Aquabyte’s automated maturation tool for farmed salmon gains regulatory approval in Iceland.
Aquabyte has received formal approval from the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority (MAST) for its automated, non-invasive method for estimating the sexual maturation of farmed salmon. The tool, which uses computer vision and AI to deliver fish welfare-relevant data, is the first of its kind globally to be approved for regulatory use.
The method replaces manual sampling processes—historically requiring the dissection of up to 200 fish per site—with image-based assessments integrated into the Aquabyte User Portal.
“This milestone marks a significant step forward in the digital transformation of aquaculture and fish welfare monitoring,” said Per Erik Hansen, Director of Regulatory & External Affairs at Aquabyte.
Under Icelandic regulations, fish farmers are required to monitor maturation to prevent escapees from mixing with wild salmon populations. With the new system, companies can generate site-specific regulatory documentation without harming fish.
Karl Steinar Óskarsson, Head of the Aquaculture Department at MAST, said the tool allows companies to meet regulatory requirements “without harming or stressing the fish.”
The method was developed and validated in collaboration with Arctic Fish at its Bolungarvík facility. John Gunnar Grindskar, COO Farming at Arctic Fish, called the tool “an important step forward,” adding that it delivers “deeper insight in a way that benefits everyone — from fish farmers and regulators to the fish themselves.”
Aquabyte, founded in 2017, provides AI-driven camera systems for monitoring fish health, growth, and behaviour, with operations in Norway, Chile, and the U.S. The new maturation scoring tool is now available to Icelandic producers.