the surface buoy-control buoy pulley, the surface buoy-control buoy tension line, the control buoy-backbone pulley, and the control buoy-backbone tension line forming a first buoyancy control subassembly at the other end of the backbone, the second buoyancy control subassembly having the surface buoy, the control buoy, the surface buoy-control buoy pulley, the surface buoy-control buoy tension line, the control buoy-backbone pulley, and the control buoy-backbone tension line.

[0030] In one embodiment, the aquaculture system further comprises a plurality of aquaculture ropes suspended from the backbone.

[0031] In one embodiment, the aquaculture system includes a plurality of mussel spat or seed mussels on a culture rope.

[0032] In one embodiment, the aquaculture system further comprises a plurality of mussels on the culture ropes.

[0033] The term "comprises" as used in this specification and claims means "consisting at least in part of." When interpreting statements in this specification and claims that include the term "comprises," other features may be present in addition to the feature preceded by this term in the respective statement. Related terms such as "comprise" or "comprised" are to be interpreted in the same manner.

[0034] Reference to a range of numerical values ​​disclosed herein (e.g., 1 to 10) is intended to incorporate reference to every rational number within that range (e.g., 1, 1.1, 2, 3, 3.9, 4, 5, 6, 6.5, 7, 8, 9, and 10), as well as any range of rational numbers within that range (e.g., 2 to 8, 1.5 to 5.5, and 3.1 to 4.7); thus, all subranges of every range explicitly disclosed herein are hereby expressly disclosed. These are merely examples of what is specifically intended, and all possible combinations of numerical values ​​between the minimum and maximum values ​​recited are to be considered to be expressly set forth in this application in the same manner.

[0035] Numerous modifications of the structure of the present invention, as well as widely different embodiments and applications of the present invention, will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting. Where specific integers referenced herein have known equivalents in the art to which this invention pertains, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if separately set forth.

[0036] As used herein, the term "(s)" following a noun refers to the plural and / or singular form of that noun.

[0037] As used herein, the term "and / or" means "and" or "or," or both, where the context allows.

[0038] The present invention comprises the above and also contemplates the following constructions, of which the examples are given by way of example only. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0039] The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an aquaculture farm including multiple aquaculture systems. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the pair of aquaculture systems of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a backbone with three tubes. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an end view of the backbone of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a backbone having four tubes. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an end view of the backbone of FIG. 5. [Figure 7] 1 shows details of an embodiment of a control buoy. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0040] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, an aquaculture system 1 installed in a body of water is shown.

[0041] The aquaculture system 1 is used in an aquaculture farm. Thus, the aquaculture farm may include two or more of the aquaculture systems 1 described herein. The systems 1 may be arranged as shown in FIG. 1 , i.e., a pair of aquaculture systems 1 arranged longitudinally in a row, and other arrangements of the aquaculture systems 1 may be used depending on the shape or configuration of the water body in which the aquaculture systems 1 are installed, such as a pair of parallel aquaculture systems 1. It is understood that in some circumstances, an aquaculture farm may include a single aquaculture system 1.

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a conventional aquaculture farm with a backbone 14 and buoys positioned on the water surface next to an aquaculture farm containing multiple aquaculture systems 1 of the present invention.

[0043] 2 shows a body of water having a surface 3 and an underlying land surface 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the body of water is an ocean, and the land surface 5 is the ocean floor. Alternatively, the body of water may be a natural body of water, such as a lake or ocean. Alternatively, the body of water may be a man-made body of water.

[0044] System 1 includes a surface buoy 10 floating on the water's surface 3, a control buoy 12 floating below the water's surface 3, and a backbone 14 floating below the water's surface. Surface buoy 10 is buoyant, control buoy 12 is buoyant, and buoyant backbone 14 is buoyant, each of which is described in more detail below.

[0045] System 1 also includes a series of tension lines and pulleys. In particular, system 1 includes a surface buoy-to-control buoy pulley 16 that is anchored to the surface. The surface buoy-to-control buoy pulley 16 is a single-sheave pulley. System 1 includes a surface buoy-to-control buoy tension line 20 that extends between surface buoy 10 and control buoy 12. FIG. 2 shows the surface buoy-to-control buoy tension line 20 extending substantially vertically between surface buoy 10 and control buoy 12. FIG. 2 shows that the surface buoy-to-control buoy tension line 20 extends through the surface buoy-to-control buoy pulley 16 and the control buoy 12. The surface buoy-to-control buoy tension line 20 may extend through the control buoy 12 or may be anchored to the bottom of the control buoy 12.

[0046] FIG. 7 shows details of one embodiment of the control buoy 12. The control buoy 12 has an upper sphere 12a and a lower sphere 12b. The spheres 12a and 12b are connected by a tie bar 12c through which a single tension line travels freely and is secured to the top of the buoy system with a deck chain stopper, if used as a chain. The rope may be tied or secured in various ways. The tie bar 12c shown is a hollow tube assembly inserted into the central cavity of the buoy. The two spherical buoys 12a and 12b are filled with foam. Alternatively, one or both of the spherical buoys 12a and 12b may be filled with air. Additionally, the buoys may have other non-spherical shapes, such as a cube, pyramid, hemisphere, and / or combinations of these shapes.

[0047] System 1 includes a control buoy-backbone pulley 18 that is anchored to the surface 5. System 1 further includes a control buoy-backbone tension line 22 that extends between the control buoy 12 and the backbone 14. FIG. 2 shows how the control buoy-backbone tension line 22 extends through the control buoy-backbone pulley 18. In the illustrated embodiment, system 1 includes two control buoy-backbone tension lines 22 and 24, each extending between the control buoy 12 and the backbone 14 and passing through the control buoy-backbone pulley 18. Thus, the control buoy-backbone pulley 18 is a double-sheave pulley. It is understood that the system may include one, two, or more control buoy-backbone tension lines, including appropriate pulleys and connections between other components.

[0048] The buoyancy of the surface buoy 10 is greater than the buoyancy of the control buoy 12 minus the buoyancy of the backbone 14, so that the control buoy 12 floats in the water below the water surface 3 and the backbone 14 floats in the water below the water surface 3. The buoyancy of the control buoy 12 is greater than the buoyancy of the backbone 14.

[0049] The surface buoy 10, the control buoy 12, and the backbone 14 are arranged so that when the water surface 3 rises away from the surface 5 together with the surface buoy 10, the surface buoy 10 pulls on the surface buoy-control buoy tension line 20, causing the control buoy 12 to move towards the surface 5, and at the same time, the backbone 14 pulls on the control buoy-backbone tension lines 22 and 24, causing the control buoy 12 to move towards the surface 5, causing the backbone 14 to rise away from the surface 5.

[0050] The opposite movement occurs as the water surface 3 descends toward the surface 5. That is, as the water surface 3 descends toward the surface 5 along with the surface buoy 10, the surface buoy 10 continues to pull on the surface buoy-to-control buoy tension line 16, but the tension decreases, causing the control buoy 12 to move away from the surface 5, and at the same time, the backbone 14 continues to pull on the control buoy-to-backbone tension lines 22 and 24, causing the backbone 14 to descend toward the surface 5 as the control buoy 12 moves away from the surface 5.

[0051] The above operation maintains the backbone 14 at a substantially constant depth below the water surface, regardless of the water depth.

[0052] In one configuration, the buoyancy of the surface buoy 10 is adjustable. The surface buoy 10 is provided with a fitting for injecting a gas, such as compressed air, to increase buoyancy as needed. The surface buoy 10 is also provided with a valved inlet for admitting water to decrease buoyancy as needed. In another configuration, the buoyancy of the surface buoy 10 may be fixed.

[0053] In one configuration, the buoyancy of the control buoy 12 is adjustable. The control buoy 12 is equipped with a fitting to accept gas, such as compressed air, to increase buoyancy as needed. The control buoy 12 also is equipped with a valved inlet to accept water to decrease buoyancy as needed. Alternatively, the buoyancy of the control buoy 12 may be fixed.

[0054] As shown in Figure 2, the tension line 20 between the surface buoy and the control buoy and the tension lines 22, 24 between the control buoy and the backbone are one line. However, it is understood that the tension line 20 between the surface buoy and the control buoy and the tension lines 22, 24 between the control buoy and the backbone are separate lines.

[0055] 2 also shows that system 1 includes an additional control buoy-backbone tension line 24. In alternative configurations, system 1 may include two or more additional control buoy-backbone tension lines. For example, the system may include three, four, or five additional control buoy-backbone tension lines.

[0056] Each control buoy-to-backbone tension line branches into two or more backbone attachment lines attached to the backbone. Control buoy-to-backbone tension lines 22 and 24 extend approximately perpendicularly from the pulley toward the backbone 14. The backbone connection lines branch off at the same or similar angles from perpendicular toward the backbone 14, with one line branching off toward one end of the backbone and the other line branching off toward the other end of the backbone 14.

[0057] Each pulley is secured to the ground surface 5 by an anchor 30. Figure 2 shows that each anchor 30 is a screw anchor. In another embodiment, the anchor is or includes a concrete block.

[0058] If the seabed is flat or uniformly sloping, each pulley is positioned at a height of about 1 m above the surface 5 of the earth.

[0059] In another embodiment, the ground surface 5 is sloped and / or uneven, and the position of each pulley is adjusted to accommodate the change in the ground surface, for example, 2 m, 3 m, or more above the ground surface 5.

[0060] As an example, for a 33 metre backbone buoy, the surface buoy weighs 4.2 tonnes, the control buoy weighs 6.2 tonnes, and the backbone without seed mussels weighs 4.2 tonnes (a buoy weighs about 0.3 tonnes, and a fully grown harvestable mussel weighs about 2 tonnes). At the surface on a boat deck, the weight of the mussel buoy is the air weight, which will be much greater.

[0061] As another example, with a long submerged backbone, the buoyancy will be greater than the tonnage shown above (depending on the length of the backbone), but the surface buoys and control buoys can reduce their buoyancy and size by mechanical advantage, as shown in Figure 2. A block-and-tackle or purchase system is a type of mechanical advantage in which an input force is amplified through a series of pulleys or blocks, producing a much greater output force.

[0062] As another example, the buoyancy of surface buoy 10 may be approximately 4 tons. The buoyancy of control buoy 12 may be approximately 5 tons. The buoyancy of backbone 14 may be approximately 4 tons. The buoyancy of each buoy and backbone is selected depending on the length of the backbone and the expected weight of shellfish to be grown in system 1.

[0063] In the illustrated configuration, the backbone 14 is comprised of two buoyancy tubes 26. Specifically, the backbone 14 is comprised of two hollow cylindrical tubes 26. The tubes 26 are arranged parallel to one another and are connected by a coupling or directly. The coupling may provide a suitable location for attaching the control buoy-backbone tension lines 22 and 24.

[0064] In another configuration, the backbone may comprise a single tube. In yet another configuration, the backbone may comprise two or more tubes, for example, three or four tubes.

[0065] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a backbone having three tubes 26, and FIG. 4 is an end view of the backbone of FIG. 3. The top tube in FIG. 3 has a larger diameter than the other two tubes. Alternatively, all tubes 26 can have the same diameter, or the top tube can have a smaller diameter. FIG. 3 shows multiple diaphragms 27 spaced apart along the length of the backbone. Each diaphragm 27 is substantially triangular in shape. Each diaphragm 27 has an opening for receiving and aligning a tube 26 in parallel. The diaphragms 27 are longitudinally positioned at opposite ends of the tubes 26. FIG. 3 shows two diaphragms 27 positioned relatively close to each other. These two diaphragms 27 are positioned on either side of the bridle position.

[0066] 4 shows an embodiment for attaching the control lines to the tubes 26. The control lines are attached to the two lower tubes 26 via bridles 28.

[0067] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment backbone having four tubes 26, and FIG. 6 is an end view of the backbone of FIG.

[0068] The top tube in Figure 5 has a larger diameter than the other three tubes. Alternatively, all tubes can be the same diameter, or the top tube can be smaller in diameter. Figure 5 shows multiple diaphragms spaced along the length of the backbone. These diaphragms have similar features and functionality to those shown and described in connection with Figures 3 and 4, except that they have additional openings for additional tubes.

[0069] The buoyancy of the backbone can be adjusted over time to accommodate the growth of shellfish growing on the aquaculture system 1. For example, the tube 26 can have an inner tube. Either the tube or the inner tube can be partially or completely filled with water. Figures 3 and 5 show that the tube is equipped with inlet / outlet ports 29 for adding water, removing water, or adding or removing air as needed. As the weight of the shellfish increases, water in the tube or the inner tube can be replaced with air to increase the buoyancy of the backbone. Additionally or alternatively, either the tube or the inner tube can include a foam material.

[0070] In another configuration, the backbone may comprise a foam material.

[0071] FIG. 1 shows that surface buoy 10 is located near one end of backbone 14 and spaced apart from the end of backbone 14 along the length of system 1. FIG. 1 also shows that control buoy 12 is located between surface buoy 10 and backbone 14 along the length of system 1. Control buoy 12 is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of backbone 14. In another embodiment, the control buoy may be offset from the longitudinal axis of the backbone. Surface buoy 10 is also generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of backbone 14. In another embodiment, the surface buoy may be offset from the longitudinal axis of the backbone.

[0072] FIG. 2 shows that the surface buoy-control buoy pulley 16 is fixed to the ground 5 at or near the same location on the longitudinal axis of the backbone 14 as the surface buoy 10 .

[0073] In another embodiment, the surface buoy-control buoy pulley may be offset from the longitudinal direction of the backbone.

[0074] FIG. 2 shows the backbone 14 submerged between about 2 m and about 4 m below the water surface 3. Maintaining a constant water depth in the aquaculture system can inhibit the growth of invasive species that grow several meters below the ocean surface and increase harvest yields from the system. In other configurations, the backbone 14 can be submerged between about 1 m and about 10 m below the water surface 3. For example, the backbone 14 can be submerged between about 1 meter, about 3 meters, about 5 meters, about 6 meters, about 7 meters, about 8 meters, about 9 meters, or about 10 meters below the water surface.

[0075] FIG. 2 shows that surface buoy 10, control buoy 12, surface buoy-to-control buoy pulley 16, surface buoy-to-control buoy tension line 20, control buoy-to-backbone pulley 18, and control buoy-to-backbone tension lines 22 and 24 form a first buoyancy control subassembly at one end of backbone 14.

[0076] FIG. 2 also shows that the aquaculture system 1 further includes a second buoyancy control subassembly at the other end of the backbone 14, which includes a surface buoy 110, a control buoy 112, a surface buoy-to-control buoy pulley 116, a surface buoy-to-control buoy tension line 120, a control buoy-to-backbone pulley 118, and control buoy-to-backbone tension lines 122 and 124.

[0077] In an alternative configuration, the aquaculture system 1 may include only one subassembly at one end of the backbone 14. For example, if the length of the backbone 14 is about 40 m or less, the depth of the backbone may be controlled with one subassembly without a second subassembly at the other end of the backbone.

[0078] System 1 includes a plurality of aquaculture ropes suspended from a backbone. The aquaculture ropes may be any conventional aquaculture rope suitable for the aquaculture of mussels and / or other shellfish. The system may be used for the aquaculture of shellfish such as clams, oysters, and scallops. In an alternative embodiment, the aquaculture ropes may be replaced by nets, socks, or other containers for housing fish. In yet another embodiment, the system may include a substrate or container suitable for the growth of aquatic plants such as seaweed.

[0079] When the system is first installed, it has multiple mussel spat or seed mussels on the rope. Over time, as the spat mussels grow to seed size, multiple mussels will be attached to the rope. In some cases, the system is used in spat aquaculture, where the spat mussels are gradually grown to seed size (usually 45-55 mm) before being ready for sowing and harvesting in the aquaculture. In still other situations, the system may be used to start with seed-sized mussels and then grow them to harvest-sized mussels.

[0080] It is understood that the buoyancy of the control buoy is countered by the buoyancy of the backbone, so only a small reaction from the surface buoy is required to keep the backbone submerged. This only applies during installation. As the mussels mature, the weight of the system increases, and the buoyancy required from the control buoy to the surface buoy increases, resulting in a greater reaction from the surface buoy. The weight of the submerged harvest, along with the submerged weight of the aquaculture rope carrying the marine life, automatically adds to the buoyancy of the surface buoy over time.

[0081] Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described by way of example only and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. 1. An aquaculture system located in a body of water, the body of water having a water surface and a land surface below the body of water, the aquaculture system comprising: a surface buoy that floats on the water surface and has buoyancy; a buoyant control buoy; a buoyant backbone having buoyancy; a surface buoy control buoy pulley fixed to the ground; a surface buoy-to-control buoy tension line extending between the surface buoy, the surface buoy-to-control buoy pulley, and the control buoy; a control buoy-backbone pulley fixed to the ground; a control buoy-to-backbone tension line extending between the control buoy, the control buoy-to-backbone pulley, and the buoyant backbone; The buoyancy of the surface buoy is greater than the buoyancy of the control buoy minus the buoyancy of the buoyant backbone, so that the control buoy floats in the subsurface water body and the buoyant backbone floats in the subsurface water body; The surface buoy, the control buoy, and the buoyant backbone are arranged so that when the water surface rises and moves away from the ground together with the surface buoy, the surface buoy pulls the tension line between the surface buoy and the control buoy, causing the control buoy to move toward the ground, and at the same time, the buoyant backbone pulls the tension line between the control buoy and the buoyant backbone, causing the control buoy to move toward the ground, thereby causing the backbone to rise and move away from the ground.

2. The aquaculture system of claim 1 , wherein the buoyancy of the surface buoy is adjustable.

3. 3. The aquaculture system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the buoyancy of the control buoy is adjustable.

4. 4. The aquaculture system according to claim 1, wherein the surface buoy-control buoy tension line and the control buoy-backbone tension line are a single line.

5. 4. The aquaculture system according to claim 1, wherein the surface buoy-control buoy tension line and the control buoy-backbone tension line are separate lines.

6. 6. The aquaculture system of any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an additional control buoy-backbone tension line.

7. 7. The aquaculture system of any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising two or more additional control buoy-backbone tension lines.

8. 8. The aquaculture system of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein each of the control buoy-backbone tension lines branches into two or more lines attached to the buoyant backbone.

9. 9. The aquaculture system of claim 1, wherein each pulley is attached to the ground surface by an anchor.

10. 10. The aquaculture system of claim 9, wherein the anchors are or include screw anchors or concrete block anchors.

11. 11. The aquaculture system of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the buoyant force of the surface buoy is about 4.2 tons.

12. 12. The aquaculture system of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the buoyancy of the control buoy is about 6.2 tons.

13. 13. The aquaculture system of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the buoyancy of the buoyant backbone is about 4.2 tonnes.

14. 14. The aquaculture system of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the buoyant backbone comprises a single buoyant tube or a plurality of buoyant tubes.

15. 15. The aquaculture system of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein each pulley is positioned at a height of about 1 m, 2 m, 3 m, or more above ground level.

16. 16. The aquaculture system of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the surface buoy is positioned near one end of the buoyancy backbone and spaced apart from the end of the buoyancy backbone in the longitudinal direction of the aquaculture system.

17. 17. The aquaculture system according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the control buoy is arranged between the surface buoy and the buoyancy backbone in the longitudinal direction of the aquaculture system.

18. 18. The aquaculture system of any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the control buoy is substantially aligned with or offset from the longitudinal axis of the buoyant backbone.

19. 19. The aquaculture system of any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the surface buoy is substantially aligned with or offset from the longitudinal axis of the buoyant backbone.

20. 20. The aquaculture system of any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the surface buoy-control buoy pulley is fixed to the ground at or near the same position on the longitudinal axis of the buoyancy backbone as the surface buoy, or at a position offset from the longitudinal axis of the buoyancy backbone.

21. 21. The aquaculture system of any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the buoyant backbone is submerged between about 1 m and about 10 m below the water surface.

22. 22. The aquaculture system of any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the buoyant backbone is submerged between about 2m and about 4m below the water surface.

23. 23. The aquaculture system of any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the surface buoy, the control buoy, the surface buoy-control buoy pulley, the surface buoy-control buoy tension line, the control buoy-backbone pulley, and the control buoy-backbone tension line form a first buoyancy control subassembly at one end of the buoyant backbone, and the aquaculture system further includes a second buoyancy control subassembly at the other end of the buoyant backbone, the second buoyancy control subassembly having the surface buoy, the control buoy, the surface buoy-control buoy pulley, the surface buoy-control buoy tension line, the control buoy-backbone pulley, and the control buoy-backbone tension line.

24. 24. The aquaculture system of any one of claims 1 to 23, further comprising a plurality of aquaculture ropes suspended from the buoyant backbone.

25. 25. The aquaculture system of claim 24, further comprising a plurality of spat or seed mussels on the culture ropes.

26. 25. The aquaculture system of claim 24, further comprising a plurality of mussels on the culture ropes.

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