EUPHAUSIID HARVESTING AND PROCESSING METHOD AND APPARATUS

摘要

Method and apparatus for harvesting and processing zooplankton and, in particular, for harvesting and processing euphausiids for subsequent use as a feed product for early stage juvenile or larvae feed or for a food product as an additive. The euphausiids are continuously harvested from coastal waters and dewatered. The dewatered product is passed to a heat exchanger (50) to increase its temperature and, thence, to a digester (51) where a desired level of enzymatic activity is obtained. The product is then held by a surge tank (80) for subsequent transfer to a ball dryer (81) where the product is dried at a relatively low temperature without destroying the stabilized enzymes created in the digester. The digesting step may be deleted in the event the use of the product is for a food product.