Oyster farming apparatus and methods

Abstract

Disclosed herein are stackable cages for holding oysters, modular cages for holding oysters, floating platforms for deploying and retrieving oyster cages from a long line, and floats adapted to engage a plurality of oyster long lines and from which one or more oyster cages may depend.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A floating platform for deploying and retrieving oyster cages on a long line, the floating platform comprising:
 a first portion;   a second portion that is detachably connected to the first portion; and   a lifter for lifting and lowering oyster cages,   
       wherein a buoyancy of the first portion and a buoyancy of the second portion are independently adjustable in response to a weight distribution over the floating platform. 
     
     
         2 . The floating platform of  claim 1 , wherein the buoyancies of the first and second portions are independently adjustable to maintain an upper surface of the floating platform in a substantially level configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The floating platform of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion comprises a first reservoir and the second portion comprises a second reservoir, the first and second reservoirs adapted to receive and discharge a fluid in response to the weight distribution over the floating platform. 
     
     
         4 . The floating platform of  claim 3 , further comprising one or more pumps in communication with the first and second reservoirs, the one or more pumps being operable to pump water into and out of the first and second reservoirs. 
     
     
         5 . The floating platform of  claim 1 , wherein the lifter comprises a gantry and a hoist for lifting and lowering the oyster cages on a long line. 
     
     
         6 . The floating platform of  claim 1 , further comprising an elevated railing from which the oyster cages can hang and along which the oyster cages are slidable into a storage location. 
     
     
         7 . The floating platform of  claim 6 , wherein the storage location comprises a first storage location on the first portion and a second storage location on the second portion. 
     
     
         8 . The floating platform of  claim 6 , wherein the elevated railing is adapted to couple with a land-based elevated railing. 
     
     
         9 . The floating platform of  claim 8 , wherein a detached first or second portion is maneuverable into a loading position in which the elevated railing is coupled with the land-based elevated railing such that oyster cages are loadable onto or off from the first or second portion. 
     
     
         10 . The floating platform of  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the first and second portions comprise wheels and are towable over land. 
     
     
         11 . The floating platform of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions comprise two water contacting hulls having a space therebetween, the space being adapted to accommodate therein oyster cages on the long line. 
     
     
         12 . The floating platform of  claim 1 , further comprising a third portion detachably connected to the first and second portions. 
     
     
         13 . The floating platform of  claim 12 , wherein the third portion comprises an aperture through which the oyster cages are liftable from and lowerable onto the longline. 
     
     
         14 . The floating platform of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of outlets, through which water may be discharged in order to propel the floating platform through the water. 
     
     
         15 . A float adapted to engage a plurality of oyster long lines and from which one or more oyster cages may depend, the float comprising:
 spaced apart channels adapted to receive the plurality of long lines therein, at least one of the channels comprising a recess adapted to retain therein a bulbous portion provided on at least one of the long lines;   a lower attachment from which the one or more oyster cages may depend; and   an upper attachment for lifting the float from the water.   
     
     
         16 . The float of  claim 15 , wherein the channels are tapered such that the bulbous portion provided on at least one of the long lines is/are guided towards the recess when the float is lowered onto the long lines. 
     
     
         17 . The float of  claim 15 , wherein the recess is complementary in shape to the bulbous portion. 
     
     
         18 . The float of  claim 15 , wherein an entry to the channel is closeable by a latch that is operable by a user. 
     
     
         19 . The float of  claim 15 , wherein the float comprises two channels, each channel comprising a recess adapted to retain the bulbous portions of two respective long lines. 
     
     
         20 . The float of  claim 19 , wherein the float is elongate in shape and the channels are at distal ends thereof.