Kristinn Marinósson, First Water project manager (left) and Bertil Storvik, MSD Animal Health Aqua Europe sea-based solutions lead © MSD Animal Health
Animal Health Norway - a pharmaceutical and technological solutions company - has announced the signing of a partnership agreement with First Water of Iceland - a land-based Atlantic Salmon farming project - for the unprecedented deployment of an innovative fish monitoring technology in land-based salmon farms.
Developed with over 25 years experience in the measurement of fish in sea net-pens, the FALCON Biomass system combines advanced vision technology with years of research, resulting in a farming solution that delivers key insights into fish growth.
Leveraging the expertise and knowledge gained from working on vision technology, artificial intelligence, and biomass measurements, MSD Animal Health launched the FALCON Biomass at Aquanor 2023 in Trondheim, Norway. The system has since been successfully implemented in sea net pens across Norway, Chile, and the UK.
“The sale of the FALCON Biomass system to First Water is a significant milestone for MSD Animal Health. We are thrilled to partner with a progressive and forward-thinking organisation that shares our vision for sustainable aquaculture,” said Dafydd Morris, general manager of MSD Animal Health Aqua Europe, in a press release.
“This alliance not only strengthens our position as a global leader in aquaculture technology but also paves the way for the adoption of vision technology in the land-based fish farming sector,” he added.
Utilising current vision technology, the FALCON system provides almost real-time updates on animal growth, size distribution, and overall biomass, giving farmers valuable insight to inform production decisions.
“We are excited to integrate the FALCON Biomass system into our land-based fish farm. This technology will enable us to monitor more accurately the growth of our fish population, ensuring their well-being and allowing us to make data-driven decisions,” said Kristinn Marinósson of First Water of Iceland.
“We believe that this solution will contribute to the sustainable development and expansion of our operations, while further solidifying Iceland’s position as a leader in the aquaculture industry,” he concluded.
