NO20201158A1

NO20201158A1 - Method and system for individual treatment of fish

Info

Publication number: NO20201158A1
Application number: NO20201158A
Authority: NO
Inventors: Tommy Ole Olsen
Original assignee: Endeavour Man As
Priority date: 2020-10-23
Filing date: 2020-10-23
Publication date: 2022-04-25
Also published as: GB2602546A; CA3134684A1; NO346966B1; GB202115159D0

Description

Method and system for individual treatment of fish

The present invention is related to a method for individual treatment of fish, according to the preamble of claim 1.

The present invention is also related to a system for individual treatment of fish, according to the preamble of claim 13.

The present invention is especially related to a method for individual treatment of fish in net cages or other systems where batches of fish are contained.

Background

The latter years the growth of the fish farming industry has been limited due to the increase in parasites or lice, as well as the requirements of holding a low level of the parasites or lice at the single location. From having a considerable yearly increase both in production and economic, the industry now faces a stagnation in the development.

This has resulted in that the industry has developed a series of initiatives to prevent and reduce the level of parasites or lice, where one such group of actions is to reduce the level of parasites or lice by non-medical treatments (NMT). All the known NMTs to reduce the level of parasites or lice also have adverse effects on the fish welfare/health and biology. The recent years the fish welfare and adverse effects from treatments have become central topics in research communities and the industry. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority issued e.g. in December 2018 that “We have received a number of new methods which controls the lice, but the battle against lice has resulted in lower fish welfare” (Friede Andersen, TEKMAR 2018).

The measures against parasites or lice are constrained by and interrupted by a series of factors that have high uncertainty; health/welfare state of fish, temperature and other environmental parameters in the sea, choice of size at fish release to sea, density in cage, sorting/distribution of size, feed regime, former actions against parasites or lice, slaughtering regimes, etc.

This results in a multi-factor connection between decisions, actions and the result of production. The control of treatments or actions is thus suffering from high complexity, stochastic exogenous variables, endogenous variables and connections between these associated with each decision.

There have been introduced some decision making support tools the latter years, but these still suffer from being early generation solutions.

A substantial problem with the prior art solutions is that the fish is considered and treated collectively. It will typically be 150.000-200.000 fish, e.g. salmon, in a net cage to be treated, and these are often described in tons of biomass and average size. The treatment methods used are chosen as an initial setting for the treatment (e.g. nozzle pressure, temperature, flow velocity for fish, etc.), and the operator controlling the treatment typically makes 2-3 adjustments in the settings during the treatment. This is performed even though some treatment methods to a certain degree guides fish to individual exposure of the treatment. Still settings for batch treatment of the fish are used.

The fish, however, have large individual differences, e.g. as regards size, number of parasites or lice, cuts in the skin layer, absence of shell from earlier treatment or incidents, a low mucus layer as exterior protection, etc. In a batch of fish in a net cage one may use distribution curves for all these properties of the fish, receiving the same treatment. This leads to increased death rate and a high welfare loss for the fish due to that a large amount of fish is exposed to settings/treatment strength that is not suitably adapted, and a large amount of fish receives treatment without the fish needing treatment at all. In addition to the affection/stress from a non-adapted treatment or overtreatment, this also brings along economical losses for the farmer in form of lost growth and total over-treatment of the fish.

A serious consequence of this is that the farmer’s room for manoeuvring is limited. Each treatment against parasites or lice results in adverse effects resulting in that the fish needs recovery time before it can be treated again. A common problem in the autumn is that the reproduction period for parasites or lice is considerably shorter than the recovery period of the fish, forcing the farmer to start a new treatment earlier than recommended. This results in a development where the fish gradually is weakened so much that the farmer does not have further tools available, and the consequence is emergency slaughtering or too early slaughtering due to high amount of parasites or lice and weakened fish. The economic losses become considerable due to lower exploitation of maximally allowed biomass.

The closest prior art of the present invention may be found in NO341969 B1 and NO343899 B1. In NO341969 B1 is described a method of sorting live fish comprises guiding fish from a holding area through a recording device and identify features of individual fish characterizing the condition of the fish and individuals. Based on the identified features, a desired action for each individual fish is decided, and each individual fish is subsequently guided to one or more destinations in which the desired action can be performed on the fish. It is also described a system for sorting live fish comprises a holding area for holding live fish, and a device for recording health and physical development of fish in the holding area. The device for recording health and physical development comprises a recording area for the recording. A sorting device is arranged in or after the recording area for sorting fish, and is connected to the one or more transfer devices for transferring fish to one or more destinations.

In NO343899 B1 is described a device for recording and monitoring health and physical development of live fish comprises at least one imaging device adapted to image a recording area, a data processor, and a memory unit, and a guiding device to guide fish through the recording area. The data processor is adapted to analyse images from the imaging device, and, identify features of the fish, which characterize health condition and physical development, and store the features in the memory unit. This may be performed by imaging fish passing a recording area using at least one imaging device, analysing images from the imaging device, and identify features of fish which characterize health condition and individual, using the identified features, create a registry of individuals having passed through the recording area, and store this data in a memory unit, and, record the features characterizing health condition in the registry for each individual.

The main drawback of the prior art solutions is that these are systems adapted for scanning and sorting of fish under water, and further sorting to sub-groups for treatment or slaughtering. Accordingly, in the mentioned prior art the fish is scanned with the purpose of dividing the batch of fish in a net cage in sub-groups and wherein the fish of the sub-groups are treated by the same settings/treatment. Accordingly, the prior art fails to provide individual treatment of each fish.

It should also be mentioned that there exists similar systems for scanning and treatment of fish under water, such as from NO331345 B1, where it is described a device for destroying parasites on fish, such as salmon lice on salmon in fish farms. The device comprises a camera communicating with a controlling unit, which in turn communicates with a light source adapted to fire pulses of point shaped light that is harmful for the parasite in question. The controlling unit controls a system for optical recognition within a defined coordinate system and is arranged to detect points and to update in real time coordinates that exhibits contrast differences typical for parasites on a fish surface and to trigger a light pulse from the light source when the coordinates for at detected point coincides with the coordinates for the aiming point of the light source. A considerable drawback of this solution is that only one treatment method is available.

However, none of the mentioned prior art solutions provides a complete and true individual treatment of each individual fish.

Prior art further fails to provide a solution where the effect of the treatment is documented and evaluated.

It is thus a need for a method and system that that provides true individual treatment of fish, as well as enables the possibility to document and evaluate the effect of the treatment.

Object

The main object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for individual treatment of fish partly or entirely solving the drawbacks of prior art solutions.

One object of the present invention is to provide a method and system enabling true individual treatment of fish.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and system enabling continuous adaption of the treatment to achieve optimal treatment of the individual fish.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and system enabling the use of historical information about the individual fish to adapt the treatment of the individual fish.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and system for individual treatment of fish capable of taking into consideration external information from net cages and/or environment.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for individual treatment of fish capable of choosing between different treatment methods.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and system enabling individual series treatment of the individual fish with different treatment methods or treatment properties.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and system capable of using a large number of information or data from individual fish enabling the use of artificial neural network/machine learning to find the optimal treatment for the individual fish.

Further objects of the present invention will appear from the following description, claims and attached drawings.

The invention

A method for individual treatment of fish according to the present invention is defined by the technical features of claim 1. Preferable features of the method are disclosed in the dependent method claims.

A system for individual treatment of fish according to the present invention is defined by the technical features of claim 13. Preferable features of the system are disclosed in the dependent system claims.

The present invention is especially related to a method and system that provide true individual treatment of each fish for the removal of parasites or lice from the individual fish.

The present invention will especially be applicable for fish in net cage of a fish farm or other systems where batches/groups of fishes are contained.

A method of individual treatment of fish according to the present invention comprises a step a) of acquiring information or data about state or health of an individual fish before treatment by using at least one first scanning unit. The acquiring of individual information or data about state or health of the individual fish is preferably performed in close proximity of at least one treatment device, such that the acquired information or data can be considered to be acquired immediately in front of the treatment to be performed.

The method further comprises a step b) comprising individual treatment of the individual fish by means of at least one treatment device based on the acquired information in step a).

The present invention also comprises a step c) of acquiring information or data about state or health of the individually treated fish and evaluating the effect of the treatment and properties of the individual fish.

According to one embodiment of the method according to the present invention step b) comprises processing the individual acquired information or data of the individual fish and deciding treatment properties for the individual fish based on machine learning of the acquired information or data and knowledge of result of treatment of fish with a comparable starting point.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the method according to the present invention step b) comprises adapting settings of the at least one treatment device based on decided treatment properties.

According to a further embodiment of the method, it comprises using machine learning to decide the treatment properties for the individual fish.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the method, step a) further comprises performing identification of the individual fish.

According to a further embodiment of the method according to the present invention it comprises using at least two treatment devices of the same or different treatment methods or treatment properties and performing a sorting in front of the at least two treatment devices to guide the individual fish to a desired treatment device of desired treatment method or properties.

According to a further embodiment of the method according to the present invention it further comprises sorting out fish in front of the at least one treatment device that shall not receive treatment to avoid sending fish through the at least one treatment device that is not to receive treatment, or passing the fish through the at least one treatment device without performing treatment.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the method according to the present invention it comprises performing a sorting of the individual fish after the treatment to desired receiving units for further handling.

According to a further embodiment of the method, it comprises performing treatment of the individual fish in two or more treatment devices of different treatment method or treatment properties arranged in series.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the method according to the present invention, the method comprises acquiring information or data about the individual fish in front of and/or after each treatment device to acquire information or data about the individual fish in relation to each treatment.

A system for individual treatment of fish according to the present invention comprises at least one scanning and treatment unit. According to the present invention the at least one scanning and treatment unit comprises at least one treatment device for treatment of an individual fish, at least one first scanning unit arranged in front of the at least one treatment device and at least one second scanning unit arranged after the at least one treatment device. The at least one first and second scanning units are preferably arranged in close proximity of the at least one treatment device, such that the acquired information or data can be considered as immediately before and immediately after the at least one treatment device. The system further comprises at least one control unit provided with means and/or software for storing and processing of acquired information or data about the individual fish from the respective scanning units and controlling of the at least one treatment device based on the acquired information or data of the individual fish.

According to a further embodiment of the system according to the present invention it further comprises at least one fish ID scan unit arranged in front of/upstream or after/downstream the at least one first scanning unit or integrated in the first scanning unit.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the system according to the present invention the at least one control unit is provided with a machine learning software module.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention the system comprises at least one device for singularization of fish in front of/upstream the at least one first scanning unit.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, the system comprises at least one sorting system arranged at the outlet of the at least one scanning and treatment unit adapted for sorting treated fish to receiving units.

According to a further embodiment of the system it comprises at least one treatment sorting unit arranged in front of/upstream the at least one treatment device, the at least one treatment sorting unit is adapted for sorting out fish in front of the at least one treatment device that shall not receive treatment to avoid sending fish through the at least one treatment device that is not to receive treatment.

In an alternative embodiment the system is arranged to pass the fish through the at least one treatment device without performing treatment when the fish shall not receive treatment.

According to a further embodiment of the system, the at least one scanning and treatment unit comprises at least two treatment devices of same or different treatment methods or treatment properties, and at least one treatment sorting unit arranged in front of/upstream the at least two treatment device and adapted for guiding the individual fish to a desired treatment device of desired treatment method or properties.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the system, the system comprises at least one treatment sorting unit arranged in front of/upstream the at least one treatment device wherein the at least one treatment sorting unit is adapted for sorting out fish in front of the at least one treatment device that shall not receive treatment or the system is arranged to pass the fish through the at least one treatment device without performing treatment when the fish shall not receive treatment.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the system comprises at least two treatment devices arranged in series for treatment of individual fish with different treatment methods or treatment properties in series.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, the system comprises additional first and/or second scanning units arranged in front of and/or after each treatment device, to acquire information or data about the individual fish in relation to each treatment.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention the at least one scanning and treatment unit is arranged onboard a vessel.

Accordingly, by the present invention is provided a method and system capable of individual treatment of fish, especially for removing parasites or lice.

By that there is performed a scanning of the individual fish in front of the treatment stage, each fish may receive adapted treatment depending on desired methods or parameters, hereunder taking into consideration state or health for the individual fish.

By that the present invention also performs a scanning of the individual fish after treatment one is able to collect information or data (knowledge) of the result from treatment of fish with comparable starting point, that can be used when deciding the treatment methods or properties of the individual fish to achieve optimal treatment.

The present invention thus provides a method and system wherein the choice of treatment method and settings of the at least one treatment device for each individual fish may be adapted in an automated manner. According to one embodiment of the present invention the method and system makes use of machine learning to make the decisions of the optimal treatment properties.

When one also includes fish ID, one may also include the use of historical data for the individual fish when considering the best treatment method or properties.

The information or data acquired, hereunder fish properties, after the treatment of the individual fish, is according to the present invention used to evaluate the effect of the treatment of the individual fish and which together with properties of the individual fish are used to improve the next individual treatment of fish, as well as improvement of the machine learning.

The learning effect of the acquired information before and after treatment about each individual fish will provide a knowledge basis of up to 400.000 fishes per day with todays normal capacities of treatment methods.

According to a further embodiment the method and system also makes use of external data or information from sensor means in connection with a net cage or the environment.

By means of the present invention the scanning in front of treatment and after treatment, as well as external data or information will provide a large knowledge database known as “big data”, that may be analysed and used for machine learning to continuously improve the decisions and settings of the treatment device(s) as well as the individual treatment properties for the individual fish may be optimized. This is something that that prior art fails to provide, due to that the cited prior art is focused on treatment of fish in a batch-wise manner.

The present invention thus provides a solution resulting in increased welfare of the individual fish, as well as minimal stress for the fish during the treatment process. The treatment will in the present invention be tailored to each individual fish with the goal to achieve optimal treatment by as few steps and only to the extent required.

Due to the complexity in biological and environmental conditions in connection with treatment of fish, it will be a challenge to make a predefined software that will be able to handle all combinations. In addition one will face many states on fish before the treatment properties will be optimal for the individual treatment process, but the present invention will get closer to the optimal treatment properties when the information or data basis is sufficient, and thus be able to continuously adapt and improve.

It is obvious that the method may comprise a step of and the system will be provided with means to provide a bypass over the treatment device(s) when an unexpected or error situation arises.

The present invention further provides the opportunity to combine two or more treatments of the individual fish by the use of treatment devices arranged in series with different treatment methods or properties.

Further, by arranging additional first and/or second scanning units in connection with each treatment device in the system the information or data knowledge of the system is further enhanced as well as improved control of the system is achieved.

A typical scenario for the use of the present invention is delousing of fish in a net cage or similar of a fish farm, wherein the delousing is performed on a vessel with a system according to the present invention.

Further preferable features and advantageous details of the present invention will appear from the following example description, claims and attached drawings.

Example

The present invention will below be described in further detail with reference to the attached drawings, where:

Fig.1 is a principle drawing of a first embodiment of a system according to the present invention,

Fig.2 is a principle drawing of a second embodiment of a system the present invention, and

Fig.3 is a principle drawing of a further embodiment of a system according to the present invention.

Reference is now made to Fig.1 showing a principle drawing of a first embodiment of a system for individual treatment of fish according to the present invention. The system according to the present invention comprises at least one scanning and treatment unit 100. The scanning and treatment unit 100 comprises at least one treatment device 110 for treatment of an individual fish, at least one first scanning unit 200 arranged in front of/upstream the at least one treatment device 110 and at least one second scanning unit 210 arranged after/downstream the at least one treatment device 110.

According to a further embodiment the system comprises at least one fish ID scan unit 220 arranged in front of/upstream or downstream the at least one first scanning unit 200 or integrated in the first scanning unit 200.

The at least one first scanning unit 200 is arranged in close proximity to the at least one treatment device 110, such that the scanning performed may be considered as immediately before treatment.

The at least one second scanning unit 200 is arranged in close proximity to the at least one treatment device 110, such that the scanning performed may be considered as immediately after treatment.

The at least one scanning and treatment unit 100 further comprises or is arranged to a control unit 300 provided with means and/or software for storing and processing of information and data acquired from the scanning units 200 and 210, as well as the fish ID scan unit 220, if present. The control unit 300 is further provided with machine learning software module 310. By means of machine learning module 310 one can make predictions or calculations based on large amounts of data. Machine learning can be divided in several methods, which is known as e.g. supervised learning, unsupervised learning, semi-supervised learning and reinforcement learning that enable different approaches for processing of the extracted data/information from the scanning units 200-220, depending on the result to be achieved. Accordingly, by providing the control unit 300 with means and/or software 310 for machine learning the extracted data/information can be processed to find the optimal treatment of the individual fish. In addition, the control unit 300 can be provided with means and/or software for artificial intelligence enabling the control unit 300 to make (ethical) choices/decisions. Accordingly, machine learning can be used to improve models and provide decision support for the choice and settings of treatment for the individual fish.

The first 210 and second 220 scanning units may be dry scanners or wet scanners, which are well known for a skilled person. There exists also even more sophisticated scanners that may be used in the present invention, which the skilled person would be aware of when implementing the system according to the present invention.

The at least one scanning and treatment unit 100 is preferably arranged on a vessel positioned in vicinity of a net cage of a fish farm.

The at least one scanning and treatment unit 100 is at the inlet end connected to a fish supply system 400 adapted to supply alive fish to the at least one scanning and treatment unit 100. The fish supply system 400 is for this provided with e.g. at least one live fish pump 410, adapted to retrieve alive fish from a net cage of a fish farm and supplying it to the at least one scanning and treatment unit 100. The fish supply system 400 is further provided with at least one device 420 for singularization of fish arranged downstream the live fish pump 410 or that the live fish pump 410 is arranged for singularization of fish, such that the fish supply system 400 supplies single fishes to the at least one scanning and treatment unit 100.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention the system comprises a sorting system 500 at the outlet of the at least one scanning and treatment unit 100 adapted for sorting of the treated fish into receiving units 120a-n, containers or similar dependent on sorting criteria set in the control unit 300.

The at least one scanning and treatment unit 100 is according to a further embodiment arranged to a waste water system 600 adapted for proper handling of waste water containing parasites or lice by comprising one or more filter units (not shown) removing the parasites or lice from the waste water such that the water may be let out into the surroundings.

Reference is now made to Figure 2 showing a principle drawing of a system for treatment of fish according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 2 the scanning and treatment unit 100 may comprise two or more treatment devices 110a-b of similar treatment methods for increased capacity or for different treatment methods, as well as the treatment devices 110a-b may be of similar treatment methods but with different treatment properties.

In connection with the use of several treatment devices 110a-b it is preferably arranged a treatment sorting unit 510 in front of the treatment devices 110a-b adapted for guiding the scanned fish to the desired treatment device 110a-b.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the treatment sorting unit 510 is further arranged to sort out scanned fish in front of the treatment devices 110a-b that shall not receive treatment, based on the scanning. The fish sorted out in front of the treatment devices 110ab will then be transferred to the outlet of the scanning and treatment unit 100 where it will be sorted by the sorting system 500 or directly transferred to a selected receiving unit 120a-n.

The treatment sorting unit 510 may also be used in the first embodiment to avoid sending fish that is not to be treated based on the scanning through the treatment device 110.

In an alternative embodiment the control unit 300 is arranged to control the at least one treatment device 110, 110a-b to not perform treatment if a fish is not to be treated, and just letting the fish pass through.

The present invention accordingly provides a method and system capable of adapting the treatment of each fish individually based on acquired information of the individual fish immediately in front of treatment by the at least one first scanning unit 200. The present invention further provides a method and system capable of acquiring information about the effect/result of the treatment of the individual fish immediately after a treatment has been performed in the individual fish.

The control unit 300 is using machine learning software 310 for making decisions, both as regards to suitable treatment and whether or not to perform a treatment of the fish in question, such that fish that does not require treatment does not need to receive treatment.

How the system according to the present invention works will now be described.

In the first embodiment, it is provided a system for treatment, e.g. arranged onboard a vessel, wherein the system provides integrated scanning, identification and individually adapted treatment of each fish.

By means of the at least one first scanning unit 200 and fish ID scan unit 220, if present, each fish is properly scanned for information/data and the control unit 300 by means and/or software will identify and detect/decide the health/state of each identified fish immediately in front of the treatment in the treatment device 110.

The control unit 300 is provided with means and/or software for performing processing as wells as machine learning software 310 to decide the proper (optimal) treatment of each fish by using the scanned information/data about the individual fish in front of treatment as well as knowledge about result from treatment of fish with a suitable comparable starting point.

The control unit 300, based on these calculations and decisions next adapts and sets the settings of the properties of the at least one treatment device 110, 110a-b and whereupon the at least one treatment device 110, 110a-b performs the treatment of the individual fish.

Immediately after the individual fish has been treated the fish again is scanned by the at least one second scanning device 210 to acquire information about state/health of the fish after treatment, enabling the control unit 300 to evaluate the effect/result of the treatment and properties of the treated fish to improve the next individual treatment of a fish with a similar starting point. Accordingly, continuously improving the treatment.

The more fish that has been processed through the at least one scanning and treatment unit 100, the higher knowledge basis the control unit 300 will have to optimize the treatment of each fish.

Typical parameters the scanning units 200 and 210 will be designed to scan for each individual fish will be, but not limited to:

· size

· presence of parasites or lice on the fish in different development stages

· mucus layer on the individual fish

· grate/shell and grate/shell loss

· metabolic scope

· cuts in the skin

· eye damage

· gill bleeding

· nose damage

· gill cover damage

· gin damages

· exterior signs of disease

· etc.

Examples of adapted treatment, i.e. settings that the control unit 300 will control on the at least one treatment device 110, 110a-b will be, but not limited to:

• pressure in jet nozzles

• pressure in pump units

• velocity of fish through the scanning and treatment unit

• temperature of the treatment

• use of brushes or other mechanical parasite removing devices

In the embodiment of Fig.2 is shown a solution where the system for treatment of fish according to the present invention comprises two or more treatment devices 110a-b capable of individual treatment of a scanned fish by the use of similar treatment methods or treatment properties or different treatment methods or treatment properties.

In connection with the use of several (two or more) treatment devices 110a-b the treatment sorting unit 510 in front of the treatment devices 110a-b will be instructed to sort/guide the scanned fish to the correct treatment device 110a-b for a desired treatment method or treatment properties, and wherein the control unit 300 as above will be controlling the settings of the treatment devices 110a-b for optimal treatment of the scanned fish.

Examples of different treatment methods might be treatment devices using pressurized seawater for treatment of the fish, which is a well known method for the skilled person and requires no further explanation herein. Another solution for a treatment device is to use exposure of changed seawater temperature. Another well known method for a skilled person will be treatment devices using freshwater for treatment of the fish. Yet another method would be to use treatment devices adapted for exposing the fish to be treated with electrical energy. All these methods are well-known for a skilled person and requires no further explanation herein.

According to the present invention there may be used several treatment devices 110a-b that have different properties suitable for treatment of fish with certain properties and which the control unit 300, based on the scanning of the individual fish in front of the treatment, may choose among to select the most optimal treatment of the scanned fish to achieve a successful delousing/removal of parasites and gentle stress on the fish welfare. By means of the treatment sorting unit 510 one can easily switch between the desired treatment method.

Reference is now made to Fig.3, which is a principle drawing of a further embodiment of the system according to the present invention, wherein the scanning and treatment unit 100 comprises two or more treatment units 110a-b arranged in series, enabling series treatment of an individual fish. By using treatment units 110a-b of different treatment methods or treatment properties, the fish may be treated in sequential steps with different methods or properties, that combined will provide an optimal treatment of the individual fish. In such an embodiment, it will be preferable to arrange additional first 200 and/or second 210 in front of and/or after each treatment unit 110a-b to acquire information or data from each step of the treatment process, i.e. of each individual treatment process. In addition, treatment sorting units 510 (not shown) may be arranged in front of and/or after each treatment unit 110a-b to sort out fish in front of a sequential treatment device 110a-b if further treatment is not needed. As an alternative the system may be arranged to let the fish pass through a treatment device 110a-b if further treatment is not needed.

When the system according to the present invention is provided with a sorting system 500 at the outlet of the scanning and treatment unit 100, the sorting system 500 may further be used for sorting to other receiving units 120a-n. E.g. one may sort fish after size or other properties for further grouping in one or more different receiving units 120a-n, such as net cages, vessel or other locations.

Examples of such sorting criteria and receiving units are:

· several net cages receiving parts of the fish group

· fish carriers receiving parts of the fish group

· slaughtering vessels receiving parts of the fish group

· devices floating or onshore receiving parts of the fish group

· etc.

In addition to size, the system according to the present invention will be able to sort fish based on health condition, welfare indicators, presence of parasites or lice, etc. As described above, the system according to the present invention will also be able to register and use historical data about the individual fish. By means of the mentioned fish ID scan unit 220, the fish scanned for information will also be identified by ID. The control unit300 will be provided with means and/or software for also using historical information (earlier observed and stored information) about the individual fish when deciding the optimal treatment of the fish in question.

Examples of historical information about each fish is e.g. earlier scanned information from, e.g., observations in a net cage or fish farm, in connection with earlier treatment, counting operations, etc. This information may also be provided to the system according to the present invention from external systems associated with a net cage or fish farm. Other examples of historical information is stored data from earlier treatment of the individual fish, hereunder treatment effect, adverse effects, restitution, etc.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 300 is arranged to take into consideration external data, such as environmental data or other data about a net cage of fish farm or environment around a net cage or fish farm. In addition to environmental data, also technical conditions about a net cage or fish farm in question, the surroundings, fish group, etc. may be supplied to the system according to the present invention for consideration by the control unit 300.

Examples of external data may be, but not limited to:

· O2 level in water before treatment

· level of algae in the sea in before treatment

· temperature in sea and air

· wind, current and waves affecting the treatment

· size and density of crowding of fish in net cage

· size of fish group

· properties of net cage, closing net, crowding units, etc.

· etc.

The amount of this external data together with the individual information/data acquired for the individual fish, both historical and at the time of treatment, will provide a high amount of data, also called, “big data, which provides a powerful knowledge base for use during the machine learning, as discussed above.

The at least one sorting system 500 and/or treatment sorting unit 510 of the system according to the present invention may further be used for sorting the fish into new fish groups at the same time as treatment, sparing an extra crowding of fish for sorting. Sorting criteria could be based on health and welfare indicators for adapted treatment strategies further on.

The present invention further provides sequential repetition of treatment devices, increasing the amount of alternative combinations of treatment in one process.

Even though the present invention has been described in relation to treatment against lice, it is obvious that the present invention is also applicable for other individual medical treatment, such as, but not limited to: vaccination, medical injections, bath treatments and the like.

As the system according to the present invention is based on modules/components that may be arranged in series and parallel, the system is easily scalable and adaptable, both as regards efficiency and redundancy.

The above described embodiments may according to the present invention be combined to form modified embodiments within the scope of that attached claims.

Modifications

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the system can also be used for marking of fish for product differentiation when delivery to market.

Claims

1. Method of individual treatment fish for the removal of parasites or lice, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

a) acquiring information or data about state or health of an individual fish before treatment by using at least one first scanning unit (200),

b) individual treatment of the individual fish by means of at least one treatment device (110, 110a-b) based on the acquired information or data in step a), and

c) acquiring information or data about state or health of the individually treated fish and evaluating the effect of the treatment and properties of the individual fish.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized by that step b) comprises processing the individual acquired information or data of the individual fish and deciding treatment properties for the individual fish based on machine learning of the acquired information or data and knowledge of result of treatment of fish with a comparable starting point.

3. Method according to claims 1-2, characterized by that step b) comprises adapting settings of the at least one treatment device (110, 110a-b) based on decided treatment properties.

4. Method according to claim 1, characterized by that step a) further comprises performing identification of the individual fish.

5. Method according to claim 2, characterized by using machine learning to decide the treatment properties for the individual fish.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized by using the acquired information or data about state or health of an individual fish after the treatment and evaluation of the effect of the treatment and properties of the individual fish to improve the machine learning.

7. Method according to claim 1, characterized by performing singularization of fish in front of step a).

8. Method according to claim 1, characterized by using at least two treatment devices (110a-b) of the same or different treatment methods or treatment properties and performing a sorting in front of the at least two treatment devices (100a-b) to guide the individual fish to a desired treatment device (110a-b) of desired treatment method or properties.

9. Method according to any preceding claim, characterized by sorting out fish that shall not receive treatment in front of the at least one treatment device (110, 110a-b) or passing the fish through the at least one treatment device (110, 110a-b) without performing treatment.

10. Method according to any preceding claim, characterized by performing a sorting of the individual fish after the treatment to desired receiving units (120a-n).

11. Method according to any preceding claim, characterized by performing treatment of the individual fish in two or more treatment devices (110a-b) of different treatment method or treatment properties arranged in series.

12. Method according to claim 11, characterized by acquiring information or data about the individual fish in front of and/or after each treatment device (110a-b) to acquire information or data about the individual fish in relation to each treatment.

13. System for individual treatment of fish, wherein the system comprises at least one scanning and treatment unit (100), wherein the at least one scanning and treatment unit (100) comprises at least one treatment device (110, 110a-b) for individual treatment of an individual fish, at least one first scanning unit (200) arranged in front of the at least one treatment device (110, 110a-b) and at least one second scanning unit (210) arranged after the at least one treatment device (110), and at least one control unit (300) provided with means and/or software for storing and processing of acquired information or data about the individual fish from the respective scanning units (200, 210) and controlling of the at least one treatment device (110, 110a-b) based on the acquired information or data.

14. System according to claim 13, characterized in that the system comprises at least one fish ID scan unit (220) arranged in front of or after the at least one first scanning unit (200) or integrated in the first scanning unit (200).

15. System according to claim 13, characterized in that the at least one control unit (300) is provided with a machine learning software module (310).

16. System according to claim 13, characterized in that the system comprises at least one device (420) for singularization of fish in front of the at least one first scanning unit (200).

17. System according to claim 13, characterized in that the system comprises at least one treatment sorting unit (510) arranged in front of/upstream the at least one treatment device (110, 110a-b), the at least one treatment sorting unit (510) is adapted for sorting out fish in front of the at least one treatment device (110, 110a-b) that shall not receive treatment or the system is arranged to pass the fish through the at least one treatment device (110, 110a-b) without performing treatment when the fish shall not receive treatment.

18. System according to claim 13, characterized in that the system comprises at least one sorting system arranged at the outlet of the at least one scanning and treatment unit (100) adapted for sorting treated fish to receiving units (120a-n).

19. System according to claim 13, characterized in that the scanning and treatment unit (100) comprises at least two treatment devices (110a-b) of same or different treatment methods or treatment properties, and at least one treatment sorting unit (510) arranged in front of the at least two treatment device (110a-b) and adapted for guiding the individual fish to a desired treatment device (110a-b) of desired treatment method or properties.

20. System according to claim 13, characterized in that the system comprises at least two treatment devices (110a-b) arranged in series for treatment of individual fish with different treatment methods or treatment properties in series.

21. System according to claim 20, characterized in that the system comprises additional first (200) and/or second (210) scanning units arranged in front of and/or after each treatment device (110ab), to acquire information or data about the individual fish in relation to each treatment.

22. System according to claims 10-15, characterized in that the at least one scanning and treatment unit (100) is arranged onboard a vessel.