Nærøysund Aquaservice and ScaleAQ have developed a new feeding solution for aquaculture net pens the companies say is the first time farmers can convert their operations from air-based feed transport to water-based feed delivery.
The two companies said they’ve jointly developed a hybrid water-feeding device which offers the advantages of both pneumatic feed transport and water-based feed distribution. The system, according to ScaleAQ Production Manager Stig Nilssen, is ready to use with existing infrastructure.
“You can use your existing feed barge without any modifications. We have developed a unit that transfers the feed from air to water directly at the cage edge,” Nilssen said.
“This solution provides fish farmers with a new tool for more precise and efficient feeding,” Nærøysund Aquaservice Deputy Managing Director Tormod Steen added. “By combining air-based and water-based feed transport, we capture the benefits of both technologies while minimizing the need for major modifications to existing facilities.”
The companies said the new solution gives aquaculture operations more flexibility, and by adapting to existing systems, they eliminate the need for any retrofits.
“The solution increases flexibility within existing farming operations while reducing the need for extensive feed barge modifications,” the companies said. “By introducing water-based transport in the final stage of feed delivery, nutrient loss through leaching is reduced, contributing to improved feed utilization. In addition, the system provides greater control over the start and stop of feeding operations, helping to reduce feed waste and improve operational efficiency.”
Steen said the system also reduces response delays, which “has been a challenge with existing systems.”
The new units are compatible with ScaleAQ’s “FeedStation” and can be integrated seamlessly, the company said.
The two companies said the collaboration was founded on extensive experience in both aquaculture and technology development and builds on longstanding collaboration in order to expand the portfolio of solutions they offer for deep-farming operations. More salmon-farming companies are beginning to introduce “deep farming,” where salmon or other fish are farmed farther below the surface. AKVA is pushing to bring its deep-farming technology to Chile and has already committed to it in Norway.
Norwegian cod-farming company Ode has also been working on deep farming its fish and brought fish to market from that system for the first time in June.
ScaleAQ designs and builds feed barges and has gained contracts from companies like Okamura Foods for ocean-based salmon feed solutions, as well as land-based companies like Laxey for flow-through salmon farm feed solutions. It also has a software division, ScaleAQ Software, which has partnered with companies like Mowi to optimize salmon feeding.
