Installation of monitoring system underway

Innovasea has begun installing a real-time environmental monitoring system at Grieg Seafood's Red Island farm in Newfoundland, Canada, it announced in a press release dated March 10. Innovasea's monitoring systems comprise of underwater sensors, surface monitoring tools and physical sensors, all to provide fish farmers with the tools to make "informed decisions," it explained on its website.

The system in question will provide baseline data on dissolved oxygen, salinity, chlorophyll, algae and turbidity levels, alongside information on weather and currents prior to Grieg Seafood's 10 pens being stocked with Atlantic Salmon.

It will also include wireless aquaMeasure sensors and an aquaHub, which receives all the information gathered from the sensors and is capable of supporting up to 100 aquaMeasure sensors over a 500m radius.

"Our technology delivers real-time data to farm operators 24/7 no matter where they are so they can make objective, analytical decisions well in advance or at a moment's notice," says Tim Stone, Innovasea's vice president of product development. "A lot of aquaculture sites are in rugged, far-off locations, but Innovasea's solutions ensure the data is always available when you need it."

The installation belongs to a US$27 million initiative with Canada's Ocean Supercluster as it strives to improve data-driven decision making in aquaculture. Grieg Seafood is leading the 'Integrated Operations and Real-Time Analytics Project' to provide technology that will facilitate control over operations from egg to harvest. It is also assisting Grieg with delivering on its promise to make salmon farming sustainable in Placentia Bay.

"Real-time data is a necessity for today's aquaculture operators because it helps them protect fish stocks, optimize production and operate in a safe, sustainable manner," says Tim Stone. "We're excited to provide Grieg with the best environmental monitoring tools in the industry so it can successfully open up this new area to salmon farming over the next decade."

Grieg will be transferring 3 million salmon smolts from its hatchery in Marystown, Newfoundland to the pens in Placentia Bay later this year. The fish will be harvested at the start of 2023 as the producer aims to harvest 15,000 tonnes of salmon by 2025.

"We are thrilled to see the work of the Integrated Operations and Real-Time Analytics Project team continue to advance, and celebrate this important milestone along with them," says Kendra MacDonald, CEO of Canada's Ocean Supercluster. "The collaborative efforts of the Ocean Supercluster and the project partners will deliver a transformative global operations capability in aquaculture and provide important environmental, safety and economic benefits."

For more information on Innovasea visit their website, HERE.

For more information on Grieg Seafood BC visit their website, HERE.