Technology essential to tackle algal blooms, SAIC says
EARLY warning is essential for fish farmers looking to mitigate the impact of sudden blooms of algae at sea. That was the message from a workshop on harmful algal blooms (HABs) hosted by SAIC, the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre.
Many producers are still using manual water quality sampling and microscopic analysis to detect whether HABs are present, but industry and experts agree, SAIC said, that a greater focus on technology could hold the key to regular, real-time data collection and the development of early warning systems.
Sensing technology and mitigation tools were core themes of the discussions at the Global HAB Workshop: Industry Perspectives hosted by the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) in May – part of a wider event organised by the University of Strathclyde, University of Glasgow and the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) – which saw sector experts share insights about the impact of HABs. Mitigation techniques were also discussed, such as amendments to feeding regimes, clean water upwelling, oxygenation systems and bubble curtains.
Debra Brennan, Fish Health Laboratory Manager at Mowi, said: “HABs events are difficult to predict, but with regular monitoring, potential negative consequences can be managed and mitigated. One of the biggest priorities for farmers is caring for fish in the best ways possible, using all the tools and technologies available to them, such as monitoring procedures that make it quick and simple to identify risks.”
Chris Hyde, Chief Technology Officer at OTAQ, which will be releasing a digital-based early warning system later this year, said: “Our goal is to automate the process of identifying harmful phytoplankton, allowing fish farmers to take action to protect their fish as early as possible. Workers on site might have a range of different abilities when it comes to recognising different species, but a combination of real-time, 24/7 data and digital image analysis will enable producers to prevent threats to welfare and reduce losses.”
SAIC has also supported several collaborative initiatives looking at managing the impact of HABs, including the development work behind OTAQ’s live plankton analysis system through funding provided to the University of Aberdeen; this was Scotland’s first project funded by both SAIC and CENSIS (Scotland’s innovation centre for sensing, imaging and Internet of Things technologies).
Sarah Riddle, Director of Innovation and Engagement at SAIC, said: “In dealing with HABs, early warning is key – having even a few hours’ notice, so that a robust mitigation programme can be put in place, can make a big difference to fish health. There are still challenges to overcome in adopting new technology, including digital connectivity at remote sites and the ability to handle and analyse vast amounts of data, but there are significant opportunities for producers to use technology and innovative mitigation tools to protect fish.
“Collaboration and knowledge sharing is crucial to helping the sector expand its economic impact while reducing its environmental footprint, and that will only become more important as the occurrence of HABs increases.”