NO346438B1 - Fishing vessel and method for preservation of live caught fish - Google Patents

Description

FISHING VESSEL AND METHOD FOR PRESERVATION OF LIVE CAUGHT FISH

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fishing vessel and fishing method aiming at combining fishing with: a gentle reception of the fish to avoid casualties, gentle onboard handling and sorting to retain fish welfare, storing in cubicles designed to avoid physical strain, and simulate a life enhancing habitat for the fish, and deliver the fish still in water and in good condition to onshore (or offshore) facility for production or further storage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the development of new trawls and fishing gear that is more gentle and caring for the catch, markets with higher willingness to pay for that quality is emerging. In order to level the market peaks and feed the market with fresh product, and also extending the season the industry wants to hold the fish alive and in good condition for an extended period of time. However, in order for the customer to recognize this product as a premium product, in addition to being ultrafresh, the welfare and eco friendliness of the entire fishery operation must be heightened, proved and recognized by the consumer.

RU 2027358 C1 discloses a plant for receiving and keeping live fish on a fishing vessel. The essence of the invention: the installation contains two groups of removable containers located respectively on the upper deck and hold and equipped with sprayers and means for draining water, connected pipelines for draining water, as well as a closed circulation loop with a pump, pipelines and means for water purification. The circuit is connected to tanks with sprayers for a supply of clean water, a supply tank, a pipeline with a kingston for supplying intake water, an oxygenator. The unit is equipped with a device for saturating water with pure oxygen with a device for its distribution, to which sprayers of containers and tanks, as well as an oxygenator are connected. The Kingston pipeline is connected to the loop with an additional pump, and an overboard drain pipeline is included between the loop pump discharge line and the upper deck container drain line. It is advisable to equip the installation with a device for receiving fish, including a fish pump, a water separator, a hopper with a loading chute and a vertical mouth for passing fish into containers located in the hold. The installation provides transportation of live fish with tight landing in containers without injuring it when receiving.

Hence, an improved fishing vessel providing a fishing operation being gentle, such as caring, providing fragile handling of catch and live preservation of catch would be advantageous, and in particular a fishing vessel providing a life preserving habitat would be advantageous.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an alternative to the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, the above described object and several other objects are intended to be obtained in a first aspect of the invention by providing a fishing vessel preferably comprising:

- a catch reception system configured to receive fish from a fishing gear, - an onboard fish handling system configured to receive fish from the catch reception system

- an onboard fish storage system for storing received fish and configured to simulate a life enhancing or preserving habitat for the received fish, wherein

- the catch reception system, the onboard fish handling system and the onboard fish storage system are fluidically connected or connectable by flow passages so as to provide a conveyance of fish received by the catch reception system preferably to the onboard fish handling system and further to the onboard fish storage system by a flow of water carrying the fish,

- the catch reception system comprising a connection with a receiving opening in the hull of the vessel, said connection is configured to feed fish received through said receiving opening into a void of the catch reception system,

the fishing vessel further comprising

- a water take-up system fluidically connected or connectable to the water surrounding the fishing vessel and configured for providing said flow of water carrying the fish, the water take-up system is further configured to pressurize the flow of water carrying the fish, typically at a water depth at which the fish can find an acceptable habitat with respect to living, and

- a system for live preservation and maintaining welfare of the fish stored in the onboard fish storage system, the system being configured to oxygenate water in the onboard fish storage system and/or the catch reception system.

“Vessel” and “fishing vessel” are used interchangeable herein.

“Cubicle” as used herein is used to reference a container, a tank or similar device capable of holding an amount of water and fish. No geometrical restrain, such as “cubic shaped” is intended, although they may be cubic shaped for practical reasons.

The inventor has come up with a revolutionary Vessel Concept for a fishing vessel, designed to bring catch live and highly unaffected from handling to as close as possible to the premium market with a unique line of systems to ensure gentle handling and welfare for the fish in all aspects, all the way to the final gutting and preparation as near the consumer as possible.

The Vessel Concept comprises a unique combination of systems developed to enhance fish welfare and life preservation of the fish. Current research shows that wild fish can be held alive in good health for at least four weeks, up to and more than twelve weeks with nourishment. This specific Vessel Concept elaborated herein is referenced as a fishing vessel and is defined by the solution between reception of catch onto the Vessel, process (1.1) / (1.2) and delivery of catch from the Vessel, process (7.1). The numbers in parentheses refers to the itemized list in the section “Detailed description of preferred embodiments”

In a second aspect, the invention relates to a method of catching and storing fish, the method utilizes a fishing vessel according to first aspect and comprising:

- catching fish by use of a fishing gear,

- receive the caught fish onboard by use of the catch reception system, - convey the fish to the onboard fish handling system for handling, and - convey at least a part of the caught fish from the onboard fish handling system and to the onboard fish storage system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The present invention and in particular preferred embodiments thereof will now be described in more detail with regard to the accompanying figures. The figures show ways of implementing the present invention and are not to be construed as being limiting to other possible embodiments falling within the scope of the attached claim set.

Figure 1 illustrates schematically different systems employed in a particular preferred embodiment. Fig. 1A is side view of a vessel and Fig. 1B and 1C are enlarged views of the aft and the stern of Fig. 1A.

Figure 2 is a descriptive sketch of vessel outline with system in-principle assembly and process flow indicated according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2A is side view of a vessel and Fig. 2B and 2C are enlarged views of the aft and the stern of Fig. 2A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is made to fig. 1 schematically illustrating different system employed in a particular preferred embodiment. Fig. 1 in particular illustrates a fishing vessel 1. The fishing vessel is illustrated as comprising a number of systems, which will be detailed in the following.

The vessel has a catch reception system 2 configured to receive fish from a fishing gear 12. In the embodiment shown, the fishing gear is a net, such as a trawl and the open end of the trawl is connected to a receiving opening provided in the vessel below the water line (as indicated in fig. 1 by “surface” and the level sign). The back end of the fishing gear 12 is connected to a wire and fed to a winch 11 as illustrated. By activating the winch, the back end of the fishing gear 12 is lifted thereby gently pushing the catch towards the receiving opening 8.

The receiving opening 8 is fluidically connected to a cubicle labelled in fig. 1 “catch reception system 3” by a fluid connection 10, which may be in the form of a pipe segment, hosing or the like allowing the catch to flow into the cubicle by means of a water flow carrying the catch from the receiving opening 8 and to the cubicle. The fluid connection may preferably comprising shut-off valve providing when activated a fluidically closing of the fluid connection.

The cubicle (as will be further detailed below) typically provides a space where the catch is kept awaiting processing. The cubicle contains water for the fish to live in, and the water is typically pressurized and oxygen enriched to provide a habitat mimicking a water depth at which the fish can find an acceptable habitat.

The vessel 1 also comprising an onboard fish handling system 3 configured to receive fish from catch reception system. The fish handling system 3 has a cubicle (labelled “onboard handling system” in fig. 1) which contains water and fish.

Herein, registering and categorizing will be performed and bycatch and unwanted content will be separated from the catch for further processing outside the system. Although the cubicle of the handling system 3 may feature a temporarily holding capacity, it is intended in majorly to be a processing step. At one point in this processing, the catch may need to reach atmospheric pressure e.g. in order to be subjected to separation/sorting. The carrying of fish between the cubicle of the catch reception system 2 and the cubicle of the onboard handling system 3 is provided by a water take-up system 6 which will be detailed below.

An onboard fish storage system 4 for storing received fish and configured to simulate a life enhancing or preserving habitat for the received fish is provided in the vessel 1. The catch reception system 4 typically comprising a number of cubicles (two are shown in fig. 1) and the storage capacity provided by the cubicles is typically designed so as to store multiple catches so as to allow the vessel to fish for a longer period of time, such as 2-3 weeks, or even longer while subsequent catches are stored in the cubicles of the fish storage system 4. As for the cubicles of the catch reception system (and the onboard handling system,) the cubicle(s) of the fish storage is adapted to provide an acceptable habitat for the catch(es). Since the cubicle(s) of the catch reception system and (and the onboard handling system) can be seen as transit zones and in process terms a pass-through step, these cubicles can be seen as habitable zone(s)

As illustrated in fig. 1. the catch reception system 2, the onboard fish handling system 3 and the onboard fish storage system 4 are fluidically connected or connectable by flow passages 5 so as to provide a conveyance of fish received by the catch reception system 2 to the onboard fish handling system 3 and further to the onboard fish storage system 4 by a flow of water carrying the fish.

As can be seen from fig. 1, a pipe section is extending from the top of and towards the bottom of the cubicle of the catch reception system. The lower end of this pipe section is open and funnel shaped. The upper end is in fluidically connection with the cubicle of the storage system 2. Optionally, valves may be arranged to close the connection. The bottom of the cubicle of the catch reception system is connected to a water take-up system 6 which by means of the shown pump can pump water from the surrounding sea into the cubicle of the catch reception system 2. By such an introduction of water, a flow of water will be provided through the funnel shaped lower open end and into the cubicle of the handling system 3, and this flow of water will carry the fish through pipe to (the cubicle of) the handling system 3. As presented above the handling system 3 may provide some storage; however, the handling system is preferred to operate more as a continuous process that a holding or storing process.

A venting connection 13a, 13b is arranged allowing air to escape the cubicles of the catch reception system 2 and the fish storage 4. These venting connections typically each comprises a shut-off valve closing the connection when activated.

The conveyance of fish between the different cubicles is done through the flow passages 5. The flow from the cubicle of the catch reception system 2 to the cubicle of the fish storage 4. The waterflow may be excessive water from the water take-up system 6 that goes through the flow passage 5 when the airpipe/bleed-over pipe 13a is closed by valve. This valve is pressure regulated in order to control the internal pressure level and control the flow through 5.

Furthermore, the valve set below the foremost end of 3 connects the circulation and pump for take-in of the catch from 8 to 2.

The water with fish is fed into the cubicle(s) of the storage 4 at the upper end of the cubicles; however the water with fish may be fed into the cubicle(s) at other positions.

Accordingly, the fishing vessel has a water take-up system 6 fluidically connected or connectable to the water surrounding the fishing vessel and configured for providing said flow of water carrying the fish. In fig. 1, the connection to the water 14 shown at the bow is show as a box, and this box resembles a valved (e.g. by shut-off valve) opening allowing water to flow controlled from the sea and into the water take-up system 6. As also illustrated, the water take-up system 6 comprises a pump (shown at the bow) which is used to pump the water and pressurize the water, if pressurization is utilized. The water take-up system 6 comprising the shown pipe feeding the cubicles with water and the side braches leading into respective cubicles each comprising a shut-off and/or regulation valve to allow for closing and opening of the water flow into the cubicles independently.

As also illustrated in fig. 1, an aft circulation/pump circuit may provided at the aft water intake 14. This comprises a high capacity pump, which sucks water rapidly from the cubicle of the catch reception system and provides water flow into the cubicle of the catch reception system 2 through the connection 10. The connection (a pipe) 10 typically needs to be large enough to make sure that a pressure drop is not generated inside the cubicle of the catch reception system 2 but small enough to give a high enough water velocity to guide the fish into the vessel, typically 1-1,5 m/s (900 m<3>/h). If the cubicle of the catch reception system 2 is completely filled before start and open the valve close to 8 (air pipe shut off) then water level will not drop as creation of this waterflow ensuring a gentle reception of the catch. It is noted that during this operation, the different valves are set so that the pump at the aft water intake 14 pumps the water to the sea; that is in the opposite direction than the arrow most clearly shown in fig. 1B.

A fishing vessel according to claim 1, wherein the water take-up system (6) is further configured to pressurize the flow of water carrying the fish, typically at a water depth at which the fish can find an acceptable habitat with respect to living, and pressurize the water in the catch reception system, the fish storage system and optionally the onboard handling system to the same or different pressure level. Non-limiting example of such pressure level is up to 20m water column, such as 7-10m water column.

Although it may be preferred and practically implementable to pressurize the handling system 3, a requirement for manual control and backup handling may sometime require atmospheric pressure. Since the processing of the onboard handling system often is high, the catch will not to a high degree be negatively affected by the atmospheric pressure.

The pressurization is typically assisted by the various valves shown in fig. 1 in the flow passages 5 and the venting connections 13a, 13b, whereby the outflow openings of different cubicles can be fluidically closed and pressurized (by the pump) water can be fed into the cubicles by the water take-up system, the connections of which into the cubicles are also closable.

Although not illustrated in fig. 1, the water take-up system 6 may further be configured to replace the water in the onboard fish storage by an amount found suitable to mimic an acceptable habitat, which may as a non-limiting example be in the magnitude of four times per 24 hours or more. By this is meant that the body of water in the cubicle is replaced four times per 24 hours or more. Such a replacement of water may also be applied to the cubicle of the catch reception system 2 (and the handling system 3).

The fishing vessel also comprises an end delivery system 7 configured to convey fish stored in the onboard fish storage system 4 to an onshore or offshore facility.

The end delivery system 7 is designed to off-load the fish from the cubicle(s) of the storage system 4 to a off-load position with may be an on-shore location, such as a harbour or an off-shore location which may be a fish cage or other off-shore facility.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, pipe(s) extend from a delivery position, typically at deck level, and into the interior of the fish storage system 4, which in connection with fig. 1 is into the cubicles of the storage system 4. As shown, a pipe segment is extending from the top of and towards the bottom of the cubicle of the fish storage system. The lower end of this pipe section is open and funnel shaped and the other end is connected to a delivery opening 15.

Conveyance of the fish may be accomplished at least in two ways, which may be combined.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, conveyance fish is provided by emptying of the cubicles of the fish storage by use of the blower 16, which typically is a compressed air blower. This blower 16, feed air, such as compressed atmospheric air, through the illustrated pipe with valve into the cubicles 4. As illustrated, the pipe may practically be connected to the venting connections 13b having a valve arranged above the infeed position of the blower pipe. Thus, considering a single cubicle of the storage, when the valve of the branch of the water take-up system 6 into the cubicle, the valve of the flow passage 5 into the cubicle and the valve of venting connection 13b are closed and the valve of the end delivery system 7 is open, the infeed of air into the cubicle will displace the water with fish in the cubicle with a flow through funnel shaped lower end of the end delivery system 7. It is noted, that the capacity and the pressure head delivered by the blower 6 are selected in accordance with the dimensioning of the cubicle to provide the displacement.

In an alternative (which may be combined with the blower 16 implemented procedure) the conveyance of fish is provided by a pump arranged to feed water into the fish storage system 4 thereby providing a flow of water with fish out of the fish storage system 4 through the pipe segments or hosing towards and out at the delivery position. In the particular embodiment of fig. 1, the pump in question is the pump of the water take-up system and the flow of water into the cubicle is provided by opening the valve of the branch (the valve in the water take-up system 6 into the cubicle) and powering up the pump whereby water is fed into the cubicle. At the same time the valve of the venting connections 13b and the valve of the flow passages 5 into the cubicles are closed, whereby the mass of conservation will provide a flow of water carrying the fish will be conveyed up through the funnel shaped lower opening of the pipe section extending into the cubicle(s) towards and out at the delivery position.

Accordingly and preferably, pressurized air is blow by the blower 16 to “blow” the storage cubicles 4 empty from water/fish and this is typically and preferably done controlled and preferably in harbour while the catch reception tank/cubicle 2 are to operate in open sea thus should preferably be completely filled with water always when containing fish. When cubicles 4 is almost empty one may need to add additional water from 6 in order to avoid air slipping the exit pipe 15 before all the fish is evacuated (a non-limiting example is 1000 m3/h).

Thus, the pipe segments may preferably be characterized as being configured to convey the fish with water from a common junction point to away from the vessel by means of closing the waster take-up system 6 and evacuate water with the fish by means of pressurizing storage cubicles 4 with air.

As detailed above, the catch reception system comprising connection 10 with a receiving opening 8 in the hull of the vessel. The connection 10 is configured to feed fish received through said receiving opening 8 into a void (cubicles) of the catch reception system 2, wherein said opening is preferably arranged below water line of the fishing vessel. As illustrated in fig. 1, the cubicle of the catch reception system has a main section, such as at least 2/3 of the height, below water level and the connection 10 is also arranged below water level. Accordingly, the connection 10 and the cubicle of the catch reception system 2 is water filled by being submerged. Alternatively, or in combination therewith, water may be fed to the cubicle of the catch reception system by the water take-up system by use of the pump (which also provides the possibility of raising the cubicle to a higher position). Thus, when lifting the fishing gear 12 as disclosed above, the fish will not be taken out of water but will float into the passage 10 by the action of the raising fishing gear. The flow of fish may be assisted be reversing the pumping direction of the pump of the water take-up system to suck water out from the cubicle of catch reception system; this may also be used to empty the cubicle.

The invention is not limited to such intake under water, since the fishing vessel may be provided with an on-deck opening 8 (not shown) with the connected leading to the cubicle of the catch reception system.

The onboard fish handling system is configured to sort the received fish according to one or more pre-set preferences, such as species and/or size. The sorting may be a manual sorting or a machine implemented sorting or a combination of both.

A fishing vessel may also comprise a system for live preservation and maintaining welfare of the fish stored in the onboard fish storage system 4, where such a system is configured to, as an example, oxygenate water in the onboard fish storage system, such as by introduce air into water contained in the cubicle(s) of the fish storage system. The system may also be configured to oxygenate water in the catch reception system (2), such as in the cubicle of the catch reception system. Further, the system may also be configured to oxygenate water in the onboard handling system.

Preferred embodiments of a vessel of the invention are particular useful in connection with a method of catching and storing fish, where the method comprising:

- catching fish by use of a fishing gear 12,

- receive the caught fish onboard by use of the catch reception system 2, - convey the fish to the onboard fish handling system 3 for handling, and - convey at least a part of the caught fish from the onboard fish handling system 3 and to the onboard fish storage system 4.

After catch and storage, the method may further comprise conveying the fish from the onboard fish storage system 4 to an onshore or offshore facility.

In the following further disclosure of preferred embodiment, reference is made to fig 2. While emphasise in the above has be put on parts, elements and working principles, the following disclosure provides some further aspects of the invention with reference to inter alia how to optimise survival during catching, handling and storing.

The basic design principle is to combine fishing with:

- a gentle reception of the fish (1.1) / (1.2) to avoid casualties,

- gentle onboard handling (2.1) – (2.3) and sorting (3.1) / (3.2) to retain fish welfare,

- storing in cubicles (5.1) / (5.2) designed to avoid physical strain, and simulate a life enhancing habitat (5.3) for the fish, and

- deliver (6.1) – (6.3) the fish still in water and in good condition to onshore (or offshore) facility (7.1) for production or further storage.

The solution is found not to be limited to a specific fishing method, prior to reception (1.1) / (1.2) or handling after delivery, succeeding delivery (7.1)

The Vessel Concept comprises several unique systems integrated in a single fishing vessel capable of retaining catch, bycatch and rest raw material for sustainable and eco-friendly fishing. Paragraphs references to fig. 2 being a descriptive sketch of vessel outline with system in-principle assembly and process flow indicated.

(0.1) First, foremost and preferably, the utilization of modern fishing gear designed for gentle catch of the fish should be used.

(0.2) Bringing the catch to the Vessel and ready for taking onboard should preferably be considered dependent of fishing gear used, species in the catch and weather conditions, in order to ensure the very high survival rate.

(1.1) In order for the catch to maintain survivability and maintain quality the catch should preferably be handled and taken onboard / floating onboard without subject only to limited additional pressure or vacuum. Hereunder lifting of the catch high above water by the fishing gear, landing net, mechanical- or vacuum pump should preferably be avoided.

(1.2) If system (1.1) is not available or by some matter is inoperable, the catch may be taken onboard by other means and carefully led to the reception and/or restitution tanks (cubicle of the catch reception system).

(2.1) From this system (1.1) or (1.2), the catch is lead to the temporary holding and restitution tanks (2.2) (cubicle of the catch reception system) where the catch is kept, awaiting sorting and processing, in a pressurized habitat with fresh oxygen enriched water.

If water temperature is considered too high, the catch may also be cooled down with circulation of RSW to a more pleasing level for the fish in this stage.

Additionally, the catch will normally stay in this system long enough for the fish to relief sand/gravel and belly content here, not bringing it further into the storage cubicles (5.1). This typically avoid or at least reduces the risk of bringing contamination carried by the catch into the storage cubicles.

(2.2) Temporary holding and restitution tanks (cubicle of the catch reception system) will be arranged, preferably minimum as a pair (two) inside the Vessel adjacent to the point of catch reception (1.1) and preferably submerged or partly submerged below waterline. The temporary holding and restitution tanks should provide ability to simulate a habitat closer to the natural conditions for the catch. In addition, oxygen saturation to aid recovery after the discomfort of being taken onto the Vessel.

(2.3) Transportation of the catch through the Vessel needs preferably to be done in a way that both preserve quality and maintains the welfare for the fish. This can be achieved in the designed preservation, handling and transport system presented herein, by means of water flow and pressure regulation gently leading the catch to sorting away bycatch and unfit fish (3.1).

(3.1) Following the preferably continuous waterflow, sorting out bycatch and unfit fish before leading the catch into the storage cubicles (5.1) should preferably be performed preferably drenched in water or alternatively manual in a wet environment and as quickly as practical, moving from the temporary holding and restitution tanks (2.2). The fish for live preservation may then be led to the storage cubicles (5.1) by waterflow.

(3.2) Bycatch, unfit specimen and debris shall preferably be sorted away from the main catch and led to a wet factory (4.1). Herein, the debris is sorted away and the remaining catch is processed and stored (4.2).

(4.1) A Wet Factory will be arranged after the sorting (3.1) where the bycatch is either prepared for fresh storing and gutted, or frozen storing headed and gutted. Arrangement of Wet Factory itself will typically not differ from the typical factory trawler or liner.

(4.2) Refrigerated storage arranged for either cold or frozen preservation of bycatch. Capacity need to be dimensioned and storage rooms arranged according to a division factor from total catch and the live storage cubicles (5.1). Rest raw material should be processed and stored as well.

(5.1) Prolonged storage of the live catch after sorting (3.1) will be done in a tank area consisting of a series of cubicles, storage cubicles that is completely filled with fresh Sea Water during operation.

(5.2) Live preservation should preferably be kept within the storage cubicles. Size and shape of the cubicles should preferably be designed in order to practical size for handling, avoid undesired water movement and fish welfare. The Vessel shall preferably be built with numerous cubicles according to operational requirement.

(5.3) System for live preservation and maintaining welfare for the fish contained in each storage cubicle (5.1) shall preferably be fitted in a manner that provides a backup possibility. The system will be similar to the Temporary holding and restitution tanks (2.2), featuring circulation of fresh Sea Water from below the Vessel, saturation with oxygen and pressure regulation through natural bleed of surplus water over an elevated circulation outlet. Water quality and temperature will preferably be maintained due to the circulation. Flow and oxygen saturation will preferably depend on the fish density in the holding Cubicles (5.1).

(6.0) Delivery of catch to facility onshore or offshore, still live and fit shall preferably be done with the same philosophy on avoiding sudden change in environment for the fish, which change would otherwise be harmful such as lethal or hematoma to the fish.

(6.1) Each storage cubicle (5.1) shall preferably have a slanting bottom towards a catch evacuation pipe (6.2) of similar or larger diameter as the onboard transportation system (2.3). The evacuation pipe is preferably connected to a similar dimensioned offloading system (7.1) on deck that interfaces with the onshore or offshore facility.

(6.2) Catch Evacuation pipe from each Storage cubicle (5.1) connects with the offloading system (7.1) preferably with a valve allowing for the catch in each storage cubicles to be evacuated or offloaded sequentially.

(6.3) With the use of low pressure/ high flow air blowers, the water may be evacuated from each Storage cubicle (5.1), one at a time with the fish following the water. At the end, water may be added into the storage cubicle engaged in offloading to ensure full evacuation of all the fish through the evacuation pipe (6.2) and offloading system (7.1).

(7.1) Offloading system will preferably be arranged outside on an upper deck.

The offloading system receives a preferably continuous flow of water from the storage cubicles (5.1) through the evacuation pipes (6.2) with the fish alive, fit and little affected, by the process. The offloading system will typically be a hose or pipe segments of the same diameter as the evacuation pipes (6.2). The receiving facility may now either further store the fish or process the fish for immediate transport to the consumer.

Following Vessel Concept, the fishing vessel is fishing a catch with the highest possible, such as a higher, survivability of the fish, taking the catch onboard without putting additional strain to the fish, performing a temporary holding period to do immediate restitution and reduce risk of bringing contamination into the storage cubicles. The bycatch and unfit specimen are sorted out to ensure full utilization of the catch and the fish can be delivered as close to the market as possible with the best welfare for the fish and quality of the fish. Onboard Sequence: (1.1)/(1.2), (2.2), (2.3), (3.2), (5.2), (5.3), (6.3), (7.1).

Fig. 2 describes an outline of the system combination and logistics arrangement.

List of numerals used:

1 Fishing vessel

2 Catch reception system

3 Onboard handling system

4 Onboard fish storage system

5 Flow passages

6 water take-up system

7 End delivery system

8 Receiving opening

9 Wire

10 Connection of catch reception system into sea 11 Winch

12 Fishing gear, e.g. a net, such as a trawl 13a, 13b Venting connection

14 connection to the water

15 Pipe segment(s) or hosing(s)

16 Compressed air blower

Claims (7)

1. A fishing vessel (1) comprising:

- a catch reception system (2) configured to receive fish from a fishing gear (12),

- an onboard fish handling system (3) configured to receive fish from the catch reception system (2),

- an onboard fish storage system (4) for storing received fish and configured to simulate a life enhancing or preserving habitat for the received fish, wherein

- the catch reception system (2), the onboard fish handling system (3) and the onboard fish storage system (4) are fluidically connected or connectable by flow passages (5) so as to provide a conveyance of fish received by the catch reception system (2) to the onboard fish handling system (3) and further to the onboard fish storage system (4) by a flow of water carrying the fish,

- the catch reception system (2) comprising a connection (10) with a receiving opening (8) in the hull of the vessel, said connection (10) is configured to feed fish received through said receiving opening (8) into a void of the catch reception system (2),

the fishing vessel (1) further comprising

- a water take-up system (6) fluidically connected or connectable to the water surrounding the fishing vessel (1) and configured for providing said flow of water carrying the fish, the water take-up system (6) is further configured to pressurize the flow of water carrying the fish, typically at a water depth at which the fish can find an acceptable habitat with respect to living,

and

a system for live preservation and maintaining welfare of the fish stored in the onboard fish storage system (4), the system being configured to oxygenate water in the onboard fish storage system (4) and/or the catch reception system (2).

2. The fishing vessel (1) according to claim 1 , wherein the water take-up system (6) is further configured to replace the water in the onboard fish storage (4).

3. The fishing vessel (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising an end delivery system (7) configured to convey fish stored in the onboard fish storage system (4) to an onshore or offshore facility.

4. The fishing vessel (1) according to claim 3, wherein the end delivery system (7) comprising

- pipe segments or hosing (15) extending from a delivery position and into the interior of the fish storage system (4), and

- a pressurization device, arranged to pressurize a head space above the water level in the fish storage system (4) and/or a pump arranged to feed water into the fish storage system (4) thereby providing a flow of water with fish out of the fish storage system (4) through the pipe segments or hosing (15) towards and out at the delivery position.

5. The fishing vessel (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the onboard fish handling system (3) is configured to sort the received fish according to one or more pre-set preferences.

6. A method of catching and storing fish, the method utilizes a fishing vessel (1) according to any of the preceding claims and comprising:

- catching fish by use of the fishing gear (12),

- receive the caught fish onboard by use of the catch reception system (2), - convey the fish to the onboard fish handling system (3) for handling, and - convey at least a part of the caught fish from the onboard fish handling system (3) and to the onboard fish storage system (4).

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising convey the fish from the onboard fish storage system (4) to an onshore or offshore facility.