Systems and methods for cultivating and distributing aquatic organisms

A bioreactor for growing aquatic organisms, the bioreactor comprising:

• a harvesting unit for harvesting the aquatic organisms,
• an output unit for outputting a consumable derived from the aquatic organisms,
• a plurality of vertically stacked modules, each module configured to contain the aquatic organisms and a liquid growth medium, the plurality of vertically stacked modules comprising an upper module comprising:
• an inlet, an outlet, a floor, and a valve in fluid communication with the outlet, the valve comprising:
• a first baffle extending from the floor of the upper module and defining at least a portion of the outlet, and a second baffle disposed between the first baffle and the inlet and comprising a bottom end separated vertically from the floor of the upper module;
• and
• a first vertical raceway in fluid communication with the valve, the plurality of vertically stacked modules, and the harvesting unit;
• wherein the valve defines a flow path for the liquid growth medium underneath the second baffle, over the first baffle, and into the outlet, and
• wherein the valve is configured to selectively enable (i) flow of the liquid growth medium and (ii) flow of the aquatic organisms with the liquid growth medium into the first vertical raceway and from the upper module to a lower module of the plurality of vertically stacked modules disposed below the upper module,
• wherein the first baffle is fixed relative to the floor of the upper module and wherein the second baffle is movable between a first position and a second position,
• wherein, when the second baffle is in the first position, the valve allows the flow of the liquid growth medium, and
• wherein, when the second baffle is in the second position, the valve allows the flow of the aquatic organisms with the liquid growth medium.

An apparatus for growing floating aquatic organisms, the apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of vertically arranged modules, each module configured to contain the floating aquatic organisms and a liquid growth medium, the plurality of vertically arranged modules comprising an upper module comprising:
• an upper module inlet located at an inlet side of the upper module, an upper module outlet located at an outlet side of the upper module, an upper module floor, and an upper module valve located at the outlet side of the upper module and in fluid communication with the upper module outlet, the upper module valve comprising:
• a first baffle extending from the upper module floor and defining at least a portion of the upper module outlet, and
• a second baffle disposed between the first baffle and the upper module inlet and comprising a bottom end separated vertically from the upper module floor;
• and
• a vertical raceway in fluid communication with the upper module valve and the plurality of vertically arranged modules,
• wherein the upper module valve defines a flow path for the liquid growth medium underneath the second baffle, over the first baffle, into the upper module outlet, and into the vertical raceway,
• wherein the first baffle is fixed relative to the floor of the upper module and wherein the second baffle is movable between a first position and a second position,
• wherein, when the second baffle is in the first position, the valve allows the flow of the liquid growth medium, and
• wherein, when the second baffle is in the second position, the valve allows the flow of the aquatic organisms with the liquid growth medium.