Finalists announced for Aqua Nor Innovation awards

A sensor system to monitor fish health in pens, a non-destructive testing system for salmon and trout eggs and a robot designed to clean fish tanks are the shortlisted finalists for the Aquaculture Innovation Awards.

The winner will be announced at the Aqua Nor trade show in Trondheim, Norway, on Thursday 24 August.

Marin X Inc. (Sensor Globe), based in Nova Scotia, has developed a one-of-a-kind platform that employs acceleration measurements alongside water quality monitoring to enhance fish welfare and reduce mortality rates during processing operations.

The Sensor Globe IoT welfare platform offers real-time monitoring capabilities, allowing fish farmers to access crucial indicators and water quality parameters at various depths and locations. This innovative platform incorporates innovative sensing technology that captures essential data, including oxygen levels, pH, temperature, conductivity, and physical acceleration/shock experienced during processing operations. By integrating acceleration measurements with comprehensive water quality monitoring, Sensor Globe aims to revolutionise fish welfare practices and improve overall survival rates in the aquaculture industry.

The Sensor Globe

EVONTA-Technology GmbH, Dresden, Germany, was shortlisted for its fully automated device for non-destructive testing for salmon and trout eggs in hatcheries, that enables the capture of tomographic image data. The scanned fish eggs remain viable and are examined in their natural state. EVONTA’s Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) has been tested in collaboration with Aqua Gen AS.

Using this system, the scanned fish eggs remain viable and are examined in their natural state, so they can be examined without, as is currently the case, testing a sample which needs to be destroyed as part of the process,

EasyX AS, based in Bergen, Norway, has developed the VCR robot (Vertical Cleaning Robot) for cleaning and disinfecting fish tanks in hatcheries and tanks in land-based fish farming. The robot is capable of moving vertically on smooth surfaces – regardless of material. It also eliminates several environment, health and safety challenges, such as exposure to chemicals and heights.

Production efficiency is also increased. The robot is equipped with a foam nozzle and spray wand, which among other things reduces chemical consumption.

A prototype has been tested by pilot customers and partners. Currently, this is the only robot on the market for cleaning empty tanks and vessels.

EasyX tank cleaning robot and operator