For phase one, the main task has been adapting the iFarm equipment in the pen to the fish’s behaviour and ensuring that the fish are well and have good welfare.
Learning process
According to the company, the need for de-licing was reduced by 50 per cent in the iFarm pens compared to the conventional pens on the site and scoring of welfare indicators was good throughout the production.
The company says that the testing in phase one has resulted in important experiences regarding the camera arrangement, lighting, and data processing to enable a health record for each fish.
“Checking the fish in real time with cameras from multiple angles opens up to tell more about each fish, but at the same time it requires a lot from the software and hardware solutions we develop,” says general manager of BioSort, Geir Stang Hauge.
Phase two
The further development of iFarm – phase two – is taking place in Vesterålen. An entire sea site has been equipped with iFarm setups in all the pens, after the fish was stocked last autumn. In this phase, there will be real full-scale testing of the concept and technology.
“We have learned a lot that we have already implemented in phase two, and we have received a number of answers that take us to the next step. An important part of the innovation work is to find out what works and what does not work “, says Ottem.
The first iFarm fish was harvested at Steigen processing plant and has been sent to customers in Europe and Asia.
The iFarm project, which will develop individual aquaculture, is planned to run over five years.
