Repellent Device

Abstract

To provide an apparatus for evading noxious organisms and usage therefor, the apparatus having a simple configuration and being provided at a net constituting a crawl for breeding or cultivating fishery resources or installed near the net.SOLUTION: There are provided an apparatus for evading noxious organisms and usage therefor, the apparatus including: a plurality of suspended electrode group 5 installed at a net 1 constituting a crawl or in the vicinity of the net 1; a drive circuit for generating voltage for causing discharge at a plurality of electrode pairs included in the electrode groups 5; and a power supply for supplying voltage to the drive circuit. The drive circuit is configured to make the plurality of electrode pairs cause discharge with different patterns. The sequentially changed discharge patterns are implemented by programmed patterns.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for repelling harmful organisms, which is provided on or installed near a net constituting a fish cage for cultivating or rearing aquatic resources, and a method for using the same. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, fishery resources have declined significantly, and there is a growing need to shift from simple fishing to cultivating or farming fishery resources, thereby increasing production and achieving a stable supply while reducing the burden on the environment.

[0003] In recent years, it has become possible to fully farm or raise migratory fish such as bluefin tuna, and this technology is attracting attention as a way to meet the growing appetite for tuna in Japan.

[0004] However, in order to cultivate or raise fishery resources, many useful fish are densely packed in the fish pens, and they are subject to damage from predatory creatures such as sharks, rays, dolphins, cetaceans and marine mammals, or the fish pens are destroyed, allowing the fish to escape.

[0005] The inventors have been actively researching and developing repellent devices as a measure against damage caused by sharks and other creatures (see Patent No. 6582307).This time, applying these technologies, they have studied a device for repelling harmful organisms that is installed in or near the nets that make up fish cages for cultivating or raising marine resources, and a method of using the device, and have completed the present invention. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2006-149275 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2013-169170 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2020-110145 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] It is known that creatures that cause predation, such as sharks, rays, dolphins, cetaceans and other marine mammals, sense the danger of light, sound or electric fields and avoid them. In particular, in tuna fishing, a method of passing high voltages is used to scare away sharks and other creatures.

[0008] Also, measures that do not use high voltage are being considered. Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 disclose a predation repelling device for fishing. Patent Document 1 discloses a method of repelling sharks using an electric current in longline fishing, and Patent Document 2 discloses an embodiment in which electrodes are provided on both ends of a balance and a power source (battery) is built into the weight to pass an electric current, thereby repelling predation by sharks and the like.

[0009] However, there was no device or method for repelling harmful organisms that was simply configured and that was installed in or near the nets that make up fish cages for cultivating or rearing marine resources, and there was a great need for such a device or method.

[0010] Furthermore, dolphins, in particular, are very intelligent animals, and the repelling effect of light, sound or electric field weakens as they learn, so even if a repelling device is provided, the animal may still be eaten or damaged. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The present invention is a device for repelling harmful organisms that is attached to or installed near a net that constitutes a fish cage for cultivating or raising aquatic resources, and comprises a group of electrodes hanging down into the water, a second group of electrodes that face the hanging electrodes to form a pair, a drive circuit that generates a voltage to cause discharges in the multiple electrode pairs included in these electrode groups, and a power source that supplies voltage to the drive circuit, the drive circuit being configured to cause discharges of the same or different patterns to the multiple electrode pairs, and realizing discharge patterns that are successively changed according to a programmed pattern.

[0012] The present invention also relates to a method of using a pest repelling device that is attached to or installed near a net that constitutes a fish pen for cultivating or raising aquatic resources, the method comprising: a group of electrodes hanging down into the water; a second group of electrodes that face the hanging electrodes to form a pair; a drive circuit that generates a voltage to cause discharges in the multiple electrode pairs included in these electrode groups; and a power source that supplies voltage to the drive circuit, the drive circuit being configured to cause discharges of the same or different patterns to the multiple electrode pairs, and by realizing discharge patterns that are successively changed according to a programmed pattern, the method of using the pest repelling device is characterized in that in addition to repelling pests, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the repellent effect due to learning by the pests.

[0013] The present invention is also characterized in that the portions of the plurality of electrodes suspended in water and the second electrode group which face the suspended electrodes and form a pair are made of carbon electrodes.

[0014] In the present invention, the power source for supplying a voltage to the driving circuit is a battery or a storage battery.

[0015] The present invention is also characterized in that the drive circuit has a plurality of channels, each of which supplies a unique voltage to a pair of an electrode suspended in water and an electrode facing the suspended electrode.

[0016] The present invention is also characterized in that the voltages supplied from the multiple channels of the drive circuit are pulse voltages, and further characterized in that the voltages supplied from the multiple channels of the drive circuit are pulse voltages, and the voltage, pulse width and pause time between pulses are sequentially changed according to a programmed pattern.

[0017] The present invention is also characterized in that the drive circuit is a pulse voltage supplied from a plurality of channels, and the program is rewritable to sequentially change the voltage, the pulse width and the pause time between pulses according to a programmed pattern.

[0018] The present invention is also characterized in that the voltages supplied from the multiple channels of the drive circuit are pulse voltages, and a program for successively changing the voltage, the pulse width and the pause time between pulses according to a programmed pattern is rewritable, and the program is written in a rewritable memory or a microcomputer, or is given directly from a computer.

[0019] The present invention is also characterized in that the drive circuit includes a boost circuit and is capable of supplying a high pulse voltage to a pair of an electrode suspended in water and an electrode facing the suspended electrode.

[0020] The present invention is also characterized in that the multiple channels of the drive circuit are each controlled separately, and the circuit of each channel has an output capacitor.

[0021] The present invention is also characterized in that the multiple channels of the drive circuit are each controlled separately, and the circuit of each channel has multiple output capacitors, and the voltage, pulse width, and inter-pulse pause time can be controlled by controlling the output from the multiple output capacitors with an output driver.

[0022] In a further aspect of the present invention, the drive circuit further comprises a terminal swapper capable of inverting a pulse applied to a pair of an electrode suspended in water and an electrode facing the suspended electrode.

[0023] In the present invention, the drive circuit further includes a water landing detection circuit for detecting the landing of water.

[0024] The present invention is also characterized in that the voltages supplied from the multiple channels of the drive circuit are pulse voltages, the outputs of which can be sequentially changed according to programmed patterns, and the setting items related to the output are the set voltage, the discharge period, the swap period, the pulse width, the number of pulses and / or the pattern unit time. Effect of the Invention

[0025] The device for repelling harmful organisms of the present invention, which is attached to or installed near the net that constitutes a fish cage for cultivating or rearing marine resources, and the method for using the same, has a simple configuration and repels organisms that cause prey damage, such as sharks, rays, dolphins, cetaceans, and marine mammals, and further prevents these harmful organisms from learning about or becoming accustomed to the stimulation of the repelling device, which would cause a decrease in the repelling effect. This makes it possible to protect fish cages for cultivating or rearing marine resources over the long term, thereby contributing to society. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram for explaining one example of an embodiment of a repellent device according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining functions installed in one embodiment of the repellent device according to the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a connector layout in one embodiment of the repellent device according to the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram for explaining control items in one embodiment of the repellent device according to the present invention. [Diagram 5]FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of pattern setting in an embodiment of the repellent device according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] The present invention is a device for repelling harmful organisms that is attached to or installed near a net that constitutes a fish cage for cultivating or raising aquatic resources, and comprises a group of electrodes hanging down into the water, a second group of electrodes that face the hanging electrodes to form a pair, a drive circuit that generates a voltage to cause discharges in the multiple electrode pairs included in these electrode groups, and a power source that supplies voltage to the drive circuit, the drive circuit being configured to cause discharges of the same or different patterns to the multiple electrode pairs, and realizing discharge patterns that are successively changed according to a programmed pattern.

[0028] The present invention also relates to a method of using a pest repelling device that is attached to or installed near a net that constitutes a fish pen for cultivating or raising aquatic resources, the method comprising: a group of electrodes hanging down into the water; a second group of electrodes that face the hanging electrodes to form a pair; a drive circuit that generates a voltage to cause discharges in the multiple electrode pairs included in these electrode groups; and a power source that supplies voltage to the drive circuit, the drive circuit being configured to cause discharges of the same or different patterns to the multiple electrode pairs, and by realizing discharge patterns that are successively changed according to a programmed pattern, the method of using the pest repelling device is characterized in that in addition to repelling pests, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the repellent effect due to learning by the pests.

[0029] The present invention is also characterized in that the exposed parts of the electrodes hanging down in water and the second electrodes that face the hanging down electrodes and form a pair are carbon electrodes, which prevents the electrode material from eluting even in seawater and enables stable operation over a long period of time.

[0030] The present invention is also characterized in that the power source that supplies voltage to the drive circuit is a battery or a storage battery, which eliminates the need for commercial power supply from land, and allows for easy use in fish pens and the like located far from the coast.

[0031] The present invention is also characterized in that the drive circuit has a plurality of channels, each of which supplies a unique voltage to a pair of an electrode suspended in water and an electrode facing the suspended electrode.

[0032] The present invention is also characterized in that the voltages supplied from the multiple channels of the drive circuit are pulse voltages, and further characterized in that the voltages supplied from the multiple channels of the drive circuit are pulse voltages, and the voltage, pulse width and pause time between pulses are successively changed according to a programmed pattern. This change in pattern can prevent harmful organisms from learning, and can maintain the repellent effect.

[0033] The present invention is also characterized in that the drive circuit is a pulse voltage supplied from a plurality of channels, and the program is rewritable to sequentially change the voltage, the pulse width and the pause time between pulses according to a programmed pattern.

[0034] The present invention is also characterized in that the voltages supplied from the multiple channels of the drive circuit are pulse voltages, and a program for successively changing the voltage, the pulse width and the pause time between pulses according to a programmed pattern is rewritable, and the program is written in a rewritable memory or a microcomputer, or is given directly from a computer.

[0035] The present invention is also characterized in that the drive circuit includes a boost circuit and is capable of supplying a high pulse voltage to a pair of an electrode suspended in water and an electrode facing the suspended electrode.

[0036] The present invention is also characterized in that the multiple channels of the drive circuit are each controlled separately, and the circuit of each channel has an output capacitor.

[0037] The present invention is also characterized in that the multiple channels of the drive circuit are each controlled separately, and the circuit of each channel has multiple output capacitors, and the voltage, pulse width, and inter-pulse pause time can be controlled by controlling the output from the multiple output capacitors with an output driver.

[0038] In a further aspect of the present invention, the drive circuit further comprises a terminal swapper capable of inverting a pulse applied to a pair of an electrode suspended in water and an electrode facing the suspended electrode.

[0039] In the present invention, the drive circuit further includes a water landing detection circuit for detecting the landing of water.

[0040] The present invention is also characterized in that the voltages supplied from the multiple channels of the drive circuit are pulse voltages, the outputs of which can be sequentially changed according to programmed patterns, and the setting items related to the output are the set voltage, the discharge period, the swap period, the pulse width, the number of pulses and / or the pattern unit time. EXAMPLES

[0041] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a device for repelling harmful organisms, which is provided on or installed near a net constituting a fish cage for cultivating or rearing aquatic resources, and a method for using the device will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an embodiment of the repelling device according to the present invention.

[0042] In this embodiment, a cable 2 is installed on top of the net 1 that constitutes the fish cage, and voltage is supplied through this. The output of the corresponding channel is taken out from the cable at branching point 3, and a pair of electrodes 5 is arranged at a certain distance or more via a hanging cable 4. In this embodiment, a carbon electrode is used as the electrode 5. A float 6 may be provided on the top.

[0043] Although only one channel is shown in Fig. 1, in reality, multiple channels are arranged at approximately equal intervals over the entire net constituting the cage. In this embodiment, eight channels are provided.

[0044] By applying a pulse voltage between a pair of electrodes 5 while sequentially changing the voltage according to a programmed pattern, it is possible to repel, with a simple configuration, creatures that cause predation damage, such as sharks, rays, dolphins, cetaceans and marine animals, and further to prevent these harmful creatures from learning about or becoming accustomed to the stimulation of the repelling device, which would cause a decrease in the repelling effect, thereby protecting fish pens for cultivating or raising marine resources over the long term.

[0045] FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the functions installed in one embodiment of the repellent device according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a battery (lithium ion battery) is used as the power source, and the voltage generated by the high voltage generator is supplied to each channel via an isolator. A control signal from the control CPU is transmitted to each channel, and discharge is performed according to the pattern assigned to each. In this embodiment, eight channels are installed, but FIG. 2 shows the contents of only channels 1 and 8. The circuit configuration of the other channels is the same.

[0046] Each channel incorporates two output capacitors, which are output according to the control signal from the control CPU using a capacitor selector and output driver. In this embodiment, a terminal swapper is also incorporated, allowing the polarity of the discharge to be reversed as necessary.

[0047] Fig. 3 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the connector layout in one embodiment of the repellent device according to the present invention. A control circuit, a high voltage generator, and each channel circuit are mounted on a molded board, and are connected to the outside via a waterproof connector. In this embodiment, a personal computer is used for programming, but other devices can also be used.

[0048] FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the control items in one embodiment of the repellent device according to the present invention. The setting items related to output are the set voltage, discharge cycle, swap cycle, pulse width, number of pulses and / or pattern unit time. The set voltage is the wave height of the pulse voltage, and is set to a target value of the power generation sensor. The discharge cycle is managed by a timer. The swap cycle is the discharge cycle (interval) and is variable depending on the counter setting. The pulse width is also set by a timer. The number of pulses is the number of times discharge occurs during one cycle. The pattern unit time indicates the time that one pattern lasts when a pattern change is set.

[0049] 5 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of pattern setting in one embodiment of the repellent device according to the present invention. In this embodiment, eight different discharge patterns are prepared, and these are changed in sequence. This makes it possible to realize arbitrary pattern setting and sequential pattern change by programming, and prevents the repellent effect from decreasing as harmful organisms learn or become accustomed to the stimulation of the repellent device, and makes it possible to protect fish pens for cultivating or raising aquatic resources over a long period of time. [Industrial Applicability]

[0050] As described above, the device for repelling harmful organisms according to the present invention, which is provided on or installed near a net that constitutes a fish cage for cultivating or rearing marine resources, and a method for using the same, has a simple configuration and repels organisms that cause prey damage, such as sharks, rays, dolphins, toothed whales and marine mammals, and further prevents these harmful organisms from learning about or becoming accustomed to the stimulation of the repelling device, which would cause a decrease in the repellent effect. It can protect fish cages for cultivating or rearing marine resources over the long term, and has great industrial applicability. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1 net 2 Cable 3 Branching section 4. Hanging Cable 5 electrodes 6 Float

Claims

1. A repelling device for repelling harmful organisms in seawater approaching a fish cage, comprising: a first electrode group including a plurality of first electrodes arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the cage or in the vicinity of the cage; a second electrode group including a plurality of second electrodes, each of which forms an electrode pair with a respective one of the plurality of first electrodes in seawater; A drive circuit that generates a discharge voltage by sequentially transitioning between a plurality of different discharge patterns prepared in advance for each of the plurality of electrode pairs; Equipped with The plurality of different discharge patterns prepared in advance include: (1) a first pattern in which the same voltage is applied to each of all the electrode pairs; (2) a second pattern in which no voltage is applied to each of all the electrode pairs; and (3) a third pattern in which different voltages are applied to each of all the electrode pairs. Repelling device.

2. The discharge voltage is a pulse voltage.

2. The repellent device of claim 1.

3. The amplitude, pulse width and interpulse pause time of the pulse voltage are successively changed.

3. The repellent device of claim 2.

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