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Laxey COO/CTO Hallgrímur Steinsson: "We’ve been impressed, not only by the functions and functionality of the camera, but also by the support and service offered by the ReelData team."

Laxey signs multi-year deal with biomass camera supplier ReelData

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Icelandic land-based salmon farmer Laxey has entered a multi-year deal for Canadian company ReelData’s ReelWeight camera following a trial in which Laxey tested the camera across multiple tanks throughout its post-smolt facility as well as recently stocked 5,000m³ ongrowing tanks.

Throughout the trial period, Laxey was able to use the AI camera system - designed specifically for land-based systems to assess average weight and weight distribution - and compare results for accuracy against standard operating procedures.

The camera, which is easily moved from tank to tank, was able to deliver more than 300 unique fish samples per hour using ReelData’s individual fish recognition capability. These features provided Laxey with enough data to make the decision to cease manual sample weighing and move forward with the AI technology as the primary way to obtain sample weights.

Minimal effort required

“The ReelWeight camera used through the trial period was set up and operational very quickly with minimal effort required to establish networking and connectivity,” said Laxey chief operating and technical officer Hallgrímur Steinsson in a press release.

“From that point, we worked with the ReelData team to understand how best to utilise the cameras and gain insight into each tank with a very fast turnover of measurements. We’ve been impressed, not only by the functions and functionality of the camera, but also by the support and service offered by the ReelData team. It made the decision to move from a trial to a full commercial agreement very easy for us.”

Drone photo of Laxey's grow-out facility in the foreground. The company farms on the island of Heimaey in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago.

ReelData, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, has customers in several European countries, and North and South America.

“Having Laxey as a client in Iceland, increases our presence further in this rapidly developing and expanding industry,” said ReelData commercial director Gareth Butterfield.

“It’s an exciting time for Icelandic aquaculture and the opportunity for land-based growth is significant. We feel confident that ReelData can be the number one supplier of AI capable technologies in feeding efficiency and biomass estimation in this market, and whilst Laxey’s recent commitment to ReelWeight is the first of its kind in Iceland, there is work still to do as we plan to trial ReelAppetite - our AI software designed to maximise growth opportunity and minimise feed waste - at the facility in the coming months.”

First customer in Iceland

Butterfield said ReelData had been working for several months with Laxey, which is based on the island of Heimaey in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago close to Iceland’s south coast.

“It has been a fantastic experience, and Laxey is an ideal site for our first commercial deployment of ReelWeight in Iceland. Laxey’s modern design and cutting-edge technology makes them a great partner for us. Add to that, the fact that Laxey has an engaged, motivated and invested team, and we feel like we’ve gained another top-class partner with which to grow.”