Seafarm Pulse Guard

The overall vision of the Seafarm Pulse Guard project is to commercialise and bring to market our new innovative chemical-free technology for prevention and treatment of parasites at sea fish-farms. Our advanced patented technology will enable increase of utilization of existing aquaculture sites and access to new production areas through solving environmental challenges associated with sea lice: 1. Reduce sea lice infestation with up to 90% 2. Reduce escapes danger 3. Reduce the need for treatment of nets 4. Gentle and effective non-drug parasite treatment Our patented Seafarm Pulse Guard technology uses electricity preventing lice from settling on salmon. The original SFD idea of using power mesh was to prevent fish escapes through net holes, but it turned out that power had significant inactivating effect on sea lice as well. In small and larger demonstrations, the prototype has been proven effective in reducing up to 90% of sea lice infestation. Electrical pulses emitted were effectve in inactivating early life stages of sea lice (nauplius and copepodites), but not affecting sea lice in adult stage. Besides infestation, the power fence has shown evidence in decreasing fouling of the nets. The need for project: SFD is directly addressing the global problem of aquaculture infestation due to lice parasites. Sea lice is considered the greatest environmental challenge and farmed fish increases infection pressure of lice on wild salmon stocks, especially trout. In addition to the potential negative environmental impacts, there are significant costs associated with sea lice, estimated to be approximately NOK 5 per kg carcass weight. It is estimated that the lice problem, only in Norway, cost the industry more than NOK 5bn in 2015 (Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries).