With the announced governmental comments during Q1 2024 (1), big changes are likely coming. TEKMAR 2023 showed some good insight into what we might expect, but also what is still missing within today’s industry. However, Sensor Globe went home with a lot of motivation to take a bigger stance and a bigger part of what will come.
(Presentation from The Office of the Auditor General in Norway - Kristin Rypdal)
The conference's main theme was animal welfare, based upon the report from the Office of the Auditor General in Norway. The report underlines questionable (non) actions from the Ministry of Fisheries, Food and Safety Authority and others. The report laid out 6 future recommendations for the industry to act on (2), and several of these are directly or indirectly connected with what we in Sensor Globe can provide for our customers, and not the least, the authorities. The common red thread through the report is, documentation, or rather the lack of it.
Within the next few years, the industry will most likely see a big change towards more documentation needs, new standards, certifications and reporting requirements. All of which is necessary to build towards a more sustainable welfare foundation, where decisions are based on biological data, rather than economic data. Sensor Globe provides data wherever the fish goes, from egg to harvest. It follows the fish through every cm and second of its life, giving individual datasets, which can be scaled up. And best of all? It leads the way.
Before a new technology enters the market, it needs to be documented properly to address how fish will behave in or through it. This is a severely important step to find out early enough if it serves its needs biologically. A lot of the required documentation can be monitored using a mobile Sensor Globe, which monitors dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, g-forces, and now also conductivity and pressure. The latter is highly relevant through pumping-processes, where negative pressure (vacuum) has a big impact on welfare and mortality (3).
By using the Sensor Globe, you can send it through a pipe, pump, delousing vessel, or any other system you might use for your fish, before actually sending the fish through. Therefore, save your fish for many unwanted surprises. In many cases, the provided data can be used to do proactive changes, to minimize the biological risk, while continuing to gather data over time and place.
The industry is using a lot of technology today, so how does Sensor Globe fit into the market?
Get clear insights into how crowding, transfers, and equipment performance affect your fish every day
Our team is your team, we help you quickly find new opportunities and work with you to make easy improvements in your processes
From designing systems to ensuring fish health, we help your essential functions become smarter and more confident in making profitable decisions
(Presentation from Sensor Globe during a student gathering on TEKMAR - Sebastian Gjertsen)
So how can this data be usable to identify and document fish welfare?
Consistent monitoring and documentation of water conditions provide valuable data to assess and document fish welfare. By tracking factors such as dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, conductivity, pressure, and g-forces over time, the user can identify patterns or deviations that may indicate stress or health issues in the fish. This data-driven approach enables the timely implementation of corrective measures to ensure optimal conditions for fish well-being. Additionally, a comprehensive dataset contributes to a better understanding of the nuanced needs of the fish, facilitating informed decision-making for aquaculture management practices that prioritize and enhance overall fish welfare.
In other words, documentation=better welfare. It is the key for both rapid proactive changes on a daily basis, but also to build up and create a data-fundament which future biological decisions can be based upon. The fish is always moving and evolving. So is their environment, therefore, continuously documenting these processes alongside the fish is important.
Today we work with both big and small farmers, veterinarians, researchers and fishermen. Sensor Globe is an extension of their teams, helping them provide biological data to support daily decisions.
Contact us if you want to have a chat about your needs, and we can guarantee your fish will thank you (and us).
- Team Sensor Globe
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