SeafoodSource continues to monitor advancements in seafood processing and equipment technology, sharing recent developments in the industry.
Fosnavåg, Norway’s MMC First Process, a provider of seafood processing, handling, and cooling equipment, has partnered with Nova Sea to create a land-based holding pen solution for fish. This system will allow Nova Sea to maintain salmon in controlled conditions regarding water quality, temperature, and oxygen levels. “Our systems facilitate stress-free unloading, which is crucial for meeting our customers’ quality expectations,” stated Frank Edvard Vike, CSO Handling at MMC First Process. The project involves six holding tanks, each with a capacity of 2,600 cubic meters, totaling a biomass capacity of 2,050 metric tons of salmon. Nova Sea Project Manager Espen Gleinsvåg highlighted the investment as a significant step toward new technology with guidance from MMC First Process.
In another innovation, AZTI, a scientific research center, has developed a new AI model that accurately identifies fish schools. The technology can distinguish between key pelagic species in the Bay of Biscay, including anchovies, sardines, and Atlantic mackerel, based on their schooling behavior using acoustic echosounders. Marine scientist Aitor Lekanda noted that this automation not only streamlines data processing for scientific surveys but also allows for deeper studies into schooling behavior, thus potentially improving the fishing industry’s efficiency and sustainability.
Garware Technical Fibers has seen its passive sea lice prevention technology adopted by eight salmon production centers in Chile. The “skirt” design surrounding fish pens permits water ingress while keeping sea lice out. Gopakumar Menon, Americas Manager at Garware Technical Fibres, confirms operational implementations in several centers, including with Cermaq, Mowi, and Salmones Austral. Results confirming the technology’s effectiveness will be available in six to twelve months. The skirt, which offers a non-pharmacological approach to managing sea lice, is anticipated to help reduce reliance on chemical treatments, as noted by Chile Business Associate Marcos Jofré.
The Food Animal Initiative (FAI), an aquaculture welfare research organization, is collaborating with Bangkok-based HydroNeo to enhance shrimp welfare technologies. HydroNeo’s mobile management app, which monitors shrimp farm water quality, will integrate FAI’s welfare assessment framework aimed at improving shrimp farm performance. HydroNeo’s CEO Fabian Reusch stated that the initiative will benefit shrimp farmers in Asia by making production monitoring more accessible while improving broader farm outcomes and consumer welfare standards.
In the U.S., New Bedford, Massachusetts-based Red’s Best has expanded its operations by acquiring a seafood processing plant for $2.5 million and investing an additional $300,000 in renovations. This move is set to enhance their existing processing capacity. Launched in 2008, Red’s Best has grown to include four processing facilities that manage nationwide distribution.
Lastly, Aquabyte has introduced a new technology for biomass measurement and welfare scoring for smolt production. Headquartered in Laksevåg, Norway, the camera-based system aims to assess smolt as small as 50 grams, using machine learning algorithms to evaluate health without needing to handle the fish. Senior Data Scientist Mochi Liu explained the unique challenges presented by smolt monitoring, emphasizing the need for specialized algorithms for this phase. Insight Manager Kristin Aase expressed enthusiasm for the ability to monitor fish health from the early stages of growth, enabling farmers to make informed decisions promptly.