Virtual Reality (VR) technology is reshaping fish welfare standards in aquaculture, enabling faster, safer training while supporting production efficiency and compliance with emerging certification demands.
The Aquaculture Welfare Standards Initiative (AWSI) is positioning immersive learning at the centre of its strategy to bridge the gap between theoretical standards and on-farm implementation.
Through a combination of education, expert consultation and VR technology, the organisation aims to improve production reliability and product quality across aquaculture operations. As the industry faces increasing regulatory pressure and certification deadlines, AWSI’s approach is designed to embed fish welfare into everyday practice while reducing operational risk and biosecurity concerns.
“Having managed the farm at Swiss Lachs AG, I know that the gap between a written manual and its execution at the tanks is where operational risks are highest,” says Simon Durejka, Initiative Group for Animal Welfare Standards in Aquaculture at AWSI.
“For AWSI, VR is the tool to close that gap. Our ‘Facing Fish Welfare’ platform acts as a practical training environment where staff can master critical interventions and identify stress indicators in a zero-risk setting.”
Educational platform
At the core of AWSI’s model is an educational platform that provides structured knowledge transfer for aquaculture professionals. Members gain access to learning materials designed to optimise operational processes and increase the share of certified aquatic products in retail markets.
Complementing this is AWSI’s collaboration with certification bodies, including ASC, Naturland and Global G.A.P., where it delivers technical recommendations to ensure standards remain practical and enforceable across diverse production environments.
However, it is the integration of VR technology that distinguishes AWSI’s offering. Traditional training methods, such as manuals or 2D video, often fail to capture the spatial and operational complexity of aquaculture facilities.
By contrast, immersive environments enable users to engage directly with realistic production scenarios.
“Traditional training via manuals or 2D videos cannot replicate the spatial complexity of a production facility,” Mr Durejka explains.
“VR, however, builds genuine muscle memory and improves situational awareness. Field tests with several European universities have shown that immersive training leads to significantly higher retention rates.”
Photorealistic environment
The VR platform places users inside a photorealistic 3D aquaculture environment using a headset, where they can interact with both equipment and live production scenarios.
Modules are tailored to key species such as salmon and trout, with a focus on system-specific requirements.
Training scenarios cover essential standard operating procedures, including hygiene protocols, feed management and sensitive processes such as stunning and slaughtering, areas directly linked to both fish welfare and product quality.
In addition to operational training, the system incorporates diagnostic learning tools. Interactive features guide users through tasks such as monitoring water quality and identifying early stress signals in fish populations.
Real-time feedback transforms passive observation into active decision-making, equipping staff with the skills needed to intervene before issues impact key performance indicators. This immersive approach has already demonstrated measurable benefits.
Studies indicate that VR-based learning can be up to four times faster than conventional training methods, while also delivering stronger emotional engagement, an important factor when training staff in welfare-sensitive procedures.
The platform’s innovation has been recognised with an award at the LearnTech fair, further underlining its potential within the sector.
“In professional aquaculture, welfare is a lead indicator for profitability. Stressed fish simply do not perform,” Mr Durejka says.
“As the industry moves toward the 2027 certification deadlines in German retail, the pressure to maintain and document high standards is increasing. Our VR infrastructure provides the hands-on training needed to integrate these standards into daily routines.”
By embedding VR technology within a broader framework of education and standardisation, AWSI is working to ensure that fish welfare is no longer treated as a theoretical benchmark but as a measurable and operational component of aquaculture production.
As the sector continues to scale, such tools are expected to play a critical role in aligning animal welfare, regulatory compliance and commercial performance.
