Fresh research from Nofima, the Norwegian aquaculture research organisation, shows that Norwegian cod farmers are prioritising different sources of competitive advantage to maximise their probability of success.
The most important advantages were favourable location for cod farming, high level of product quality, competent staff, the ability to supply as requested and good relationships with other companies.
“It is important to have control over and master the technological and biological challenges in cod farming,” says Sogn-Grundvåg. “Competent staff is therefore decisive in reducing the company’s production costs.”
The fact that companies are trying to utilise different competitive advantages implies that different strategies are being tested.
Aquaculture Management (whatever the species) can learn from the experiences and adopt the most successful strategies.
One of the practices highlighted by the research is farmers striving to become a reliable supplier by achieving a critical mass of production. Achieving a higher production threshold will allow them to supply on a reliable basis year round to demanding large supermarket chains.
As the Nofima press release points out, in the absence of sufficient production volumes to command a year round marketing relationship the farmers are timing their production to achieve maximum prices.
Changes in water temperature and the schedule that the fish follow in reaching sexual maturity are additional challenges to achieving the desired levels of production control.
I suppose the ability to finely control and monitor growth conditions will be critical to the ability to produce premium quality fish year round - to meet demand.
If we were to think in terms of adopting a ‘manufacturing mindset’ as opposed to a ‘farming mentality’ this would lead us lean towards adopting production environments where we can exert maximum control.
Does this mean that the aquaculture production facility of the future is more likely to be a land based recirculating system than an open ocean cage or pen where control over growing conditions is more problematic?
Parasitic nematodes are microscopic and present major problems in the fish filleting industry. Scientists have discovered that light sensors and automation can be combined to deliver a better fillet.
Separating a high quality fish fillet from one of lower quality is an art. It is generally done by hand, based as the fish is being processed.
But a new machine has been trialled on the production of cod fillets to identify defective fillets. Scientists at Nofima Marine have discovered that light can be used to distinguish between high and low quality fillets.
Light
“What we are doing is to illuminate the fish with white light and then use a spectrometer,” says Scientist Karsten Heia.
“In other words, we measure the light coming from the fish, also at wavelengths the eye can’t see.”
Parasitic nematodes, traces of skin remnants, black lining and blood influence the light differently and these differences are registered by the spectrometer. This information is then conveyed to a computer that controls the sorting of the fish fillets.
Why spectroscopy?
This technology fulfils the industry’s requirement for speed. The technology does not affect the fillet and is suitable for detecting quality faults.
“It’s important that the fish is untouched by human hands as it were,” says Heia.
“Earlier this year, the research team tested the machine at a fish processing plant in Vesterålen. We needed to find out whether the machine functioned in commercial production and not just in the lab.”
“The process needs to go so rapidly that the fish can follow the tempo on a normal production line,” says Heia. “Much of the challenge with inventing this has really been to get the machine to work at this speed.”
Requirement
The Norwegian fillet industry has struggled in recent years to earn money and the competition from overseas is increasing.
“It is precisely here than the new machine can assist the industry in Norway,” says Heia.
“I don’t think job losses will result from the industry utilising such a method, but it can be an opportunity to get a far improved sorting of fish and as such improve the quality of the product you and I buy at the fish shop.”
The research was conducted at Nofima. Nofima is a new industry-oriented research group that conducts research and development for aquaculture, fisheries and food industries. Nofima was launched on 22 May 2008 by the Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs, Helga Pedersen.
German company Baader was part of the team that developed this new knowledge. Baader is a world leader in machines for the fishing industry.
The project is funded by the Research Council of Norway, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Industry Research Fund and Baader.
The challenge of achieving high quality while processing large volumes of product at high speed is a key issue for the Finfish project. Are you aware of any other projects which have demonstrated the ability to make a strong contribution towards achieving this aim?
Source: Nofima
