Floating fish rearing system

#This invention relates generally to a floating fish rearing system and more particularly to a system which provides for the rearing of fish, such as trout, in water bodies which under normal circumstances would not permit controlled rearing near the surface thereof due to water temperature and/or oxygen content.

#The merits of fish culture in general, and salmonid culture in particular, are well-known.

#The future bodes well for fish culture, since fish culture will invariably increase greatly as wild fish stocks are depleted, fish rearing techniques are improved, genetic manipulations of fish are perfected, and peoples' eating habits change toward animal species which have high feed conversion ratios.

#FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a thermally stratified body of water.

#FIG. 2 comprises graphical representations comparing oligotrophic and eutrophic waters.

#FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

#Referring now to the drawings, it should be noted that the floating fish rearing system of the present invention will have application to standing bodies of water, such as lakes and oceans, which stratify thermally part or all of the year, as well as all non-stratified bodies of water.

#As shown in FIG. 1, thermal stratification leads to the formation of three depth zones. The first such zone is the epilimnion which constitutes the warmwater region of the lake where temperatures may exceed 80.degree. F. The water in this zone is circulated by the wind and oxygen concentrations are generally near saturation.

#The second zone is the thermocline or metalimnion. This is a zone of rapid temperature change, e.g., generally defined by a change of 1.degree. C. or more per 1.0 meter change in depth. The thermocline is out of contact with the surface of the lake. Temperatures may range from 80.degree. F. at the top of the thermocline to 40.degree. F. at the bottom of the thermocline.