"Today, conventional fish sampling methods means scarifying the fish to obtain quality samples, which are then grinded and analyzed. This is both costly and labor-intensive. With merely low pressure, our new method makes it possible to scan the fat level and color content in only a few second. In addition, we can send a happy, alive and kicking salmon right back into the cage after measuring," said Product Manager Ernst Hevrøy.
Fat percentage and pigment
The main objective is to develop a method for measuring body fat percentage and pigment content in the fillet of Atlantic salmon while it is alive, using an ultra-compact near-infrared spectrophotometer, namely the MicroNIR.
An additional objective is to use the method for evaluation of the fat distribution, and to assess the general energy status of the fish.
Benefit for fish and process
MicroNIR will provide major benefits during fieldwork, both for the fish and the process. In production follow-up, quality sampling of the fish is a frequent task. MicroNIR makes this work considerably more efficient, since this method only require a few seconds to scan the fish fat level and color content.
Moreover, the fish stays alive and healthy, and can go right back into the fish pen after measurement.
The MicroNIR project owner is EWOS Norway. Researchers at EWOS Innovation develop the technical solutions, which are tested on fish samples together with the salmon breeding company Aqua Gen AS.
