New solution for hybrid water-borne feeding
Nærøysund Aquaservice and ScaleAQ are collaborating on new and more precise feeding in aquaculture.
In a press release, the companies write that for the first time in aquaculture, it is now possible to convert from air to water-borne feeding at the very edge of the pen.
According to the companies, this combines the advantages of traditional blown air feed transport with precise water-powered distribution to deeper levels in the pen.
“You can use your existing feed barge without any modifications. We have developed a unit that transfers the feed from air to water directly at the cage edge,” says Stig Nilssen, product manager feeding at ScaleAQ.
No major modifications
The concept is based on the feed being first propelled through pipes from the feed barge to the pen via air blowers. The transport is then converted to water-borne feeding, which ensures efficient distribution of the feed into the water column.
“This solution provides fish farmers with a new tool for more precise and efficient feeding. By combining air-borne and water-borne feed transport, we capture the benefits of both technologies while minimising the need for major modifications to existing facilities,” says Tormod Steen, deputy managing director at Nærøysund Aquaservice.
“It also significantly reduces response delays for feeding operators, which has been a challenge with existing systems.”
By introducing water-borne transport in the final stage of feed delivery, nutrient loss through leaching is reduced, contributing to improved feed utilisation. In addition, the system provides greater control over the start and stop of feeding operations, helping to reduce feed waste and improve operational efficiency.
Long-term collaboration
The collaboration between NAS and ScaleAQ is founded on extensive experience in both operational aquaculture and technology development. The objective is to deliver solutions that create greater value for customers through improved fish welfare, reduced environmental impact and more efficient operations.
Hybrid water feeding is the result of a long-standing collaboration between ScaleAQ and NAS and expands the portfolio of solutions specifically designed for deep farming operations. The partnership has also led to the development of a completely new subsea air dome solution.
