Innovation under the sea
Fish Farmer rounds up the latest news on subsea technology
Two underwater technology companies have made the shortlist for the Responsible Fisheries Innovation Awards, with the winner to be announced at the Responsible Seafood Summit in St Andrews later this month.
They are GenusWave, for its Targeted Acoustic Startle Technology (TAST) predator protection system, and Ace Aquatec for its biomass camera.
GenusWave TAST system
The GenusWave system is based on technology developed at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. It seeks to address the problems of previous models of acoustic deterrent devices (ADDs), which use a continuous sound emission to keep seals (and sealions, in the Pacific) away from fish farms.
Previous ADDs have been criticised for causing distress and disorientation to other marine mammals, such as whales and dolphins, and also run the risk that predators will simply become habituated to the sound and ignore it.
In contrast, the TAST system emits a burst of sound for less than half a second when predators are detected, at a frequency designed to scare seals while not distressing whales and dolphins.
Ace Aquatec’s A-BIOMASS® camera
Ace Aquatec’s biomass system, A-BIOMASS®, is an advanced underwater camera designed to bring more efficiency and precision to biomass measurement and distributions of a range of fish species.
The camera utilises machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to achieve real-time millimetre accuracy. Weighing just 8.5kg, this fully automated camera is smaller and easier to deploy than many others on the market. It leverages the latest AI technologies to ensure consistent average weight and accurate distribution over multiple harvests.
The camera is already being deployed by fish farmers around the world. The latest contract, announced last month, was with Mount Cook Alpine Salmon in New Zealand.
Mount Cook Alpine Salmon’s farms are located within a network of continuously flowing waterways, connecting three alpine lakes and creating a unique set of circumstances. The camera’s unique training processes allows Ace Aquatec to tackle some of the toughest environments, like glacial melt water, low light conditions (starlight visibility) and a variety of fish types. This new precision has enabled Alpine Salmon to identify which fish to harvest whilst significantly minimising handling, thereby reducing stress for the fish and creating a safer and less labour-intensive environment for workers.
Jon Bailey, General Manager at Mount Cook Alpine Salmon, added: “The advanced A-BIOMASS® camera technology has consistently been very precise, with predictions aligning closely to our actual harvest rates and showing increased accuracy across multiple harvests over the past 18 months. Individual harvest results have significantly improved, and we hope to expand the use of these devices across more sites in the future to further optimise our operations.”
UCO Foover ROV
Mowi and UCO take partnership to next steps
Underwater Contracting (UCO) and Mowi have announced a significant expansion of their partnership, focusing on the integration of cutting-edge remotely operated vehicle (ROV) technology in salmon farming. This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring the highest welfare standards in aquaculture, the companies say, and will see a 40% expansion in the number of ROVs taken by Mowi for use on its sites.
UCO, with a focus on ROV development and subsurface innovation, supplies specialised tools and solutions tailored for the aquaculture industry. It maintains a particular emphasis on routine husbandry tasks such as mortality removal, net inspections and general stock maintenance.
Foover ROV
Announcing the deal, Michael Bower, Managing Director at UCO, said: “UCO is proud to provide solutions that solve subsurface challenges not only in aquaculture but also across industries such as renewable energy, oil and gas, and environmental surveying. Our research and development efforts, all based in Scotland, are key to delivering practical, usable solutions that enhance our customers’ operations.”
Mowi, globally the largest salmon farming company with operations in eight regions and an annual production of close to half a million tonnes of salmon, has been a long-standing partner of UCO since 2018. Over the last five years, the use of ROV systems on Mowi farm sites has increased significantly. In a new extended agreement, Mowi has increased its ROV fleet to a record high over 25 “Foover” units designed for removing mortalities (“morts”) from salmon pens. The next stage of UCO and Mowi’s partnership will focus on further enhancing the Foover system, developing capabilities for monitoring and removing surface moribund fish.
UCO is owner of the world’s largest fleet of Saab Seaeye Falcon ROVs, which serve as the platform for the Foover. Earlier this year, UCO added to its pool through the purchase of five new machines to give it a total of 38 Falcon systems.
SAAB eM1-7 Electric Manipulator
Power underwater
The SAAB Seaeye range of underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), including the Falcon, Lynx and Cougar, is capable of being equipped with a range of tools and sensors.
This year, the company raised the bar with the introduction of the Seaeye eM1-7 Electric Manipulator, which SAAB describes as “the epitome of electric manipulation advancement”.
The new manipulator tool was unveiled at the Oceanology International trade show.
The eM1-7 has a lift capacity of 445kg in minimum extension and a 122kg in full extension. It features an advanced control system allowing both manual and automated operation.
SAAB says: “The Seaeye eM1-7 offers significant advantages over hydraulic alternatives, including more precise positioning with force feedback, increased dexterity, lower water weight and greater reliability – expanding the potential for more autonomous and resident applications.”
Chiari Petrioli
WSense is a Blue Champion
Earlier this year, WSense, an Italian-based deep tech company specialising in underwater monitoring and communication systems, was named as one of the European Union’s “Blue Champions” businesses. The announcement was made in May.
WSense, founded by engineering professor Chiari Petrioli, who is also the company’s CEO, has developed technology for a subsea “Internet of Things”. It was one of 70 projects from the EU and from European Economic Area (EEA) countries submitted for the newly created Blue Champions scheme.
The final list selected those companies that best met the criteria, as being
• aligned with the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters”
• likely to be profitable
• meeting the required quality standards
• mature enough and displayed the type of technology required.
WSense and the other winners will receive advisory support from the European Investment Bank Advisory Services and the European Investment Bank Projects Directorate for Innovation and Competitiveness. Some of the companies might also qualify for EIB (European Investment Bank) venture debt, a type of loan designed specifically for early-stage, high-growth companies.
The EU Blue Champions scheme not only promotes and supports promising ocean innovation but also identifies market failures and gaps in forward-looking technologies across blue economy sectors, from green shipping to new ocean energy solutions.
