Device and a method for reducing the number of exterior parasites on fish

Abstract

A device for reducing the number of exterior parasites on fish, comprising a hollow cylindrical filter member having an inlet and an outlet, the circumference of the inlet and/or outlet being provided with a nozzle, wherein the nozzle comprises a substantially annular slit along the circumference of the inlet and/or outlet for ejecting a fluid towards the interior of the cylindrical filter.

1 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method for reducing the number of exterior parasites on fish, comprising:
 a. impinging the exterior parasites on the fish with a fluid ejected uniformly from an annular nozzle slit against substantially an entire circumference of the fish, wherein the fluid has a direction with an angle in a range of 10 degrees to 60 degrees relative to a movement direction of the fish, and   b. filtering the exterior parasites that were detached from the fish during the impinging, where the fish is removed from an aqueous environment prior to the impinging, and where the impinging and filtering are performed before reentering the fish into the aqueous environment.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein in the impinging, the fluid is ejected from a nozzle formed by a number of discrete nozzle members, the discrete nozzle members each having a slit and being provided along the circumference of at least one of an inlet and an outlet. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the fluid is at least one of air and water. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the fluid is ejected with a velocity of above 100 meters per second at a slit opening of an annular nozzle. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the fluid is ejected with a velocity of above 50 meters per second at a slit opening of an annular nozzle. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the fluid is ejected at a subsonic velocity. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the fluid is air at a pressure of at least 1.0 MPa. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the fluid is provided as a substantially laminar flow ejected from the annular nozzle slit. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the annular nozzle slit has a slit opening in the range of 0.01 mm to 2 mm. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the angle is in a range of 20 degrees to 45 degrees relative to the movement direction of the fish. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the movement direction of the fish is towards or away from the annular nozzle slit. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the fish is a farmed fish. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the fish comprise at least one of carps, tilapias, pangasius, Roho labeo, salmon, croaker, salmonids, groupers, trouts, amberjack, seabreams, seabass, mullets, cyprinids, barramundis, and marble goby. 
     
     
         33 . A method for reducing the number of exterior parasites on fish, comprising:
 a. separating a fish from water before transporting the fish towards a first predefined point,   b. impinging the fish at the first predefined point with a fluid ejected uniformly from a first annular nozzle slit at an angle in a range of 10 degrees to 60 degrees relative to a movement direction of the fish against substantially an entire circumference of the fish to detach parasites from the fish,   c. filtering the parasites detached from the fish.   
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 33 , further comprising reentering the fish into the water. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 33 , further comprising:
 a. transporting the fish from the first predefined point towards a second predefined point; and   b. impinging the fish at the second predefined point with a fluid ejected uniformly from a second annular nozzle slit at an angle in the range of 10 degrees to 60 degrees relative to the movement direction of the fish against substantially the entire circumference of the fish.   
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the fluid comprises at least one of air and water. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the fluid is ejected with a velocity of above 100 meters per second at a slit opening of an annular nozzle. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the fluid is ejected with a velocity of above 50 meters per second at a slit opening of an annular nozzle. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the fluid is ejected at a subsonic velocity. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 36 , wherein the fluid comprises air at a pressure of at least 1.0 MPa. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 36 , wherein the fluid is provided as a substantially laminar flow ejected from the annular nozzle slit. 
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 36 , wherein the annular nozzle slit has a slit opening in a range of 0.01 mm to 2 mm. 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 36 , wherein the angle is in a range of 20 degrees to 45 degrees relative to the movement direction of the fish. 
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 36 , wherein the fish is a farmed fish. 
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 36 , wherein the fish comprise at least one of carps, tilapias, pangasius, Roho labeo, salmon, croaker, salmonids, groupers, trouts, amberjack, seabreams, seabass, mullets, cyprinids, barramundis, and marble goby.