Kristiansand, Norway-based Nekkar has initiated the first ocean trial of its “Starfish” closed net-pen aquaculture system, which it has been developing in partnership with Lerøy Seafood.
The trial of the fully automated, closed fish-cage solution is taking place in Hidra, outside Flekkefjord, Norway. It will focus on testing of the Nekkar-developed software platform for remote surveillance, data acquisition, bio-analytics, and production control, and of digital and remote controls for the pen’s aquaculture systems.
“The downscaled pilot version has now been filled with seawater, and the ‘Starfish’ will commence the ocean testing period towards summertime,” the company said in a press release.
Nekkar CEO Preben Liltved said he hopes to build up Nekkar’s aquaculture technology portfolio based off the success of the “Starfish” project.
“Nekkar aims to develop disruptive technologies that offers high sustainability impact solutions for the aquaculture industry. Starfish is the first example of this approach. We are excited about the forthcoming ocean testing and the future opportunities this may present,” Liltved said. “The combination of disruptive technologies and automation sensor legacy will be building blocks for future SaaS offerings from Nekkar in the aquaculture sector.”
Liltved said the project has the potential to produce significant environmental and operational benefits, as its design is intended to increase protection against escapes, minimize sea lice due to its intake of deeper water from beneath the cage, and its collection of most of the biological waste created by the system. Furthermore, the cage’s materials are recyclable and “designed to optimize logistics,” according to Mette Harv, executive vice president of Nekkar’s aquaculture unit.
“The idea behind Starfish is to reduce [operational expenditure] level[s] dramatically for the fish-farming industry, while simultaneously improve fish welfare and focusing on [the] circular economy,” Harv said. “We look forward to verifying the technical and operational parameters of the solution before we start preparations for testing with biomass later this year.
Harv said the technology has the potential to solve some of net-pen aquaculture’s most pressing problems, and therefore win more support from governments and the public.
“Today there are around 4,000 open cages in Norway. Closed cages will open up additional locations,” Harv said. “This illustrates the market potential for Starfish.”
Photo courtesy of Nekkar
