The three candidates for this year’s Innovation Award from the Nor-Fishing Foundation are Marin X Inc. (Sensor Globe), EVONTA-Technology and EasyX AS. The jury consisted of Kari Lisbeth Fjørtoft from Hofseth International AS (formerly Møreforsking AS), Oddvar Staulen from Innovation Norway, Kjell Maroni from Norwegian Seafood Research Fund (FHF) and Jan Henrik Sandberg from The Norwegian Fishermen’s Association. This year’s award received 29 applications. The winner will be announced during Aqua Nor 2023 in August.
Marin X Inc. (Sensor Globe) has developed a one-of-a-kind platform that employs acceleration measurements alongside water quality monitoring to enhance fish welfare and reduce mortality rates during processing operations. The Sensor Globe IoT welfare platform offers real-time monitoring capabilities, allowing fish farmers to access crucial indicators and water quality parameters at various depths and locations. This innovative platform incorporates innovative sensing technology that captures essential data, including oxygen levels, pH, temperature, conductivity, and physical acceleration/shock experienced during processing operations. By integrating acceleration measurements with comprehensive water quality monitoring, Sensor Globe aims to revolutionize fish welfare practices and improve overall survival rates in the aquaculture industry.
EVONTA-Technology developed a fully automated device for non-destructive egg testing that enables the capture of tomographic image data. Salmon and trout roe are artificially fed and kept in special containers for incubation. The process is manual and the result is highly dependent on the operator’s experience and knowledge. With their device, the scanned fish eggs remain viable and are examined in their natural state. The measurement method Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) has been tested in collaboration with Aqua Gen AS.
EasyX has developed the VCR robot (Vertical Cleaning Robot) for cleaning and disinfecting fish tanks in hatcheries and tanks in land-based fish farming. The robot is capable of moving vertically on smooth surfaces, regardless of material. It also eliminates several environmental, health and safety challenges, such as exposure to chemicals and heights. The production efficiency has also increased. The robot is equipped with a foam nozzle and spray wand, which, among other things, reduces chemical consumption. A prototype has been tested by pilot customers and partners. Currently, this is the only robot on the market for cleaning empty tanks and vessels.
