Algae blooms killed huge numbers of farmed salmon in northern Norway in 2019, but now new equipment promises to save millions of fish.
The Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (HI) has introduced advanced monitoring technology that leverages submersible microscopes and artificial intelligence to improve the detection of harmful algal blooms in Norway’s coastal waters.
The technology, recently implemented at HI’s Flødevigen research station, allows researchers to assess algae populations directly in the ocean, reducing the need for traditional lab-based water sample analysis.
“This new submersible ‘microscope’ captures images of microalgae directly in seawater,” explained HI researcher Lars-Johan Naustvoll. “Using artificial intelligence, we can identify and quantify the algae species present in real-time, enabling rapid response to potential harmful algal blooms.”
Secret killer behind 2019 mortality event in which 7 million fish died is finally unveiled
The device, housed in a cylindrical metal container, photographs and analyzes all microalgae within a water sample, with AI algorithms then classifying species and calculating densities.
This approach not only accelerates detection but also facilitates early alerts to regulatory authorities and industries reliant on marine resources. Algal blooms can quickly change, with specific species producing toxins or depleting oxygen levels, leading to fish mortality or shellfish toxicity, both of which pose risks to public health and aquaculture.
While most algae are benign, a few species, termed “problem algae,” can be harmful in high concentrations.
In 2019, a bloom of Chrysochromulina leadbeateri caused widespread salmon deaths in Norway’s Nordland and Troms regions. Early spring typically brings natural algal blooms, essential to marine ecosystems. However, a bloom dominated by harmful species or reaching excessive densities can lead to significant environmental impacts.
This technology provides a valuable supplement to traditional water sampling and microscopy, allowing for broader and faster monitoring. “It doesn’t replace thorough lab analysis of water samples, which is still essential,” Naustvoll noted. “But this real-time monitoring allows us to capture changes that develop rapidly, something previous methods couldn’t achieve at the same speed.”
