DNV has entered into an agreement to purchase technology and intellectual property rights from AquaCloud. The goal is to further develop common data standards and data infrastructure for the aquaculture industry, where production data will provide better insight, learning, and decision support—and contribute to increased fish welfare and efficiency in the industry.
Since its establishment, AquaCloud has developed digital tools and data platforms for the aquaculture industry. The company has worked with fish health, lice coordination, data standardization, and production data sharing, and has been a key partner in several research and innovation projects.
– The aquaculture industry needs common data standards and trust-based infrastructure to meet increasing biological and regulatory requirements. The industry faces a number of common challenges, from changes in water temperature and algal blooms to jellyfish and disease, but also new opportunities with the introduction of new technology. Conditions are changing, and the industry must move from being experience-based to knowledge-based. This requires a broad and representative common data base, says Thomas Vogth-Eriksen, Director of Aquaculture and Marine Health at DNV.
Inviting broad participation from the industry
DNV's ambition is to ensure the continuation and further development of the values and standards established through AquaCloud. With a broad data base, the industry can gain better knowledge of which measures are actually effective under different biological and environmental conditions. Data on lice numbers, wounds, mortality, and causal factors, among other things, can contribute to more targeted measures, better fish welfare, and higher production. A fundamental prerequisite for success is broad access to sufficient and representative data.
We want as many aquaculture companies as possible to see the benefits of sharing their data and to trust that this can be done securely through the platform. It is essential that the data represents a large part of production in order for participants to gain real value through better insight, basis for comparison, and cross-sector learning. We will therefore work towards broad support and invite dialogue, says Trude Steinbru Heggstad, Head of Digital and Innovation at DNV Aquaculture & Ocean Health.
Based on DNV's experience with secure data platforms
With DNV as owner, AquaCloud will be managed as part of DNV's cloud platform Veracity. The platform is designed for secure handling and sharing of verified data across stakeholders and is used in other industries with high requirements for data security and trust. Veracity is currently used by leading shipping companies for the secure handling and reporting of data in line with regulatory requirements. The platform stores verified operational data for more than 11,000 vessels.
"Common data standards must be managed in an infrastructure that ensures quality, traceability, and trust over time. Veracity will ensure this and facilitate secure data sharing with full control for the players themselves," comments Mikkel Skou, Director of Veracity at DNV.
– A shared platform with accumulated data could become a key foundation for the aquaculture industry. It will provide a better basis for location optimization, more accurate use of technology, and increased transparency, while also strengthening the industry's ability to meet new regulatory requirements. Our ambition is to build on the solid work that has already been done and, in close collaboration with the industry, develop a shared trust-based data infrastructure that strengthens competitiveness, sustainability, and fish welfare in the years to come, concludes Thomas Vogth-Eriksen.
Source: dnv.no
