Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
OYSTER AQUACULTURE METHOD AND APPARATUS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention pertains to the field of aquaculture and in
particular to
mechanized aquaculture of oysters or similar bivalve molluscs.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Oyster aquaculture has traditionally been a highly labor-intensive
activity.
Oysters grown or finished in floating containers require periodic de-fouling
to remove pest
organisms. In some systems, this is accomplished by temporarily inverting the
containers
to dry out and kill the pest organisms while leaving the oysters protected in
their shells.
Also, in order to give the oysters a more desired curved (rather than flat)
shell shape, the
oysters are often periodically removed from their containers and tumbled. This
process can
require significant effort due to the need to remove, tumble, and return the
oysters. If
overwintering is required, or large storms are approaching, the containers may
have to be
sunk to the ocean bottom and re-raised. Oysters also require periodic grading,
for example
to sort by size or quality. Such activities and harvesting, when done manually
without the
proper tools, can be time-consuming and expensive.
[0003] Currently available systems for cultivating oysters, while becoming
popular,
suffer from a variety of drawbacks. For example, the OysterGrog system offered
by
Bouctouche Bay Industries Ltd. utilizes rectangular oyster cages suspended
from large
floats. However, each unit requires significant manual effort to handle. As
another
example, oyster farming equipment provided by Zapcog Aquaculture includes
cylindrical
mesh bags suspended from lines and which tumble oysters automatically in
response to
wave and tidal action. However the parameters of such a tumble are largely out
of control
of the operator, and other activities such as de-fouling can still require
significant manual
labour.
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[0004] Therefore, there is a need for a method and apparatus for oyster
aquaculture that
overcomes one or more limitations of the prior art.
[0005] This background information is provided to reveal information believed
by the
applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission
is necessarily
.. intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information
constitutes prior
art against the present invention.
SUMMARY
[0006] An object of embodiments of the present disclosure is to provide a
method and
apparatus for oyster aquaculture.
[0007] In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an oyster
aquaculture
system is provided. The oyster aquaculture system includes a set of one or
more generally
cylindrical, hollow oyster containers for disposal in water and configured for
an axially
rotatable coupling to respective locations along a horizontal anchoring
system; and a
container handling device for mounting on a boat, the boat operable to
traverse along a
main direction of the horizontal anchoring system, the container handling
device having a
ramp and an operating area, the ramp configured to receive and raise each of
the oyster
containers in turn upward from water into the operating area as the boat
traverses along the
main direction,
[0008] In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an oyster
container for
an aquaculture system is provided. The oyster container includes a generally
cylindrical
outer surface and a hollow interior exposed through one or more gaps in the
outer surface,
the outer surface configured for engaging with and traversing a surface of a
container
handling device portion of the aquaculture system, said engagement imparting
axial rotation
to the oyster container. The oyster container includes a coupling configured
to axially
rotatably connect the oyster container to a horizontal anchoring system.
[0009] In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an oyster
container
product for an aquaculture system is provided. The oyster container product
includes a
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generally circular end cap configured for coupling to an end of a mesh bag,
along with a
second end cap coupled to an opposite end of the mesh bag, to create an oyster
container
having a generally cylindrical outer surface and a hollow interior exposed
through one or
more gaps in the outer surface, the outer surface of the oyster container or
an outer surface
of the end cap configured for engaging with and traversing a surface of a
container handling
device portion of the aquaculture system, said engagement imparting axial
rotation to the
oyster container. The end cap and the second end cap each include a coupling
configured
to axially rotatably connect the oyster container to a horizontal anchoring
system. One or
both of a pair of end caps can be provided.
[0010] In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a container
handling
device for an oyster aquaculture system is provided. The container handling
device is
configured for mounting on a boat and is configured to receive and handle a
set of generally
cylindrical and hollow oyster containers. The container handling device
includes a ramp
configured for engaging and raising each of the oyster containers in turn
upward out of
water. The container handling device includes an operating area including a
surface
configured to engage with an outer surface of each oyster container during
traversal through
the operating area, the engagement imparting an axial rotation to said each
oyster container.
[0011] In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an oyster
aquaculture
method is provided. The method includes deploying a set of generally
cylindrical oyster
containers axially rotatably coupled to different respective locations along a
horizontal
anchoring system. The method includes deploying a container handling device,
mounted
on a boat, in line with the horizontal anchoring system and such that lines of
the horizontal
anchoring system run overtop of the container handling device. The method
includes
moving the boat with the container handling device along a main direction of
the horizontal
anchoring system to cause successive ones of the oyster containers to reach
and move onto
the container handling device in turn. Moving the boat may include propelling
the boat
along the lines of the horizontal anchoring system using line haulers.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0012] Further features and advantages of the present disclosure will become
apparent
from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the
appended drawings,
in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates an oyster container provided in accordance with an
embodiment
of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 2A illustrates an end cap for an oyster container, in accordance
with an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 2B illustrates a movable door for coupling to the end cap of FIG.
2A.
[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates another end cap for an oyster container, in
accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 4A illustrates a container handling device for an oyster
aquaculture system,
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 4B illustrates a portion of the device of FIG. 4A comprising a
line hauler for
propelling a boat, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 5A illustrates an operating area of the container handling device
of FIG. 4A.
[0020] FIG. 5B illustrates mating traction surfaces of oyster container and
container
handling device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 6 illustrates a boat to which the container handling device can be
mounted,
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 7A illustrates operation of the container handling device,
according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 7B illustrates a line hauler device detail of FIG. 7A.
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[0024] FIG. 8 illustrates operation of the container handling device,
according to another
embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 9 illustrates an oyster aquaculture method provided in accordance
with an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features
are identified
by like reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] Embodiments of the present invention provide for an oyster aquaculture
system
which incorporates generally cylindrical, rotatable oyster containers
connected together via
.. a horizontal anchoring system, and an associated container handling device
which, after
lifting the oyster containers out of water, rolls the oyster containers along
a surface to
facilitate tumbling. The oyster containers can be made using mesh (e.g.
Vexarg) bags, and
are used to grow or finish oysters for consumption. The oysters are contained
in the mesh
bags, and the mesh provides gaps which expose the hollow interior of the
oyster container
(and the oysters) to outside water and nutrients. The container handling
device can also
incorporate a de-fouling station, such as a hot water bath for receiving the
oyster containers
in turn. De-fouling can include killing of undesired organisms mixed with or
growing on
the oysters, or removal or neutralizing of other environmental contaminants.
In operation,
the container handling device, when mounted on a boat, traverses down a line
of oyster
containers, lifting, de-fouling and tumbling each one in turn before returning
it to the water.
[0028] Embodiments of the present invention provide for the cylindrical oyster
container,
and in various embodiments an associated rotatable attachment to an anchoring
system, in
order to allow rotation of the oyster container about a main axis. The oyster
container can
be provided as an entire unit or in parts. In some cases, only parts, such as
circular end
caps, are provided, which are configured in combination with third-party
products such as
mesh bags, to form a cylindrical oyster container. Embodiments of the present
invention
also provide for the container handling device, which receives cylindrical
oyster containers.
The oyster containers travel through the container handling device via
rolling, which
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facilitates at least the tumbling operation. The cylindrical aspect may also
allow for easier
transport and handling of the containers.
[0029] FIG. 1 illustrates an oyster container 100 provided in accordance with
an
embodiment of the present invention. The oyster container is generally
cylindrical in shape,
with fiat end caps 105 at opposite ends thereof. However, it is contemplated
that other
shapes, such as tapered or bulged end caps can be provided. A notable
characteristic is that
the oyster container has a sidewall 110 which is curved into a circular shape
around a main
axis 115, so that the container can be rolled. The rolling can facilitate
oyster tumbling, ease
of transport, or the like. In operation, oysters are disposed in the
container, which is then
.. placed in ocean water so that the oysters can survive. The sidewall 110 can
be formed of a
mesh open grid structure with openings of a certain size, so that ocean water
can move
relatively freely in and out of the container through the openings while
retaining the oysters
therein.
[0030] Also shown in FIG. 1 are traction surfaces 120, which in the present
embodiment
are provided as toothed or ridged surfaces, disposed on outer circumferential
edges of the
end caps 105. Traction surfaces may also be referred to as grip surfaces.
Alternatively, the
traction surfaces can be provided as corrugated or roughened surfaces. The
purpose of the
traction surfaces is to provide traction, for example by facilitating a
frictional or mutually
enmeshed engagement with another traction surface for example aboard the
container
handling device. The oyster container's traction surface and the traction
surface of the
container handling device are placed in contact, with the oyster container and
container
handling device then moved relatively to one another in a direction
perpendicular to the
oyster container's main axis. As such, the traction or gripping engagement
facilitates or
improves a resultant rolling motion of the oyster container, which facilitates
tumbling of the
oysters.
[0031] In various embodiments of the present invention, the oyster container
is not
necessarily provided as a finished product. Instead, a pair of end caps 105
can be provided
for coupling to a separate container body, such as a mesh bag. An example of
an
appropriate mesh bag is a Vexare bag which is commonly used to hold oysters in
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aquaculture. The end caps and mesh bag are connected together to form the
cylindrical
oyster container. Because of their circular shape, the end caps assist in
imparting a
cylindrical shape to the overall oyster container. The end caps themselves can
function as
"wheels" or bearing surfaces which allow the oyster container to roll. Further
toward this
end, the end caps incorporate the traction surfaces which inhibit slippage and
improve the
tendency toward rolling motion (thus facilitating oyster tumbling) when the
oyster
container is drawn over a surface, such as a second traction surface of the
container
handling device. Due to the mesh bag, the container may be flexible in its
center section.
Alternatively, the container may be substantially rigid, for example by using
a more robust
wire frame or providing stiffening rods connecting the two end caps of the
container
together.
[0032] FIG. 2A illustrates a first end cap 105 with an open end having an
opening 206
that can be fitted with a movable door 207 as shown in FIG. 2B. The door can
be hingedly
connected to the end cap, for example using snap-together plastic fitting
parts, a metal
.. hinge rod, or another means. FIG. 3 illustrates a second end cap 105 with a
closed end. In
some embodiments, one of the end caps 105 is as in FIGs. 2A and 2B while the
other end
cap is as in FIG. 3. However, other configurations are possible. The end caps
are generally
circular with traction surfaces 120 disposed around their outward-facing
circumference. As
shown, the traction surfaces 120 incorporate teeth or ridges, which can in
some
embodiments interact with corresponding teeth or ridges of the second traction
surface of
the container handling device. The end caps can be about 12 to 14 inches in
diameter, and
about four inches in height, for example, although other dimensions are also
possible.
[0033] Also shown in FIGs. 2A and 3 is a centrally located connection aperture
220. A
cylindrical post can be inserted into the aperture and connected to a stub
line such as a light
rope. This stub line can be connected at an opposite end to the horizontal
anchoring
system. An end of the post can be enlarged so that it remains within the
aperture. The post
rotates within the aperture to form a type of axle, allowing the end cap and
associated
container to rotate freely with respect to the post and attached line. This
allows the
container to roll substantially unimpeded while remaining connected to the
horizontal
anchoring system. The container can thus rotate while the post does not
substantially
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rotate. This allows a stub line to be connected to the post, such that the
stub line does not
twist or wind in response to rotation of the container. This aspect can
provide for the
axially rotatable coupling between the oyster container end cap and the
horizontal
anchoring system or stub line thereof.
[0034] In some embodiments, the containers are configured to float, for
example by
incorporation of floating material. In some embodiments, the containers do not
necessarily
float but are suspended in the water at a desired depth range using the
horizontal anchoring
system. The depth range can be configured using the vertical height and amount
of slack in
lines of the horizontal anchoring system.
[0035] The end caps can be attached to the mesh bag or other cylindrical
structure (e.g.
wire cage) using a variety of fastening means. For example, plastic push pins
can be used
to secure the end caps to the mesh bag. As other examples, flexible cable
ties, inner and
outer mating sleeves trapping a part of the mesh bag within the cap interior,
screws, or other
fastening means can be used for this purpose.
[0036] FIG. 4A illustrates a container handling device 400 for an oyster
aquaculture
system, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The container
handling
device refers to an apparatus that is used to retrieve and manipulate the
oyster containers,
such as illustrated in FIG. 1, for example for purposes of some or all of: de-
fouling,
harvesting, tumbling, grading, inspection, container sinking and re-floating,
etc. The
container handling device is typically mounted on a boat and is configured to
receive and
handle a set of generally cylindrical and hollow oyster containers as
described above. As
also mentioned above, each oyster container may include a first traction
surface
circumferentially disposed on an outer surface. The container handling device
includes a
ramp 405 for engaging (receiving) and raising each of the oyster containers in
turn upward
out of water. One end of the ramp can extend to the water's surface or
underneath the
water's surface for facilitating the receiving of the oyster containers. The
container
handling device includes an operating area 410 including a second traction
surface 420
configured to engage with the first traction surface of each oyster container
during traversal
through the operating area in order to impart an axial rotation to said each
oyster container.
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[0037] As illustrated, the container handling device 400 also includes a
second ramp 430
for receiving each of the oyster containers after traversing the operating
area 410, and for
returning the oyster containers downward into the water.
[0038] As illustrated, the operating area 410 also includes a de-fouling bath
415
configured to receive each of the oyster containers in turn and to hold and
soak the oyster
container in a de-fouling solution, such as a hot water solution. The de-
fouling can be
performed by soaking for a prescribed period of time. To achieve this period
an oyster
container can be held stationary or nearly stationary relative to the
container handling
device. The de-fouling bath 415 can include a sloped sidewall which
facilitates passage of
an oyster container out of the de-fouling bath by generally moving (relative
to the container
handling device) the oyster container in the direction 435.
[0039] After exiting the de-fouling bath, the oyster container contacts the
second traction
surface 420. The second traction surface may include teeth, ridges, or other
gripping means.
The first traction surface(s) of the oyster container contact the second
traction surface(s)
.. 420 in the operating area, thus causing the oyster container to roll when
relatively pulled in
the direction 435. This rolling executes a tumbling of the oysters, which is
known to assist
in shaping the oysters to a more desirable, less flat shape. The length of the
second traction
surface, and the speed at which the oyster container is caused to roll,
dictates the duration
and intensity of the tumble. As such, the tumble is controllable by selection
of appropriate
dimensioning of equipment and operating speeds.
[0040] In some embodiments, the second traction surfaces 420 are provided in
the form
of two conveyor belts with upper surfaces moving counter to the relative
direction of the
oyster container. The conveyor belts may be powered continuous belts, as would
be readily
understood by a worker skilled in the art. That is, the conveyor belts may
move opposite to
the direction 435. The motion of these conveyors increases the tumbling rate.
In some
embodiments, the speed of the conveyors in combination with the speed of the
container
moving in the direction 435 provides for a tumbling rate of about 40 rpm. One
or both of
the conveyor speeds and the container speed can be adjusted (e.g. by adjusting
the boat
speed) to provide for a desired tumbling rate. The tumbling rate can be made
to be
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sufficiently energetic to cause removal of new growth from the leading edges
of the oyster
shell. As such, the combination of the container motion (relative to the
container handling
device) and the motion of the conveyors may provide for oyster container
tumbling.
[0041] Although the ramps 405, 430 are shown as separate from the operating
area 410, it
should be understood that the operating area can alternatively be integrated
into one or both
of the ramps. This may result in a V-shaped or curved-shaped container
handling device
rather than one with a central, horizontal operating area.
[0042] As illustrated, the container handling device 400 also includes post
extensions to
which line guides 440 can be mounted, such that the line guides are disposed
above and at
opposite side edges of the operating area 410. The line guides may be provided
as pulley
wheels, or other systems which adequately hold lines in place and allow the
container
handling device to move along the lines. In operation, horizontal lines of an
anchoring
system which anchor the oyster containers in place can be mounted on or
threaded through
the line guides. Then, as the boat and container handling device 400 traverse
along a main
direction of the anchoring system, the lines move through the line guides,
causing
successive sections of the lines, and oyster containers connected thereto, to
be lifted up and
over the container handling device. As such, the oyster containers traverse up
the ramp 405
and through the operating area 410.
[0043] The line guides can incorporate wheels, starwheels, roller bearings,
channels, or
other means for retaining lines within the line guides while allowing for
relatively
unimpeded motion of the line through the line guides as the container handling
device is
moved. In various embodiments, the oyster containers are suspended at
different locations
between two parallel lines. This is done by providing two stub lines per
container. A first
stub line is connected to a first end of the oyster container using a freely
axially rotatable
.. connector. The connector can comprise a cylindrical pin rotatably fitted
into the connection
aperture 220 located at the center of the oyster container end cap, for
example. The first
stub line is then also connected to one of the lines which is fitted into one
of the line guides.
A second stub line can be similarly connected between a second, opposite end
of the oyster
container and the second line which is fitted into the other of the line
guides.
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[0044] FIG. 4B illustrates a portion of the device of FIG. 4A comprising a
line hauler 470
for propelling a boat, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Some or all of
the wheeled line guides 440 may be configured as line haulers. Alternatively,
one or more
line haulers may be provided separately from the line guides 440, either
coupled to one of
the pair of lines or to an additional line, not shown. A line 465 is threaded
through the line
hauler, which grips the line and rotates through action of a connected motor.
This rotation
causes the line 465 to move through the line hauler. Because the line is
anchored, the line
hauler, and hence the apparatus and boat connected thereto, travel rather than
the line. The
line hauler 470 includes two wheels 472, 474, at least one of which (e.g. 472)
is powered by
.. a motor. The line 465 is wound around the two wheels in order to provide
for gripping
engagement, as would be readily understood by a worker skilled in the art.
[0045] FIG. 5A illustrates a top view of the operating area 410, including the
de-fouling
bath 415 and the second traction surface 420. FIG. 5A also more clearly
illustrates the
second traction surface 420 being the moving surface of a set of powered,
typically
synchronized moving conveyor belts.
[0046] FIG. 5B illustrates mating traction surfaces of oyster container and
container
handling device, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this
case, the
second traction surface 420, which may be the surface of a moving conveyor
belt, has
spaced-apart ridges 525 separated by corresponding grooves 530. The first
traction surface
120 on the oyster container also have spaced-apart ridges 545 separated by
corresponding
grooves 550. The ridges 525, 545 are sized to fit in the respective grooves
550, 530 as
shown.
[0047] FIG. 6 illustrates a boat 600 to which the container handling device
can be
mounted, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The boat
includes a
plurality of open post holes 605 along side edges thereof. Posts of the
container handling
device can be mounted into the post holes 605. Ramps of the container handling
device
then extend over the sides of the boat and downward into the water, while the
operating
area of the container handling device may be located above the body of the
boat.
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[0048] In some embodiments, as mentioned above with respect to FIG. 4B, one or
more
line haulers can be attached to the boat and connected to a respective one or
more of the
parallel lines of the horizontal anchoring system, or to a separate line
running parallel to the
horizontal anchoring system and co-anchored therewith at one or both ends. The
line
haulers can, for simplicity, be considered as part of the container handling
device, even
though they may be physically separate. The line haulers can grip and move
along one or
more of the lines in order to propel the boat without use of a conventional
motor (e.g.
propeller). The line haulers can be used to draw the boat along a row of
oyster containers
with limited disturbance. The line haulers can include wheels or rollers which
press against
their corresponding lines, and when rotating, move along such lines. A motor
can be
connected to the wheels or rollers to motivate such rotation, thus moving the
boat. The line
haulers may also employ starwheels or similar means for gripping the lines
while allowing
stub lines connected thereto to pass through the line haulers.
[0049] As an alternative, the separate line running parallel to the horizontal
anchoring
system may be connected in a continuous loop, and the line moved using a
motor, in a
similar manner to a cable car. The boat can be removably connected to the
line, which then
draws the boat along the path of the horizontal anchoring system. Of course, a
conventional propeller or jet motor can also be used to propel the boat in
some
embodiments.
[0050] FIG. 7A illustrates the container handling device 400 handling an
oyster container
100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Lines 710 of the
horizontal
anchoring system are disposed to pass through the line guides (e.g.
corresponding to line
guides 440 in FIG. 4, one of which is also labelled in FIG. 7A) and thus
overtop of the
container handling device 400. The oyster container 100 is connected to the
lines 710 via a
pair of stub lines 720. The oyster container is freely rotatably connected to
the stub lines
via a pivotable connection at its axis 115 (see FIG. 1), allowing the
cylindrical oyster
container to move along the surfaces of the container handling device. The
lines 710 are
anchored at either end (not shown), and the container handling device 400,
mounted to a
boat, moves along and underneath the lines, allowing the oyster container to
pass up one
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ramp, through the operating area, and down the opposite ramp. The container
handling
device moves in the direction 730.
[0051] In the embodiment of FIG. 7A, two of the line guides 440 are driven by
motors
740, such as but not necessarily hydraulic or electric motors. The addition of
these motors
transforms the line guides into line haulers which are capable of propelling
the container
handling device and boat along the lines. FIG. 7B illustrates such a line
hauler in more
detail. The line hauler includes the motor 740 rotatably driving a
corresponding wheel 742,
with the motor and wheel mounted at the top of a post 744. The line 710 is
engaged with
the wheel 742, possibly wrapped one or more times around the wheel to enhance
grip.
Operation of the motor rotates the wheel, which in turn traverses down the
line in a given
direction.
[0052] FIG. 8 illustrates a system comprising various components as described
above. A
plurality of oyster containers 100 are connected in a spaced-apart
configuration to the lines
710 of the horizontal anchoring system via stub lines 720. The container
handling device is
mounted on a boat 600, moves in the direction 730 and handles the different
oyster
containers in series.
[0053] Having reference now to FIG. 9, there is provided an oyster aquaculture
method
900. The method includes deploying 910 a set of generally cylindrical oyster
containers
axially rotatably coupled to different respective locations along a horizontal
anchoring
system. The method further includes deploying 920 a container handling device,
mounted
on a boat, in line with the horizontal anchoring system and such that lines of
the horizontal
anchoring system run overtop of the container handling device. The method
further
includes moving 930 the boat with the container handling device along a main
direction of
the horizontal anchoring system to cause successive ones of the oyster
containers to reach
and move onto the container handling device in turn.
[0054] In various embodiments, the container handling device includes a ramp
and an
operating area. In this case, moving 930 the boat includes moving the boat to
cause said
successive ones of the oyster containers to reach and move up the ramp and
into the
operating area in turn. In some various further embodiments, each of the
oyster containers
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includes a first traction surface circumferentially disposed on an outer
surface thereof, and
the operating area includes a second traction surface configured to engage
with the first
traction surface. In this case, moving 930 the boat includes moving the boat
to cause
successive ones of the oyster containers to axially rotate while traversing
the operating area
to cause tumbling of the oysters. In the same or other further embodiments,
the operating
area includes a de-fouling bath, and moving 930 the boat is performed in a
manner to cause
said successive ones of the oyster containers to soak in the de-fouling bath
for a prescribed
time period, for example by controlling the speed of the boat, either as a
constant or a
variable speed.
[0055] Although the present invention has been described with reference to
specific
features and embodiments thereof, it is evident that various modifications and
combinations
can be made thereto without departing from the invention. The specification
and drawings
are, accordingly, to be regarded simply as an illustration of the invention as
defined by the
appended claims, and are contemplated to cover any and all modifications,
variations,
.. combinations or equivalents that fall within the scope of the present
invention.
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