Fast Facts
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Leading Innovations in Aquaculture: MIT students Devoe and Tang explored pioneering aquaculture technologies in Norway, the world’s top producer of farmed Atlantic salmon.
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Hands-On Experience: The students interned at SINTEF Ocean, contributing to projects on AI-based feeding optimization and robotic systems for farm maintenance.
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Challenges and Sustainability: The aquaculture industry faces unique challenges, including optimizing feed efficiency, ensuring fish welfare, and integrating autonomous technologies.
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Collaborative Future: Ongoing collaboration between MIT and Norwegian institutions emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary approaches and international partnerships to tackle aquaculture’s evolving challenges.
MIT Students Dive into Offshore Aquaculture
Two MIT students recently traveled to Trondheim, Norway, to explore innovative technologies in offshore aquaculture. Norway leads the global production of farmed Atlantic salmon. Meanwhile, the U.S. stands as the largest importer of seafood products.
Both students, Beckett Devoe and Tony Tang, engaged with MIT Sea Grant through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. Their projects included designing wave generators and applying machine learning to assess oyster larvae health in hatcheries. While near-shore aquaculture thrives in the U.S., open-ocean farming remains a developing field, facing various challenges.
A Unique Initiative
To address these challenges, MIT Sea Grant launched AquaCulture Shock. This initiative received funding from an Aquaculture Technologies and Education Travel Grant. It collaborates with the MIT-Scandinavia MISTI program to provide hands-on experiences for students.
Devoe and Tang participated in summer internships at SINTEF Ocean, one of Europe’s top research institutions. They worked in the Aquaculture Robotics and Autonomous Systems Laboratory, where they developed and tested new technologies.
Emphasizing Real-World Applications
“Working on aquaculture projects under a leading research institution in an innovative region is what MISTI is all about,” said a program director. Students gain experience while cultivating cultural understanding.
Devoe’s project focused on using AI to optimize fish feeding. He analyzed various factors, such as fish size and water temperature, to recommend the best feeding amounts. This approach aims to maximize fish health and minimize feed costs.
Tang worked on a simulation of an underwater robot designed to navigate fish farms. This robot could repair damage to cage nets, showcasing the significant use of robotics in Norway’s aquaculture sector.
Collaboration and Future Prospects
The partnership between MIT and SINTEF Ocean started in 2023 when a visiting research scientist collaborated with MIT faculty. This interaction paved the way for important projects addressing fish-machine interactions and robotics.
Researchers emphasize maintaining fish welfare as a core focus. SINTEF Ocean works closely with SalMar, a leading salmon producer, to ensure industry standards.
The students even visited an industrial-scale farm, experiencing the vast complexities of the aquaculture environment firsthand. Such experiences highlight the necessity for interdisciplinary collaboration between technology and biological sciences.
Looking Ahead
MIT Sea Grant and the MISTI program are currently recruiting a new cohort of students for summer internships in Norway. Opportunities remain for those interested in robotics, deep learning, and aquaculture technology. Students eager to explore this frontier should connect with the program to learn more.
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