FISH FARMING TECHNOLOGY
Underwater drones provide the full overview of aquaculture sites by Blueye Robotics, Norway All aquaculture sites are required to monitor their fish and nets on a daily basis. Today, visual inspections conducted in fish pens are normally carried out by fixed camera systems, divers or heavy industrial ROVs. Utilising divers for inspections is expensive and represents significant HSE risks. Industrial ROVs have traditionally been very costly and requires extensive training to operate. Fixed cameras are limited when it comes to reach and flexibility. With an underwater drone from Blueye, fish pen owners have a mobile underwater camera which allows aquaculture sites to carry out underwater inspections efficiently and easily. In combination with existing fixed cameras, underwater drones provide the full picture of the assets below the surface.
Control fish welfare and fouling on nets
Today, visual inspections conducted below the surface and at the seabed are normally carried out by fixed camera systems, divers or heavy ROVs. While utilising divers are expensive and represents significant HSE risks, ROVs have traditionally been costly and require extensive training to manage. Fixed cameras have natural limitations when it comes to reach and flexibility. With an underwater drone, owners have a mobile underwater camera which allows them to carry out their own inspections whenever they want without extensive planning. “We are using the Blueye Pioneer to follow up and control our fish. With the underwater drone we are able to control fish welfare, fouling on fish nets and general supervision of our underwater assets” says Johannes Schrøder of Salmar. Perform frequent inspections and reduce both risk and cost by cutting down on divers With an underwater drone from Blueye, fish
30 | February 2020 - International Aquafeed