System and method for off-shore and in-shore aquaculture using floating closed containment farming and amalgamated facility

An aquaculture production and transfer system comprising:

• a floatable closed containment aquaculture production apparatus comprising:
• a hull comprising a bottom portion,
• opposed outer side portions extending from the bottom portion, and
• a center portion arranged between the outer side portions and extending from the bottom portion to define at least one recess between the center portion and the outer side portions,
• wherein at least the bottom portion and the outer side portions include one or more ballast water spaces therein, wherein the hull comprises void spaces which allow the hull, together with at least one cultivation tank, to remain semi-submerged in water, and
• wherein the one or more ballast water spaces comprises a plurality of compartments configured to be ballasted in response to a discharge of aquatic animals and water from an adjacent cultivation tank;
• and
• at least one closed containment aquaculture cultivation tank arranged in the at least one recess;
• a station keeping apparatus coupled to the floatable closed containment aquaculture production apparatus;
• and
• a custodian transfer apparatus comprising:
• a custodian chamber,
• a chute having an inlet fluidly coupled to the custodian chamber and an outlet, and
• at least one pump arranged at the chute,
• wherein the custodian chamber is configured to be fluidly coupled to at least one tank discharge pipe to receive the aquatic animals, wherein the at least one pump is configured to draw a flow of water through the chute such that the aquatic animals are transported towards the outlet of the chute by the flow of water.

An aquaculture production and transfer method, the method comprising:

• cultivating aquaculture in at least one floatable aquaculture production apparatus arranged in a body of water, wherein the at least one floatable aquaculture production apparatus comprises:
• a hull comprising a bottom portion;
• opposed outer side portions extending from the bottom portion;
• and
• a center portion arranged between the outer side portions and extending from the bottom portion to define at least one recess between the center portion and the outer side portions;
• wherein at least the bottom portion and the outer side portions include one or more ballast water spaces therein, wherein the hull comprises void spaces which allow the hull, together with at least one closed containment aquaculture cultivation tank, to remain semi-submerged in water;
• and
• wherein the one or more ballast water spaces comprise a plurality of compartments configured to be ballasted in response to a discharge of aquatic animals and water from an adjacent cultivation tank;transferring aquatic animals from the at least one floatable aquaculture production apparatus through one of a plurality of tank discharge pipes to a custodian transfer chamber;
• and
• transporting the aquatic animals through an inlet and an outlet of a chute by drawing a flow of water through the chute, wherein the inlet of the chute is fluidly coupled to the custodian transfer chamber.