Aquaculture - A High Tech Industry
in the Coast of Bays

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Gunnar Hille of Superior Systems watches as Cory Taylor of SCB Fisheries enters some historical data into the newly installed inventory control system

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A CTD array

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Underwater camera and monitor units used during feeding

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Underwater camera and computer used to measure the size of the fish

 There is more to aquaculture than putting some fish in a cage, feeding them and then processing them for market.   Aquaculture is a science and the disciplines required range from hyrdography, oceanography, biology, computer technology to economics.

The finfish farmers of the Coast of Bays region use a number of high tech devices to ensure a successful farm operation.  Before any site is used, a CTD survey is conducted to determine such parameters as the salinity, oxygen levels and temperatures in the water column.

Once the farm is in operation, the farmers use an underwater camera and monitor while feeding the fish to ensure that feed is not wasted.  Another tool of the trade is an underwater camera and computer which records a series of frames of the fish swimming in the cage for a period of ten minutes. Using the computer and placing a cursor at the head and tail of the fish in the picture, the computer determines the approximate weight of the fish without placing any stress on the fish.  A full analysis of the session gives the farmer an indication of the total weight of the fish in that particular cage.

The finfish farmers have just installed an inventory control system developed by Superior Systems AS of Norway.  This system assists the farmers keep track of the amount of feed used versus the actual weight of the fish - the feed conversion ratio (FCR) - as well as the numbers of fish and average weight in each cage, the generations of the fish from various origins, any problems encountered and a variety of other information.  Visit the product website for more information.

This information can then be analyzed in a graphical presentation which gives the farmer a picture of the overall operation of the farm site.  Each farm that is a member of the Newfoundland Salmonid Growers Association (NSGA) will upload their data to a central server at the NSGA.  This will enable the association to monitor trends and provide an overall analysis of the local finfish industry.

For more information about  the Coast of Bays, contact:
Tracey Perry, Executive Director
Coast of Bays Corporation
P.O. Box 310
St. Alban's, Newfoundland
A0H 2E0
Tel: 709-538-3552
Fax: 709-538-3627
Toll Free: 1-800-205-0799
Email: inquiries@coastofbays.nl.ca

Last Revised on March 4, 2000