June 4, 2020

Mowi trials new AKVA-developed sea lice avoidance system in Scotland

Mowi becomes the first aquaculture company in Scotland to perform a commercial scale trial for a sea lice avoidance system known as Tubenet, developed by AKVA after successful trials conducted in Norway, Fish Information & Services reported.

Mowi's Scotland farm located in Port na Cro (Argyll and Bute) will trial the new Tubenet technology on a commercial scale to avoid a tiny fish parasite found in marine fish.

Tubenet works by keeping fish below 5-10cm from the upper water column, where sea lice thrive. This is done through the installation of a large cylinder pathway in the centre of the cage. A tarpaulin in hung from there to protect the salmon from lice. Salmon usually swim to the surface to fill their swim bladders.

Feed is funneled to the fish using subsurface feeding tubes, while tailor-made hides built for Tubenet helps maintain cleaner fish welfare.

At Mowi's Port na Cro facility, the tarpaulin is 14m depth, feeders at 13m and the cylinder is 60m in circumference.

Mowi Port na Cro farm manager Gareth Siney said previously, sea lice are dealt with using water pressure and cleaner fish, the latter naturally cleans the sea lice off the salmon. But the Tubenet barrier helps divide the fish and sea lice, protecting the salmon.

Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (IMR) research had already found that the Tubenet system reduced sea lice infestation by as much as 80% over time.

AKVA group Scotland general manager David Peach said the patented technology will improve fish welfare, and the group will work with Mowi throughout the project, first in the world for the aquaculture sector.

-      Fish Information & Services