40 years of precision feeding – experience and technology working together
Written by
Anne Oma
Precision feeding is about combining insight, analysis, and continuous monitoring to make better decisions in the feeding process. AKVA group’s experience from years of development and close collaboration with fish farmers shows that the synergy between cameras, machine learning, and biomass measurement provides a comprehensive picture of conditions inside the pen and a solid basis for fine-tuning strategies with greater accuracy.
Feeding accounts for nearly 60 per cent of operating costs at a fish farm, making it the single area where improvements can deliver the greatest financial impact. More precise feeding reduces waste while strengthening both growth and profitability. In addition, reduced feed loss lowers the climate footprint from feed production and transport.
Precision feeding means providing exactly the right amount of feed, at the right place and time. Too little slows growth. Too much becomes waste. It sounds simple, but the balance point is constantly shifting: currents, temperature, visibility, and fish behaviour change from minute to minute.
“The key is to make the small, correct adjustments every day – and let the effect accumulate over time, says Odin Rørvik,” Global Solution Manager for Precision Feeding at AKVA group.
Prototype of the very first waterborne feeding system tested in the 1980s. Photo: AKVA group/Odd Skjæveland
Today’s technology: Hybrid waterborne feeding makes it possible to upgrade airborne systems to energy-efficient water transport without major rebuilds. Photo: AKVA group
Read more about how hybrid waterborne feeding can improve feed transport and efficiency
Experience since the 1980s
AKVA group has worked with precision feeding since the first systems were developed in the 1980s. The transition from manual to air- and waterborne feeding was carried out in close cooperation with fish farmers, and the lessons from these projects laid the foundation for today’s solutions. Many of those involved back then have continued with the company and contributed to continuity and further development for decades.
With this history behind them, AKVA group knows what it takes to turn technology into practical tools that work in daily operations. Continuous testing, operation, and service in the field have provided unique insight into how systems can be adapted to different conditions.
Odin Rørvik, Global Solution Manager – Precision Feeding, AKVA group. Photo: AKVA group
“Our experience shows that combining cameras and analysis provides a stronger basis for decision-making, reduces feed consumption, and at the same time improves growth at certain sites,” says Rørvik.
Seeing what happens in the pen
Precision feeding begins with insight. To understand appetite and behaviour, fish farmers need to see what is happening in the pen here and now. AKVA smarteye modular is an underwater camera designed for demanding conditions. It delivers clear images even at depth and can be equipped with a 4-in-1 sensor for oxygen, temperature, salinity, and depth.
See what’s happening in the pen. Photo: AKVA group
The camera automatically adjusts to changes in light and visibility, keeping both fish and pellets clearly visible. Its modular design allows fish farmers to start small and expand functionality over time, without replacing the entire system.
From observation to decision
When the fish is visible, the information must be interpreted. This is where AKVA observe, a machine-learning platform trained on vast amounts of pen data, comes in. The software analyses appetite and movement patterns, tracks pellets, and flags anomalies.
The result is concrete feeding recommendations – start, stop, increase, or reduce. Fish farmers can either follow these manually or use a “co-pilot” mode where the system runs automatically. Recent field trials show that combining cameras and analysis strengthens decision-making, improves predictability, and significantly reduces feed use at certain sites.
AKVA submerged: A complete digital monitoring and reporting solution for the fish farming industry. Photo: AKVA group
Faster feedback on strategies
Knowing whether a feeding strategy works has traditionally taken a long time. An entire generation of fish – 12–18 months – could pass before confirmation was available, but now results can be measured in less than two weeks. With AKVA submerged, a camera that continuously analyzes biomass and fish health, fish farmers gain daily insights into growth, weight distribution, and sea lice levels.
“Continuous insight into the pen increases production predictability and provides flexibility to adjust throughout the cycle, says Henrik Meling,” Product Owner at AKVA submerged.
An integrated ecosystem
The technology has been developed as a connected ecosystem. The products are modular and backwards-compatible, enabling stepwise upgrades without losing earlier investments. AKVA group designs, installs, and supports a comprehensive solution that is continuously refined through operational use and further development.
“With these tools in place, fish farmers can build more sustainable and predictable production – step by step,” says Rørvik.