Artificial substrates for marine biomass enhancement and wave energy absorption
OwnerRodolphe Streichenbergerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Artificial substrates for use in open sea enhancing biomass and/or absorbing wave energy, improved by means of particular dispositions and devices concerning their number, mooring, and flotation. They are associated with affixed sessile algae and shellfish. They can be implanted trustworthily in very rough seas. They fulfill economical requirements for the development of aquacultural farms, aquacultural breakwaters, algae fields and shellfish reefs.
Claims21
An artificial substrate for increasing biomass in a body of water comprising:
- a plurality of substrate units, each of said substrate units comprising a buoyant tube connected by a flexible line to a bottom mooring and separated from adjacent substrate units so as to achieve a predetermined implantation density;
- and
- sessile organisms attached to each of said substrate units.
A method for anchoring a substrate unit formed of a buoyant element secured to an anchor unit by a flexible line to a sediment bottom of a body of water, comprising the steps of:
- positioning the anchor unit adjacent and lengthwise parallel to an excavating pipe;
- hooking a first end of the anchor unit to a lower end of the excavating piper;
- lowering the excavating pipe with the anchor unit adjacent thereto into the bottom of the body of water while forcing fluid through the pipe and out the lower end;
- discontinuing the forcing of fluid and removing the pipe from the anchor unit and raising the pipe out from the floor;
- and
- rotating the anchor unit from a position parallel to a vertical direction to a position perpendicular to the vertical direction.
A method for developing biomass in a body of water by means of artificial substrates and associated sessile organisms, comprising the steps of:
- juxtaposing vertically under the surface of the water a plurality of elongated buoyant structures which are connected by flexible lines to water bottom moorings;
- and
- associating sessile organisms with said structures by means of aquaculture processes.
A method for absorbing water energy comprising developing biomass in a body of water by means of artificial substrates and associated sessile organisms, comprising the steps of:
- juxtaposing vertically under the surface of the water a plurality of elongated buoyant structures which are connected by flexible lines to water bottom moorings;
- and
- associating sessile organisms with said structures by means of aquaculture processes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.