SBIR-STTR Award

As fish farmers attempt to increase capacity, they are being forced to more exposed growing sites. The technology for rearing fish in this high-energy environment is dependent on robust fish pens and the infrastructure to support them. One very important technology that must be developed is an automated feeding system capable of operating in this difficult environment. Using already proven spar technology, Net Systems and co investigators, Environmental Technologies and the University of New Hampshire, intend to demonstrate the feasibility of a spar based semi-autonomous feeder. This feeder would have the sea keeping, mooring, automation and remote control capabilities to feed submerged fish pens and allow offshore fish farming to move to the next level. Proving the feasibility of such a system would allow Net Systems and Environmental Technologies to pursue Phase 2 funding to produce a working prototype to be tested at the University of New Hampshire’s offshore farm site. Summary of

Anticipated Results:
This study will hopefully verify that a spar configured feed system will have the capability to carry an appropriate quantity of different types of fish feed in a vessel that will respond well in high wave energy sites, and be capable off supporting the equipment necessary to operate in a semi-autonomous and dependable fashion.

Potential Commercial Applications:
It is hoped that the findings of this study will be the basis of a prototype to be built and tested with SBIR Phase 2 funding. Regardless, the feasibility study will be very useful to Net Systems/Ocean Spar Technologies and Environmental Technologies in finding a solution to feeding submerged fish pens at exposed sites

As fish farmers attempt to increase capacity they are being forced to move to more Exposed growing sites. The technology for rearing fish in this high-energy environment is dependent on robust fish pens and infrastructure to support them. One very important technology that must be developed is an automated feeding system capable of operating in this difficult environment. Based on the results of Phase1, Net Systems and co investigator the University of New Hampshire intend to demonstrate a fully functional semi-autonomous offshore feeder. This feeder will have the sea keeping characteristics necessary to survive the worst weather anticipated at the UNH Open Ocean Aquaculture (OOA) site. It will integrate an appropriate mooring system to be compatible with the existing offshore pens. The feeder will be automated and remotely controllable with capabilities to feed an entire farm of submerged fish pens. This major advancement should allow the offshore fish farming industry to move to the next level here in the US and around the world. Proving the feasibility of such a system would allow Net Systems to offer farm packages that would include the major components of a fully functional offshore fish farm.

Potential Commercial Applications:
Annual dropsonde sales are estimated to be about 7,000 per year at a sales price of about $575 each, so a market worth about $4 million per year. Our dropsonde can also be carried aloft by a balloon (a radiosonde), which is a market 100 times larger than dropsondes. YES believes the number of dropsondes used would increase if the sensor package were smaller, lighter, and cheaper. With GUPS’ ER-2 or UAVs, lighter dropsondes permit carrying more per flight. The market includes the Federal Government (NOAA, Air Force, and Navy), research organizations such as the National Center for Atmospheric Research, and many overseas customers. Our dropsonde should also meet the requirements of the evolving global atmospheric sounder concept for high altitude balloons (such as GAINS). The balloons would be loaded with dropsondes and deployed from a height of 60,000 feed around the globe as they drift with winds in the upper troposphere