The first set of equipment will be installed at Grieg Seafood Newfoundland sites later this year, and the project will run until October 2027.
Image: OSC
Aquaculture and fish tracking technology firm Innovasea is embarking on a new project partnership with Grieg Seafood Newfoundland, sponsored by Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC), the organisations have announced.
The CAD $6 million Enhanced Aquaculture Technology for Marine Health Project will take place over three years, and see Innovasea equip six Grieg farming sites in Newfoundland with precision aquacuture technology, software and equipement, with the triple aim of boosting fish welfare, sustainability and production.
The new project was announced during this week's Ocean Super Cluster Ambition 2035 Summit, and is one of three new ocean innovation projects worth over $12 million confirmed by the cluster during the event. The OSC confirmed it would be supporting the Innovasea-Grieg project with $2.3 million in, with the balance of funding contributed by the project partners.
Innovasea said it will be installing its fully-automated aeration system aquaControl alongside its new Oxygen Forecasts technology, which predicts low dissolved oxygen (DO) events for individual pens 48 hours before they occur.
The company is also installing its Realfish Pro Platform to provide real-time information to the farming company, enabling continuous remote tracking and analysis. The technology, Innovasea says, will also enable Grieg to automate actions to counteract poor water conditions and support optimal fish health and growth.
“Our technology is designed to enable farms to make smarter, faster decisions through real-time monitoring and predictive insights,” said Innovasea Vice President, Tim Stone, via a press release. “We want farms to be able to anticipate issues and respond automatically to address them before they occur.”
The first set of equipment will be installed at Grieg Seafood Newfoundland sites later this year, and the project will run until October 2027, Innovasea said.
The new project is the second time Innovasea and Grieg have collaborated in Newfoundland with support from the Ocean Super Cluster. The previous project included the installation of environmental sensors at Grieg's Red Island farm site to monitor water conditions in real time. Following the successful completion of the project, Grieg adopted Innovasea's aquaMeasure sensors at several of its sites.
Laura Dwyer, R&D Manager, Grieg Seafood Newfoundland said the new initiative would "enhance fish welfare, create learning opportunities for our employees, and contribute valuable information to help support a sustainable aquaculture industry needed for the world’s food security."
“Sustainable aquaculture is an important economic area of growth globally that contributes to climate action priorities and commitments under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” said Kendra MacDonald, CEO of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster.
“By co-investing in innovative technologies that improve fish health, we’re enhancing operational efficiency, creating new revenue streams, contributing to our own food security, and helping feed the world," MacDonald added.