Mowi and Tidal have expanded their existing collaboration to introduce artificial intelligence-based fish identification technology into salmon breeding programmes, the companies announced on Tuesday.
The project will see Mowi Genetics AS, the breeding and genetics division of the Norwegian salmon farming group, use Tidal’s underwater imaging and AI systems to monitor individual fish as part of its genetics work.
According to the companies, the technology is designed to track fish without the use of physical tags, allowing continuous collection of data related to growth, disease resistance and fish welfare. They say the system could improve the selection of broodstock by giving breeders access to more detailed information on individual fish performance.
The move builds on an existing relationship between the two firms in Mowi’s commercial farming operations, where Tidal’s systems are already used for tasks including lice counting, biomass estimation, feeding support and welfare monitoring.
Matt Baranski of Mowi Genetics AS said the latest phase marked a progression in the partnership.
“Tidal has already become a highly valued partner in Mowi’s day-to-day farming operations, delivering higher-resolution monitoring of sea lice counts and biomass, along with novel phenotypes linked to fish health and welfare," he said, describing the new collaboration as "a natural evolution".
"Shifting from pen-level monitoring to understanding individual fish could significantly improve selection decisions, enabling the next generation to be chosen using continuous, real-world performance data,” Baranski said.
TidalX AI said the technology could have wider implications for salmon farming efficiency and fish handling practices. The company claims its AI systems may help reduce individual fish exposure during in-pen lice treatments while improving the precision of biomass estimates.
“Our vision extends far beyond basic farm monitoring to optimize the entire value chain. This AI technology will not only provide us more precise biomass estimates but also allow for limiting individual exposure during in-pen lice treatments," said Rochak Sharma, chief product officer at TidalX AI. "Bringing the same AI into genetics can create significant gains for breeding programs. By directly linking farm-level performance to biological design, Tidal’s AI is unlocking the next level of gains in efficiency and sustainability for salmon farming.”
TidalX AI develops underwater camera systems and machine perception software for aquaculture operations, while Mowi Genetics AS supports the salmon producer’s global breeding programmes through genetics research and development.
The announcement comes shortly after last week's announcement by SalMar and Tidal that they are embarking on a "strategic partnership" on automated feeding, real-time farm monitoring and the testing of an autonomous in-pen sea lice mitigation system at several SalMar sites.
