iFarm initiative to revolutionize fish farming towards individual care

The Fisheries Directorate has determined that Cermaq's iFarm concept falls within the Norwegian development licenses system. Cermaq has requested ten licenses to deploy technology aimed at minimizing the environmental impact of farming and elevating fish health and welfare by individually monitoring each fish. "We're delighted to have the chance to develop iFarm, a groundbreaking technology that will bolster the entire sector. iFarm will significantly decrease the necessity for sea lice treatment and allow us to enhance fish welfare by tracking each fish in the pen," states Knut Ellekjær, Cermaq Norway's Managing Director. iFarm utilizes photo recognition of the fish, enabling the monitoring of factors such as growth, sea lice, disease, lesions, and other elements impacting the health and welfare of each fish. Furthermore, it can isolate fish requiring treatment, such as against sea lice, thereby drastically reducing the amount of sea lice treatments. "The biological challenges are vital for sustainable farming success. iFarm leverages biological expertise and shares many similarities with agriculture and the food sector. Digitalization and machine learning enable individual fish monitoring without causing stress. This makes it a crucial tool for protecting our fish and a significant advancement for fish farming," says Harald Takle, technology research director and project manager for iFarm. The development of iFarm involves a series of tests and model testing, as well as full-scale operation to achieve the necessary volume for machine learning with the required precision level. "We're thrilled and eager to get started soon. Future farming will face stricter requirements. iFarm will be an efficient tool that will lessen the environmental impact while ensuring the welfare of each fish. The technology can be utilized in open net pens and closed systems," says Geir Stang Hauge, BioSort's CEO. For more information, please contact: Harald Takle, R&D Manager Farming Technology Cermaq Group, mobile +47 911 19 945Knut Ellekjær, Managing Director Cermaq Norway, mobile +47 928 99 604Cermaq is among the global leaders in salmon and trout farming, with operations in Norway, Chile, and Canada. Cermaq is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation, with its headquarters in Oslo, Norway.