Exposed Aquaculture Operations

Over eight years, SFI EXPOSED has brought forward knowledge and technology that has developed exposed aquaculture. This can be credited to a long-term partnership of world-leading fish farmers, supplier companies and teaching and research environments. Large parts of the Norwegian coast are remote and exposed to demanding conditions of wind, wave and current. Fish farming at such exposed sites has many challenges. The goal for SFI EXPOSED has been robust, safe, and productive exposed operations. SFI EXPOSED was funded by the partners and the Research Council of Norway in 2015-2023. The status as a Centre for Research-based Innovation (SFI) has contributed to a long-term and productive collaboration between a multitude of partners. Eight years of partnership have resulted in both joint problem-solving and a common understanding of direction and needs. This time for maturing has been particularly important in the aquaculture industry, due to the rapid development during this period. Throughout the centre period, a broad consortium was essential for identifying and solving challenges and limitations of today's aquaculture operations. Joint activities have therefore been emphasized, such as annual gatherings, thematic workshops, and weekly video meetings, with company representatives, researchers, PhD candidates, students, and other invitees, such as government representatives. SFI EXPOSED has been divided into six overarching research areas, which have provided the framework for various projects. The activities range from basic research to more applied projects and the establishment of research infrastructure. The research areas influence each other, and cooperation between them has been necessary to create good solutions. Some of the results are: •Safety: Risk assessment method for holistic understanding and employee involvement. Safety indicators. Operational limits and interruption criteria. Emergency preparedness needs at construction, area, and industry level •Fish welfare: Knowledge of the swimming capacity of salmon and cleaner fish under different conditions is important for selection of site, routines and technology. The salmon copes with water flow and fasting. In large waves, salmon pull away from nets and go deeper but close to the waves. Methods and understanding of stress, recovery, energy, behavior mode and speed. New fishing tag and communication platform •Robust structures and nets: Increased knowledge about waves and currents. Precise load models for nets. Technical standards and model trials to optimize plant design. One number on the degree of exposure to a site, for better management and planning of sites •Safe vessel operations: Analysis methodology for movement between vessels and cages, and impact on facilities and operational limits. Logistics optimization. Optimization of hull lines and vessel design methodology specifically for exposed aquaculture •Monitoring and decision support: Decision support tools for vessel operations. Understanding of complex sensor systems for more precise environmental description. Modelling of aquaculture facilities, including vessel/cage interaction and prepare numerical simulation for e.g. real-time wear and maintenance planning •Autonomous systems: Technology and simulation tools for contact-free lifting operations. Automated cage inspection – design of autonomous ROV operations for hole detection and maintenance. Navigation and localization of ROV and AUV relative to nets and flexible structures Overall, SFI EXPOSED has resulted in more robust, safe, and productive operations. Results with direct impact are improved technology and understanding of the operations, including of the fish and personnel in the operations. This has led to changes among suppliers, fish farmers and shipowners. In addition, the results have been communicated with authorities and policy-makers. EXPOSED has contributed to the development and revision of standards and guidelines. Input has been provided to regulatory groups, industry and authorities on research and development needs for exposed sites and for offshore aquaculture. The consortium has collaborated extensively with other actors and authorities that have used the research results. Although the centre has focused on Norwegian conditions, an international perspective has been valuable. It has funded collaborations with researchers in Norway, the Faroe Islands and Australia. The results have also been disseminated internationally. Beyond the centre-time much of the collaboration and work will continue. The partners and results have provided fertile ground for new projects, underway and in the making. Many students and PhD candidates have started working in the partner organisations, and some are further developing their projects there. The aquaculture industry is undergoing restructuring, with a great need for solutions for robust, safe and efficient operations. See more information on http://exposedaquaculture.no

EXPOSED has positioned its researchers and partners at the forefront of significant innovations in the aquaculture industry. Through the nurturing of long-term collaborations between key industrial and academic entities, the centre has played a role in the enhancement of expertise, knowledge, and infrastructure. A notable achievement of EXPOSED is the creation of a robust network encompassing a diverse range of disciplines and organizations. The industry partners primarily develop incremental innovations throughout the centre's operation. For instance, knowledge generated within EXPOSED has led aquaculture company partners to utilize exposed sites. Communication of research findings have been vital for the EXPOSED consortium to facilitate innovation, secure additional research funding, and raise the standard of knowledge in aquaculture debates. This communication has also impacted media discussions and societal debates about coastal and offshore aquaculture. In 2021, Centre Director Hans Bjelland was appointed to a public committee for a comprehensive review of the permit system in the aquaculture industry (Havbruksutvalget). His selection is recognition of his and EXPOSED's history of close cooperation between research and the aquaculture industry. The committee will submit their recommendations in September 2023. The aquaculture industry is experiencing a significant transformation. EXPOSED's results are instrumental in shaping the resulting technological and policy changes. The EXPOSED Centre's partners foresee a long-lasting positive impact from their work. They anticipate that the centre's findings, despite existing challenges, will catalyze a range of innovations and stimulate further research. From a research perspective, the Centre's activities have inspired several new projects. EXPOSED has underscored that exposed and offshore aquaculture represent unique realities, each demanding different approaches and solutions. The EXPOSED partners have developed specialist competence in these areas.

Vision: Pioneering exposed aquaculture - Innovations to unlock the real blue potential Significant parts of the Norwegian coast is today unavailable to industrial fish farming due to remoteness and exposure to harsh wind, wave and current conditions. The EXPOSED aquaculture operations Centre will draw upon Norway's strong position in the aquaculture, maritime and offshore sectors to enable safe and sustainable seafood production in exposed coastal and ocean areas. Technological innovations, such as more autonomous systems, offshore structures and vessels are needed to sustain farm production under all conditions and enable more robust, safe, controlled and continuous operations. The EXPOSED Centre brings together global leading salmon farmers, key service and technology providers, SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture and other strong research groups, including AMOS (the Norwegian Centre of Excellence for Autonomous Marine Operations and Systems). The centre will integrate six research AREAs. Four areas target technological innovations that will enable safe and reliable exposed aquaculture operations: - Autonomous systems and technologies for remote operations - Monitoring and operational decision support - Structures for exposed locations - Vessel design for exposed operations Two areas represent core requirements for sustainable production: - Safety and risk management - Fish behaviour and welfare Solutions that enable use of exposed sites will likely contribute to sustainable growth in the Norwegian salmon industry and global aquaculture production. This focus will also provide competence and solutions that benefit more sheltered aquaculture production. In addition, new knowledge gained from exposed aquaculture will benefit other industries by providing flexible and cost-effective maritime products and services. Such systems and technologies are in worldwide demand and novel competence and solutions will increase existing and open new markets for suppliers.