Aquatic structure and method

An aquatic structure for promoting biological growth, said structure comprising:

• a buoyant member;
• a flexible sheet connected to said buoyant member, said sheet having a high surface area structure for promoting growth of autotrophic organisms in a photic zone;
• and
• flexible strips connected to said flexible sheet, said flexible strips being arranged to promote growth of heterotrophic organisms;
• and
• wherein said buoyant member includes a hollow tube, and wherein said aquatic structure further comprises a flexible sleeve for connecting said flexible sheet to said hollow tube, and wherein said strips extend downwardly into the water in use, and said hollow tube extends horizontally across the surface of the water, and wherein said strips have free ends that are not connected to each other, and wherein said strips have a specific gravity that is greater than or equal to 1.02, and wherein said aquatic structure further comprises ballast devices for anchoring one or more of said strips to the benthos.

An aquaculture apparatus, comprising:

• an elongated buoyant device arranged to float on the water surface;
• flexible material having a high surface area structure for promoting aquatic growth, said flexible material having a specific gravity greater than or equal to 1.02, said flexible material being connected to said elongated buoyant device;
• and
• at least one ballast device for anchoring said aquaculture apparatus, said ballast device being connected to said flexible material.

An aquaculture method, comprising the steps of:

• floating a buoyant device on the surface of a body of water;
• suspending a flexible sheet from said buoyant device in said body of water;
• suspending flexible strips from said flexible sheet;
• and
• subsequently, promoting growth of autotrophic and heterotrophic aquatic organisms on said flexible sheet and said flexible strips.

An aquaculture method, comprising the steps of:

• floating a buoyant device on the surface of a body of water;
• suspending a flexible sheet from said buoyant device in said body of water;
• suspending flexible strips from said flexible sheet;
• and
• subsequently, promoting growth of autotrophic and heterotrophic aquatic organisms on said flexible sheet and said flexible strips;
• and
• wherein said method further comprises the step of resting free ends of said flexible strips on the bottom of said body of water, and wherein said method further comprises the step of anchoring a first group of said free ends to said bottom.