OPTIRAS developments

Last January, SINTEF OCEAN and INL, partners of OPTIRAS, collaborated with LetSea AS at their facilities in Dønna, Norway, to conduct trials with salmon smolt in their Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) pilot.

During the trials, the fish were exposed to chronic low concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and their behaviour was monitored using active video data collection.

The video recordings underwent artificial intelligence (AI)-based analysis to facilitate early warning system operation based on video recording. Additionally, various oxidation processes, including #ADVANOX from Van Remmen UV Technology, were applied to investigate their potential to combat chronic hydrogen sulfide events in RAS.

Begoña Espiña, the project coordinator and INL researcher, tested portable sensors for H2S, nitrates, and nitrites developed in the Water Quality group for validation. These prototypes will help monitor highly relevant water quality parameters that could potentially affect fish health and welfare.

In April, the OPTIRAS EEA Grant will organise a final event to showcase all the results, new learnings, and technologies.

Stay tuned for more updates!