Smart Larval Rearing System (SLRS) for healthy marine aquaculture production

The first weeks of a fish larva's life set the premises for its further growth and development. Juvenile production remains the biggest bottleneck in marine aquaculture, and the industry needs tools to gain better control in this fragile phase of the value chain. Our innovative tool for land-based farming environments, called "Smart Larval Rearing System (SLRS)", aims to solve this challenge. Aquaculture is the fastest-growing sector in food production, and the UN estimates that two-thirds of all seafood will come from aquaculture by 2030. For most marine fish species, the larval stage entails high and unpredictable mortality. Because the fish are so small, and there can be millions in a single tank, monitoring their growth or counting individuals is extremely time consuming. The industry lacks the right tools to obtain such data, which is the background for this project. SINTEF Ocean has developed a patented technology that automatically logs and analyses the development of fish larvae, called the "Smart Larval Rearing System (SLRS)”. The technology provides fish farmers with essential information about the growth and development of fish larvae without the need for manual operations and measurements. Combined with recordings of other environmental conditions, the technology will provide farmers with a decision support tool that increases control, predictability, and profitability in their production. In this verification project, we will verify the functionality of the hardware and software solutions for the patented prototype by doing tests in the industry with selected pilot customers. These tests will form the basis for the necessary market insight needed to establish a tailored business- and commercialization plan.