5 minute read
Cooke Aquaculture and Vaki are working together
Technological advances have played a huge role in improving production, but just how do these innovations support the performance of aquaculture businesses? Owen Hutchins of Cooke Aquaculture, and Ben Garth of MSD Animal Health UK, explain how investment in technology is supporting businesses and fi sh health and welfare
Performing tasks effi ciently while con� nuing to improve fi sh health and welfare is a priority on every farm manager’s list. So says Ben Garth, key account manager for aquaculture at MSD Animal Health UK, and he believes that developments in technology make this possible.
Garth says: “Technology off ers fi sh-producing enterprises new ways of performing necessary tasks, such as grading, coun� ng and feeding, while maintaining high standards of welfare and suppor� ng fi sh health.
“For example, fi sh grading, a process used to separate and grade fi sh depending on their size, is a fundamental part of produc� on and is a really important process to maximise business profi tability and performance of the fi sh. However, it’s important this process is as gentle as possible on the fi sh to avoid stress and other welfare issues.”
This was a key considera� on for Cooke Aquaculture when they recently upgraded their fi sh grader. Cooke chose the Smart Grader by VAKI, part of the MSD Animal Health group since 2019, due to its ability to deliver accurate fi sh grading with improved health and welfare benefi ts.
Owen Hutchins, farm manager at Cooke Aquaculture, explains: “As the grading process removes fi sh from water for a few seconds, we want to make sure that this process is as quick and eff ec� ve as possible.
“Smart Graders that are more mechanically advanced will evenly distribute fi sh across the channels. This reduces the chance of fi sh riding over the top of one another and makes the process more accurate while improving the experience for the fi sh.”
He adds: “We’ve found this has made the grading much quicker, therefore minimising the amount of � me the fi sh are out of the water and reducing the contact � me between the handler and the fi sh – it’s a real benefi t to fi sh welfare.”
Hutchins explains that in terms of effi ciency, the use of technology and automated machinery o� en provides a quicker alterna� ve to standard daily tasks performed manually. Developments have resulted in more effi cient ways to operate machinery which means more � me can be given to focusing on fi sh health and welfare prac� ces.
Crea� ng an a� rac� ve sector
As well as � me effi ciencies, Hutchins adds that the use of technology can also make the sector more appealing to poten� al joiners – a benefi t which is especially important in a sector where recruitment can be a struggle.
He explains that advancements in technology help to a� ract new and young talent who are interested in mechanical roles into the sector, while allowing those with qualifi ca� ons in animal health to focus on the health and welfare of the fi sh.
He says: “I’ve got a marine biology degree, but I spent a lot of � me thinking I was be� er off having an engineering degree. New, easy to use, technology enables me to spend more � me on fi sh produc� on prac� ces.
“For us, the purpose of technology is not to replace staff ; it’s there to free up � me so that staff can spend more � me looking a� er the fi sh. On the other hand, it also means our sector appeals to tech-savvy people who can assume roles in helping to keep our equipment performing op� mally.”
Looking to the future
Investments such as the Smart Grader have proven hugely benefi cial to Cooke Aquaculture, and Hutchins explains that going forwards, the business will con� nue to invest in technology that improves fi sh produc� on.
“A density controller will probably be our next purchase. Through skill and experience, we
Top: Ben Garth Above: Owen Hutchins Left: The VAKI Smart Grader Opposite: The Cairndow Hatchery
lot of work to do around the development of this.
currently manually control how many fi sh are going into a pipe when performing processes such as fi sh grading.
“However, specialised density control equipment can do this automa� cally, making the process much easier and also be� er for the fi sh.”
Looking towards further technological investments, Hutchins argues that for freshwater fi sh produc� on, recircula� on technology is the way to go. However, he acknowledges there is s� ll a lot of work to do around the development of this.
“The site I manage is a fl ow-through farm and therefore the water in the tanks is constantly changing. This results in a lot of water extrac� on and variable water quality leading to an unstable environment for the fi sh, so recircula� on technology would be really benefi cial for us,” he says.
Both Garth and Hutchins acknowledge the need for technology in the sector to maintain high standards of health and welfare and keep pace with increasing produc� vity demands.
“A great future lies ahead for technology development and I’m sure it will be well received in the ever-developing aquaculture sector,” concludes Garth. FF
