SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRANSFERRING, GRADING, AND/OR HARVESTING AQUATIC ANIMALS
Embodiments described herein relate generally to systems and methods for transferring, grading, and/or harvesting aquatic animals. In some embodiments, an apparatus can include a vessel configured to facilitate access to aquatic animals contained in an aquaculture system, a grading system disposed on the vessel and configured to receive a plurality of aquatic animals and sort the aquatic animals based on a characteristic, and a return system disposed on the vessel and configured to transfer at least a portion of the plurality of aquatic animals back to the aquaculture system.
1 . An apparatus, comprising:
a vessel configured to facilitate access to aquatic animals contained in an aquaculture system;
a grading system disposed on the vessel and configured to receive a plurality of aquatic animals and sort the plurality of aquatic animals based on a characteristic; and
a return system disposed on the vessel and configured to transfer at least a portion of the plurality of aquatic animals back to the aquaculture system.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the grading system is configured to transfer a portion of the plurality of aquatic animals to the return system that do not satisfy the characteristic.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the grading system is configured to discard a portion of the plurality of aquatic animals that do not satisfy the characteristic.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic is greater than a predetermined size.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic is less than a predetermined size.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a tank disposed on the vessel configured to store at least a portion of the plurality of aquatic animals.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a vacuum system for transferring aquatic animals between the aquaculture system and the vessel.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vessel includes a pair of hulls to allow the vessel to float over the aquaculture system.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the grading system includes an isolator element configured to dampen the vibrations generated by the grading system during its operation.
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the grading system includes a conveyor configured to convey the at least a portion of the plurality of aquatic animals to a counter for counting the number of aquatic animals.
11 . A service vessel for grading or harvesting aquatic animals from an aquaculture system, the service vessel comprising:
a pair of hulls to allow the vessel to float over the aquaculture system;
a transfer system configured to remove a plurality of aquatic animals from the aquaculture system;
a grading system configured to receive the plurality of aquatic animals from the transfer system and sort the plurality of aquatic animals based on a characteristic; and
a return system disposed on the vessel and configured to transfer at least a portion of the plurality of aquatic animals back to the aquaculture system.
12 . The service vessel of claim 11 , wherein the grading system is configured to discard any aquatic animals from the plurality of aquatic animals that fall below a predetermined size threshold.
13 . The service vessel of claim 11 , wherein the grading system is configured to transfer to a tank any aquatic animals from the plurality of aquatic animals that fall above a predetermined size threshold.
14 . The service vessel of claim 11 , wherein the transfer system includes a vacuum pump disposed on the vessel and configured to route a negative pressure generated by the vacuum pump to the aquaculture system.
15 . The service vessel of claim 11 , wherein the grading system includes an isolator element configured to dampen the vibrations generated by the grading system during its operation.
16 . The service vessel of claim 11 , wherein the grading system includes a conveyor configured to convey the at least a portion of the plurality of aquatic animals to a counter for counting the number of aquatic animals.
17 . A method, comprising:
removing a plurality of aquatic animals from an aquaculture system;
transferring the plurality of aquatic animals to a grading system disposed on a service vessel;
sorting the plurality of aquatic animals based on a characteristic of the aquatic animals;
discarding a first portion of the plurality of aquatic animals that fall below a first predetermined size threshold; and
returning a second portion of the plurality of aquatic animals that are above a second predetermined size threshold to the aquaculture system.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
transferring a third portion of the plurality of aquatic animals that are above a third predetermined size threshold to a tank.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the third predetermined size threshold is greater than the second predetermined size threshold.
20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the characteristic of the aquatic animals includes a predetermined weight.
21 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the characteristic of the aquatic animals includes multiple predetermined sizes.
22 . The method of claim 17 , wherein sorting the plurality of aquatic animals includes reducing an amount of water transferred to the grading system with the plurality of aquatic animals.
23 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
counting the first portion of the plurality of aquatic animals that fall below the first predetermined size threshold.
24 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
counting second portion of the plurality of aquatic animals that are above the second predetermined size threshold.
25 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
counting the third portion of the plurality of aquatic animals that are above the third predetermined size threshold.