SUPPORT DEVICE FOR THE CULTIVATION OF MACROORGANISMS IN MARINE WATERS

摘要

Disclosed is a support device that allows macroalgae, for example, to be cultivated in protected as well as unprotected sea regions characterized by rough conditions caused by wind and waves. A previously known support device which comprises a ring structure and to whose outer ring buoyancy means and anchoring means are fixed, proved to be unstable during operation and was partly destroyed due to great strain when the same was brought out of the water once algae had grown thereupon. The inventive support device (1), which is easy to handle and particularly robust, is therefore characterized by the fact that a ring structure (2) that is vertically adjustable in the water column is largely disconnected from the force transmitting chain. In order for the outer ring (13) of the ring structure to have to bear only the load of the harvest during heaving, a central buoyancy means (4) is directly joined to the anchoring means (5) with the aid of a central carrying rope (6) that extends through a leading, central inner ring (23) in the culture unit (19) which is permanently braced in relation to said central inner ring (23). The outer ring (13) is suspended on the central carrying rope (6) via a top and a bottom bridle (7, 8), bridle ropes (11, 12) that are assigned to each other in pairs extending from central bridle rings (9, 10) to common fastening points (14) on the outer ring (13).