The Aquaculture Blog

Four years ago, AKVA group and the ROV manufacturer Sperre launched the first remotely free flying net cleaning system. At the time it was not uncommon to apply whatever pressure available from the HP pumps onboard the service vessels to the nets, in many cases well over 200 bar. The combination of net cleaners using belts as propulsion crawling on the nets, and high pressure applied to the nets, turned out to result in significant wear and tear on the nets and net mesh. Today we know better.

Even the best fish feeders are limited by their ability to manage multiple data streams and recall the historical performance of the pen they are feeding. Therefore, the next improvement to modern feeding practices is to apply the science of AI technology.

Is it possible to improve netting properties by changing mesh geometry? After much detailed work on the re-launch of a hexagonal mesh netting system, our answer is a definitive Yes! I want to share the results we have achieved at Egersund Net during product development and testing of the new netting design.

Fish farmers already know that the boat is essential for allowing personnel to get the job done. Work in the fish farming industry can involve a great deal of strain, and the requirements you place on the boat have an impact on the safety, efficiency, and comfort of your employees. Regardless of the purpose, the boat has to be safe and resilient and have a long service life maximise the investment. When thinking about expanding or replacing parts of your fleet, there are a few things you should consider.

Artificial light sources can significantly increase farmed salmon growth when used correctly, and in some instances, by up to 15%. However, it takes a bit more than a corrosion-resistant and waterproof lamp. We need to understand fish’ biology to provide precisely the light it needs.

Several fish farmers face a significant environmental burden once a year when replacing the batteries of the marking lights on the fish farm. New, green technology can eliminate thirty kilos of environmentally harmful waste per year for each light.

What do you know about the water environment and how the currents run in the fjord system where you are engaged in salmon farming? This information will be of significant benefit when you optimize measures against sea lice - not only for your sites but for the overall infection risk in the fjord.

When equipment or software is not properly utilized, this quickly affects factors such as feed consumption, growth, reliability, and maintenance costs. Competence makes employees at all levels capable of working efficiently and facing unforeseen situations safely and adequately.

Can you instantly access documentation for the equipment at all your locations? Do you have an overview of the maintenance sequence for the gear? Are you able to easily update safety instructions when these are revised? Do you have a procedure for reporting irregularities? Even if you answer yes to these questions, you may spend unnecessary time and resources on this.

A fish farming locality is not necessarily a place where high-speed internet connection is available. A primary concern when adopting new technology for remotely controlled feeding. However, the solution is local. So is the expertise.