Floating Bag System Equipment

• 100 OBC or TUB Durethene® Bags (Preferably OBC square mesh bags available in 3/16", 3/8" and 5/8" mesh sizes)
• 1000' Special shock cord
• 400 Custom shock cord clips
• 200 Special cylindrical polystyrene floats
• 300 Black plastic cable ties
• 2000 Stainless steel hog rings
• 300 Stainless steel bridge pins
• 450' Longline (rope) 3/8" outer; 1/2" center (heavier if required)
• 2 Anchors (as required)
• 11 Replast spreader bars
• 2 identification & 30 rotational buoys (as required)

Optional Materials:

• Manual or spring-loaded hog ring pliers
• Pocket Former, a machine used to form the OBC Durethene® bags into box cage format (very helpful when assembling large amounts of bags)

OBC Durethene® Cages O-601 TUB Durethene® Bags O-602
Dimensions:
O-601-A:Square mesh size 4.8mm,(3/16"), cage size 91.44cm x 50.8cm x 6.35cm, (36"L x 20"W x 2 ½"H). O-601-B: Square mesh size 3.75mm, (3/8"), cage size 91.44cm x 45.72cm x 7.62cm, (36"L x 18"W x 3"H). O-601-C: Square mesh size 15.9mm, (5/8"), cage size 91.44cm x 45.72cm x 8.89cm, (36"L x 18"W x 3 ½"H). O-602-A: Diamond mesh size 4.8mm,(3/16"), dimensions 101.6cm x 50.8cm, (40" x 20"). O-602-B: Diamond mesh size 3.75mm, (3/8"), dimensions 101.6cm x 50.8cm, (40" x 20"). O-602-C: Diamond mesh size 15.9mm, (5/8"), dimensions 101.6cm x 50.8cm, (40" x 20").
Use:
The cages/bags are used to accommodate the oysters as they grow. While the OBC cages are the preferred equipment for use with this system, the TUB bags can be used as an alternative.
Capacity:
100-200 oysters per bag. Loading typically is approximately 40-50% by volume initially, then they are culled, do not overload or growth will be stunted.
How it is used / deployed:
The cages/bags are assembled to the desired size, one end is permanently closed using stainless steel hog rings. The other end is closed with bridge pins, which allow for easy opening. Floats are attached to the cages for floation and shock cord is attached to each corner of the cage with hog rings and cord clips so the cages can be attached, detached from the longline.
Features / benefits:
OBC cages are made of rigid, yet flexible, polyethylene. The cages are reinforced and need no internal support. Reduces handling and easily stacks. Pre-cut cages ship flat and need little assembly. TUB bags are flexible and unsealed, and offer an economical solution for cost-effective growout and handling.
Manufactured in USA.

Durethene® Nursery Bags O-601
Description:
Black Durethene®, tubular, open at each end, flexible.
Dimensions:
O-601-D: 101.6cm x 45.72cm (40" x 18"), O-601-E: 23cm x 91.4cm (9" x 36")
Mesh size:
O-601-D: 2mm, (1/16"), O-601-E: 2.5mm, (3/32").
Weight:
350-400g (12.3-14.1oz).
Use:
Nursery growout of oysters.
How it is used / deployed:
In nursery stage, spat bags can be put inside durethene® bags (O-601), which hang from the longline.
Features / benefits:
Spat bags fit inside growout bags, can easily be transferred when spat are big enough. System is designed so bags will move with wave action, keeping biofouling at minimum, tumbling oyster for better shell growth, and assisting in nutrient flow through bags. Easy to deploy and remove from line.
Manufactured in USA.

Identification Floats O-604-A
Dimensions:
Diameter 30.48cm, (12"), height 48.26cm, (19"), center hole 5.4cm, (2 1/8").
Use:
Identification, rotation, and floatation of the longline grid harness.
How it is used / deployed:
Identification floats are attached to each end of the grid harness.
Manufactured in Canada.

Rotational Floats O-604-B
Dimensions:
Diameter 16.51cm, (6.5"), height 35.56cm, (14"), center hole 3.18cm, (1 ¼").
Use:
Identification, rotation, and floatation of the longline grid harness.
How it is used / deployed:
Rotational floats are attached every few bags to the center longline. The line must be positioned so that at high tide they are taut and bags in combination with floatation are 50% out of the water. Attention and care must be taken with wind and current direction.
Manufactured in Canada.

Polystyrene Floats
Description:
Two types available white for areas that visibility is require, black to blend in to the surroundings.
Dimensions:
7.62cm, (3") diameter, 71.12cm, (28") long (low or high density).
Use:
Floatation of the OBC cages or TUB bags.
How it is used / deployed:
The floats are attached to each side of the cages with cable ties at 3-4 points. The matching of the floatation to the weight of the bag contents is very important to optimize growout, control biofouling, and for shell pruning.
Features / benefits:
Optional polyurethane coating is available for the floats to help them last longer in the water, stronger, and more durable
Manufactured in Canada.

Hog Ring Pliers O-610
Description:
O-610-A: regular, O-610-B: high density, O-610-C: wematic. Optional equipment for the FBS system. Available in both regular and heavy-duty formats. Spring-loaded pliers also available which require a different type of hog rings.
Use:
Closing the hog rings shut to permanently close one end of the cages, and attach the shock cord to the cages.
Features / benefits:
The pliers are specially grooved to grip the hog rings.
Manufactured in Canada.

Stainless Steel Hog Rings
Description:
Two types available O-609-A: 1.27cm, (½"), stainless steel hog rings. O-609-B: 1.42cm, (9/16"), ½" stainless steel taped hog rings for the wematic spring-loaded pliers.
Use:
Attaching the shock cord to the OBC cages, and permanently closing one end of the OBC cage.
How it is used / deployed:
After the cages are assembled, the hog rings are used to attach the shock cord to each corner of the cages and permanently close one end of the cages. Cord clips are then attached to the outer end of the cord to enable the cages to be quickly attached and detached from the longline.
Manufactured in Canada.

Black Plastic Cable Ties O-612
Description:
O-612-A: SB-8B solid bar tie. O-612-B: SB-11B solid bar tie. O-612-C: SL-7B ladder tie. O-612-D: SL-11B ladder tie.
Dimensions:
O-612-A: (8" x 2 1/8"). O-612-B: (11" x 3"). O-612-C: (7" x 1 3/4"). O-612-D: (11" x 3").
Use:
Attaching the floats to the cages.
How it is used / deployed:
The floats are attached to each side of the cages with the cable ties at 3-4 points.

Shock Cord O-607
Description:
Elastic cord with braided nylon covering.
Dimensions:
6.35mm, (¼") diameter, 500' per coil.
Use:
To attach the OBC cages to cord clips which attach to the longline.
How it is used / deployed:
The shock cord is attached to each corner of the cage with hog rings. Cord clips are then attached to the outer end of the cord to enable the cages to be quickly attached and detached from the longline.
Manufactured in USA.

Shock Cord Clips O-608
Dimensions:
Length 2.63cm, (2 5/8").
Use:
Enabling the OBC cages to be quickly attached and detached from the longline.
How it is used / deployed:
After the shock cord is attached to each corner of the cage with hog rings, the cord clips are attached to the outer end of the cord to enable the cages to be quickly attached and detached from the longline.
Manufactured in USA.

Longline Rope
Description:
Aqua line, 3 strand twisted rope.
Dimensions:
6.35mm, (½"), 1200' per coil.
Weight:
26.31kg (58lbs) per coil.
Use:
To hold the bag grid together.
Manufactured in Portugal.

Steel Reusable Pin O-613-A
Use:
To temporarily close one end of the OBC cage.
Features / benefits:
Allows for easy opening to empty or fill cages.
Manufactured in USA.

Steel Reclosable O-613-B
Use:
To temporarily close one end of the OBC cage.
Features / benefits:
Allows for easy opening to empty or fill cages.
Manufactured in USA.