New common classification of loss causes will contribute to reduced mortality in aquaculture

Dead fish can spread disease to the surrounding area. Photo: Trygve Poppe.

The most important new feature is a common code list that allows data from different companies to be easily compiled, summarized and compared across locations, zones, regions and production areas. In addition, a system structure has been established for how the individual causes of loss and death are collected into subgroups and main groups. The system also includes registration of destruction, downgrading, discards, etc. according to the same code structure, so that you will get an overview of the total loss divided into individual causes and categories.

When the system is implemented in the industry, significant gains are expected through increased learning, better health management and, not least, reduced mortality and losses. Analyses conducted in the project indicated that moderate improvements could yield a total gain of NOK 5 billion per year in the Norwegian aquaculture industry.

Data and results can be used for a variety of purposes, such as:

• Monitoring in production units (locations), companies, regions and nationally
• Management of resources in the aquaculture industry, supplier industry, administration and R&D
• Linking mortality data with associated control measures, diagnostic results and environmental records, etc., thereby providing a new basis for research into correlations
• Knowledge development and foundation for future innovations

"It is important that input factors in the industry are directed to areas where they have the greatest effect, and there is therefore a need to prioritize both the industry's and society's resources in the work with mortality and losses. Measures must be implemented at a general level in order to have lasting effects. Improvements will result in reduced costs, increased prices and increased volumes, which together have a large effect. Insight into the underlying cause of loss/death provides the key to control and prevention," says Arnfinn Aunsmo DVM PhD, project manager at NMBU Veterinary School.

"We are continuing our work with the classification of loss and mortality in collaboration with the industry organization Seafood Norway. AquaCloud is responsible for collecting fish health data from farmers for the Fish Health Database in Seafood Norway. The new classification and coding system in use at the fish farming companies will be an important foundation for this work and thus contribute to strengthened fish welfare and reduced mortality in the industry," says Jørn Torsvik, general manager of AquaCloud.

The suppliers of leading digital professional systems to the industry have confirmed that functionality to handle the new classification and coding system will be in place by the end of 2021.

The project has been carried out by a project group affiliated with the Department of Production Animal Medicine at NMBU Veterinary School and led by Associate Professor Arnfinn Aunsmo, DVM PhD. In addition, there has been contribution from the fish health/fish welfare group in AquaCloud, represented by fish health managers at Lerøy, Mowi, Grieg Seafood and Cermaq, as well as project coordinator Olav Jamtøy. In the process, there has also been close dialogue with other stakeholders such as fish farming companies, suppliers of fish health services and professional systems, industry organizations and public authorities.

AquaCloud is an industry collaboration for digitalization and standardization in aquaculture that was established by NCE Seafood together with several large and medium-sized aquaculture companies. AquaCloud works for data sharing and better data quality through standardization in sensors, fish health and environmental measurements. The collaboration is open to all aquaculture farmers in Norway. AquaCloud has been funded by contributors, Innovation Norway and from 2019 through the catapult program of SIVA, in the Ocean Innovation Norwegian Catapult Center.

Report and code list with accompanying guidance are available for download here: https://aquacloud.ai/fish-health

For further information, contact:

Olav Jamtøy, project manager fish health, tel: 958 16 820, email olav@aquacloud.ai