System for breeding aquatic fauna
The invention provides a breeding system for aquatic fauna that includes a chamber ( 2 ) having a wall ( 4 ) made from a water impermeable material. In one embodiment the chamber is provided with one or more hatches ( 20 ) in the wall where each hatch can be opened to a selectable extent. In another embodiment, the chamber has a selectable volume. The breeding system according to another embodiment includes one or more of the life support systems ( 30 ) adapted to be submerged in water.
1. A breeding system for aquatic fauna comprising:
(a) a chamber having a wall made from a water impermeable and flexible material, said material being inert to marine environment;
(b) a plurality of screened hatches in the wall, each hatch having a hatch cover; and
(c) one or more life support systems;
wherein the chamber is configured to be submerged in water,
wherein each hatch cover may independent of other hatch covers be in a selectable open position or closed position, wherein when all of the plurality of hatch covers are in a closed position the chamber is hermetically sealed from said marine environment,
wherein the wall of the chamber is provided with an array of rings and pegs for adjusting the volume of the chamber, and
wherein one or more inflatable bladders are affixed to an interior side of the wall of the chamber, such that said one or more inflatable bladders can be inflated with air to facilitate lifting said wall in order to hook the rings onto the pegs.
2. The breeding system according to claim 1 , wherein each hatch cover is a shutter formed from a flexible sheet that is configured to be drawn to a selectable extent with a remainder of said flexible sheet rolled up on an axle.
3. The breeding system according to claim 2 wherein lateral edges of said hatch cover pass through guides attached to said wall to form a hermetic seal when said hatch cover is closed.
4. The breeding system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one life support system is adapted to be submerged in water.
5. The breeding system of claim 4 wherein the one or more life support systems includes either a recirculated aquaculture system or an environmentally oriented treatment system as a container that is integral with the chamber wall.
6. The breeding system according to claim 5 wherein the container is made from a flexible material.
7. The breeding system according to claim 1 , wherein the wall of the chamber comprises an elastic material.
8. The breeding system according to claim 1 , comprising an anchoring device.
9. The breeding system according to claim 1 , comprising a floating device.
10. The breeding system according to claim 1 , comprising a cover adapted to cover the chamber.
11. The breeding system according to claim 1 , comprising artificial illumination for illuminating water contained in the chamber.
12. The breeding system according to claim 11 , wherein the illumination has a wavelength of about 400 nm.
13. The breeding system according to claim 1 , wherein the wall of the chamber is adapted for light filtering.
14. The breeding system according to claim 1 , comprising a conical sump.
15. The breeding system according to claim 14 wherein the wall of the sump has a selectable slope.
16. The breeding system according to claim 1 , comprising a service platform.
17. The breeding system according to claim 1 , comprising one or more pressure valves that prevent the pressure inside the chamber from exceeding a predetermined pressure.