System and method for treating fish

Abstract

A system for removing parasites from fish includes a conduit through which individual fish pass, a plurality of arms associated with the conduit circumferentially spaced with respect to each other, and a spray nozzle for each arm connected to a fluid source for dislodging parasites from said fish. The nozzles are closely spaced with respect to the fish for more effective treatment. A pre-treatment substance may also be used.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A continuous system for removing parasites from fish, the system comprising:
 a downwardly angled fluid spray treatment conduit:   a motorized fish conveyor apparatus including a conduit with water and a treatment compound therein transporting fish from a pen to the downwardly angled fluid spray treatment conduit; and   adjustable spray nozzles in the downwardly angled treatment conduit closely spacing the spray nozzles with respect to the fish and each connected to a fluid source for dislodging parasites from the fish.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  in which the motorized fish conveyor apparatus includes an Archimedes screw. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  in which the motorized fish conveyor apparatus includes a coiled conduit attached to a motorized shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  further including a plurality of spaced sets of arms associated with the downwardly angled fluid spray treatment conduit, each set of arms including circumferentially spaced arms, each said arm carrying at least one said spray nozzle. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  further including means for adjusting said arms relative to the conduit. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  in which said arms include a distal shoe for engaging the fish and each nozzle is fixed to the shoe. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  in which said distal shoe is pivotably attached to the distal end of said arm. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5  in which said arms are pivotably attached to the conduit and biased away from the conduit. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5  in which each said arm constitutes a bar linkage pivotably attached to the conduit. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  further including a spring associated with the bar linkage biasing it away from the conduit. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 5  in which the spray nozzles are rearwardly angled. 
     
     
         12 . A continuous method for removing parasites from fish, the method comprising:
 transporting fish from a pen to a downwardly angled fluid treatment conduit via a motorized fish conveyor apparatus including a conduit with water and a treatment compound therein;   automatically adjusting spray nozzles in the downwardly angled fluid spray treatment conduit to closely space the spray nozzles with respect to the fish to dislodge parasites from the fish.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  in which the motorized fish conveyor apparatus includes an Archimedes screw. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  in which the motorized fish conveyor apparatus includes a coiled conduit attached to a motorized shaft. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  father including a plurality of spaced sets of arms associated with the downwardly angled fluid spray treatment conduit, each set of arms including circumferentially spaced arms, each said arm carrying at least one said spray nozzle. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further including adjusting said arms relative to the conduit. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  in which said arms include a distal shoe for engaging the fish and each nozzle is fixed to the shoe. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  in which said distal shoe is pivotably attached to the distal end of said arm. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  in which said arms are pivotably attached to the conduit and biased away from the conduit. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  in which each said arm constitutes a bar linkage pivotably attached to the conduit. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further including providing a spring associated with a bar linkage biasing it away from the conduit. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16  in which the spray nozzles are rearwardly angled.