B2E presents the second edition of the new Technological Sonar initiative, our monthly selection of national and international initiatives to watch, as part of new patents and technologies in the blue bioeconomy sector. Check out this set of new inventions!

AQUACULTURE

Vaccine with virus-like particles for nerve necrosis stimulates innate and adaptive immune responses in European sea bass and induces long-term protection against disease
The rapidly growing Mediterranean aquaculture production of European sea bass is compromised by outbreaks of viral nerve necrosis, which can be recurrent and damaging. In this study, the duration of protection and the immune response were evaluated in sea bass that received a single dose of a virus-like particle (VLP)-based vaccine. The results suggested, taken together, that the VLP-based vaccine is suitable for clinical trials under rearing conditions.

At the National Center for Biotechnology Information
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Submerged Feed Disperser for Aquaculture System
A submerged feed disperser system for an open-sea fishpond is disclosed here. This system increases the effective volume over which feed is distributed within a submerged fishpond. The feed disperser allows more fish to eat to satiety, reducing competition for feed, encouraging consistent fish growth within a population, while also reducing aggression during feeding and minimizing feed pellet loss or waste during feeding.

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office USTPO
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Aquaculture Feed Additive
A feed additive suitable for use in commercial aquaculture, made from whole dried seaweed powder supplemented with 2.5% (w/w) andrographolide, increases the feed conversion ratio (the ratio between weight gain and the weight of feed used) and the growth rate, while reducing vulnerability to waterborne marine pathogens.

In U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
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Anesthesia Maintenance System and Anesthesia Maintenance Method for Fish and Shellfish
To reduce toxic components in an aquarium and prevent sudden death of fish and shellfish, according to the present invention, in an aquarium in which fish and shellfish under anesthesia are housed, the carbon dioxide concentration in the aquarium is adjusted to promote a reaction of ammonia (NH3) into ammonium ions (NH4+). An aeration medium can be used to adjust the carbon dioxide concentration.

In the European Patent Register.

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Handling of fish farming material
Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer programs encoded in a computer-readable storage medium, for handling fish farming material are described. Fish farming material includes samples collected from breeding individuals and transported for suspension in refrigerated storage. During the refrigerated storage period, a metric of interest corresponding to the fish farming material is identified. Based on the identification of the metric of interest, the handling of materials can be modified to, for example, separate the fish farming material into quarantine incubation units to inhibit infection of the fish farming material within other incubation units.

In World Intellectual Property Organization
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LIVING MARINE RESOURCES

Cooked Fish Substitute
The present invention relates to the field of fish substitutes, more specifically to a method for obtaining a cooked fish substitute without additives, with a fibrous texture; a marine, iodized, salty and fresh taste; with a long shelf life; rich in fiber, protein and unsaturated fatty acids. The present invention also relates to this cooked fish substitute and its use as a substitute for canned tuna or salmon.

In World Intellectual Property Organization
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Reef Base Grid Composed of Ecological Basalt Fiber, Suitable for Coral Reef Substrate Restoration and Restoration Method
Reef base grid composed of ecological basalt fiber, suitable for coral reef substrate restoration and restoration method, composed of a square grid woven from gel-free basalt fibers. Includes pure aluminum wires and gel-free basalt fiber. Ecological basalt fiber composite reef base netting has been applied to the ecological restoration engineering of coastal reefs and islands in the tropical zone of the South China Sea. The accumulated restoration area reaches 4000 m², and a good demonstration effect of restoration is obtained.

In World Intellectual Property Organization
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Automated identification of fish fillets

One disclosed method involves encoding an image acquired from a one method involves processing a first fish fillet image into a first feature vector consumable by at least one predictive model, processing, with at least one predictive model, the first feature vector to identify a type of fish from which the fish fillet was cut, and having at least one device issue an indication of the type of fish identified by at least one predictive model. Another disclosed method involves associating first images of fish fillets with metadata indicative of one or more types of fish from which the fish fillets were cut, using the first images and metadata to train at least one predictive model to categorize second images of fish fillets into the one or more types of fish, and providing at least one predictive model to at least one device so as to allow at least one device to issue an indication of the type or types of fish based on the acquired images of fish fillets.

In World Intellectual Property Organization
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MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY

Use of phycobiliprotein (PBP) to inhibit or treat SARS-CoV-2 infection
This invention relates to the use of phycobiliprotein (PBP) to inhibit or treat SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 infection. Phycobiliproteins are water-soluble proteins found in cyanobacteria and certain algae (Rhodophyta, Cryptomonada, Glaucocystophyta).

In World Intellectual Property Organization
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Yemoja uses red microalgae to develop “bloody” burgers

Yemoja, an Israeli startup specializing in marine ingredients, has developed bloody vegan burgers using a formula based on red microalgae. The innovation paves the way for plant-based burgers and steaks with a rare style and greater authenticity, as well as being a clean substitute for heme.

In Vegconomist
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Male Request: How Frozen Sperm Could Improve Aquaculture Genetics Trade

The compilation of frozen sperm banks from fish and crustaceans could help maintain the competitiveness of Australian aquaculture producers, according to new research from James Cook University.

In The Fish Site
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A Fish Called CRISPR: Blocking Melanin to Increase Commercial Demand for Tilapia

Scientists at the Israel Agricultural Research Organisation’s Volcani Center in Rishon Lezion used CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing tools to create a new tilapia variety that doesn’t develop suspicious skin spots and instead acquires an attractive, uniform red skin, increasing its commercial value.

In Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News
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Could a Mussel-Based Sensor Alert Farmers to Water Quality Problems?

Using a bivalve as a biological sensor, instead of relying exclusively on expensive technology. IntegraSEE CEO Lawrence Taylor explains how monitoring the behavior of a handful of mussels in a MarineCanary unit can alert aquaculture operators to water quality problems, including pollution, pathogens, and temperature anomalies.

In The Fish Site
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