DESCRIPTION CONTINUOUS ON GROVING PROCESSES ON BOARD VECHILES/PLATFORMS This invention pertains to a process developed for aquaculture and aquacultural products on platforms/vessels.

The invention is a new application and is thereby intended to be fully different than other current breeding methods. Presently fish are cultivated in "contained areas" of set volume, in close proximity to inland water sources and/or near shores or inlets, in bays, tanks, pools and/or cages.

In applications such as nets, cages, pools or tanks, fish are cultivated in densities which allow them a healthy living environment to enable them to reach a "final" (and pre-determined) harvest weight, as foreseen in a production or operations feasibility report.

This "density" can then be defined as:

Density = kg fish/m ³

This "specific" volume, as indicated above is determined beforehand in accordance with the final and harvest density, after which a product of specific weight and size is released into the "contained" production environment and is then left until it reaches the called for and predetermined harvest size.

During this time environmental factors can only be partially controlled and in open seas (sea cages/pens) environmental factors are relatively uncontrollable.

Therefore during the period required for the fish to reach "optimum density" and "harvest size" (or harvest density), large volumes in the cages, nets, pools or tanks of the cultivating environment are unused and superfluous.

To briefly summarize what this invention aims to resolve: In the proposed system using pre-defined contained areas or volumes, fish are transferred to progressively larger volume tanks to enable a healthy cultivating environment, thus optimizing volume/area use and eliminating use of unwanted or superfluous volumes. This process reduces the dimensions needed for production of any given amount of fish and results in the use of a significantly smaller area platform or vessel.

For the purposes of this continuous cultivating process on the platform/vessel, the product shall be cultivated, from 20 grams until it reaches a final market weight of 4000 grams when it shall be harvested. In this system the fish are accepted into the process at a nominal weight of 20 grams and are placed in tanks suitable for their specific weight and size and with a specific tank density for each tank. Each tank has a specified maximum product density (biomass). The product enters into the system from the 1 ^st tank and is then transferred to the harvest processing line from the 12th tank. The harvest line is where stunning, gutting, cleaning, freezing and packaging is carried out after which the product is made ready for shipping/export.

Life support conditions and feeding for the specified density (biomass) is calculated from both quantative and qualitative aspects; thereby ensuring an approved and healthy cultivation environment for the product in terms of specific product weight and product size as contained in each specific tank volume.

When the product reaches the pre-determined and specified weight and size, its cultivation cycle in that tank will be considered complete and the product shall then be transferred to the succeeding tank in the procedural sequence by means of fish transfer pumps between the tanks.

The process is repeated for each tank in the system for the calculated cultivation cycles for each tank. With this method and in order to achieve targeted values, the amount of water used for productyion is significantly decreased and cultivation conditions are seen to be more efficient and productive.

Finally in this manner the product is transferred from the harvest tank to the "production processing line" above deck and is further processed to prepare for tarnsport to the market.

Thus the above mentioned and concentrated capacity cultivation process shall not be implemented in the currently accustomed manner but in tanks aboard a platform/vessel on open seas.

The harvested products will then be processed in an on-board processing area and will duly be exported.

From the point of view of processing and methodology, this process is aimed at providing the maximum product productivity within a given tankage area and volume.

Life support and our environmental conditions and the cultivation cycle for each tank are pre-calculated and pre-defined.

Implementation of this method will significantly reduce the amount of water used and required for cultivation; use of pre-determined and predefined values will result in an increase in productivity due to efficient and satisfactory cultivating conditions in a minimum amount of water.

The economic feasibility of our concentrated capacity process requires that the product attains its economic efficiency under sustained and suitable conditions and at calculated 'specific and pre-determined' intervals. These conditions and the intervals are important from an operational point of view.

The process is designed to maximise use of the available area and volumes; product density calculations are based on "healthy breeding requirements" that are in full compliance with generally and internationally accepted standards.

The paramount objective in agricultural and animal based production is to be able to achieve, and obtain (in practical terms), continued and peak harvest levels available from a limited natural unit area or resources.

Research carried out in the world and in our country is focused on finding new sources of protein and to process these in a healthy manner. Owing to it comparative size relative to available land areas, seas and inland waters head the list of available water resources.

In the last few years, as in other nations, aquaculture in coastal waters, inland waters, lakes and in smaller water sources has gained importance in our country. With the development of technologies over the last two decades, production in open water has become more secure and reliable. In order to enable the continuing activity of shore based commercial activities that contribute to the development of our country, it is evident that aquaculture on open seas will be a major contributor towards the economy of the country.

This project while aiming to provide superior aquaculture products also aims at protecting our coastline and shores from pollution.