A Norway-UK collaboration has helped demonstrate how to overcome key challenges in achieving consistent and precise monitoring for fish production and seaweed management in aquaculture. Through the Biomass using Echosounding and Doppler for Live Aquaculture Monitoring (BEDLAM) project, Norwegian research institute SINTEF Ocean and UK-based underwater technology specialist Sonardyne tested new monitoring methods for fish farming.
The partners explain that achieving consistent and precise monitoring of aquaculture environments, including fish biomass and behaviour and seaweed growth, remains a significant challenge for the industry, with data variability and insufficient resolution hindering decision-making, production optimisation and regulatory compliance.
The BEDLAM project saw the used of fixed position seabed landers fitted with Sonardyne’s Origin 600 Acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADPCs) to improve the accuracy and reliability of biomass and behavioural monitoring – the foundation for optimising productivity and environmental stewardship in aquaculture operations.
Over two, month-long field trials in Norwegian waters, the ADCP and its echosounder mode were used to capture high-resolution measurements of fish and seaweed growth, as well as measuring currents and waves.
The project was funded by the €10 million program AQUAEXCEL 3.0 Transnational Access Programme, an EU Horizon 2020 backed scheme coordinated by the European Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform (EATiP).
It is one of five projects from the five-year programme chosen to be presented at the final AQUAEXCEL 3.0 brokerage event, being held at Aquaculture Europe 2025 in Valencia on 24 September 2025.
SINTEF Ocean Senior Researcher Finn Olav Bjørnson said: “For our part, it has been interesting to follow the project in terms of what can be achieved through dual use of the sensor: Achieving both current and wave measurements while at the same time observing growth and behaviour of the biomass. Also, an instrument mounted on the seabed eases daily maintenance since it can remain in place during operations on the surface.”
The project showed that fixed position deployments reduced measurement inconsistencies over time and provided accurate, repeatable temporal datasets – enabling detailed analysis of growth rates, behavioural changes and environmental influences over complete production cycles. This is regarded as essential for evidence-based adaptation of management practices.
The project was also able to leverage the increased spatial resolution in the Origin 600’s echosounder-mode measurements, enabling precise biomass assessments for stock management and site optimisation. The ADCP’s ability to acoustically transmit data to the surface in real-time demonstrated live behavioural monitoring of fish, enhancing the potential to detect stress responses and refine feeding strategies.
The data gathered enabled investigation of correlations of environmental parameters – including temperature, current velocity and turbidity – with biological metrics, supporting improved understanding of growth drivers.
“Through this collaborative project, we’ve showed ways to refine aquaculture monitoring methods,” Sonardyne ADCP Group Manager and project lead Tom Culverhouse said. “Advanced acoustic and environmental profiling create opportunities to better anticipate biological or environmental disruptions, support adaptive husbandry routines, and potentially improve production efficiency.
“Ongoing advancements may facilitate the integration of monitoring platforms with automated feeding or harvesting systems, contributing to further optimisation of resource use and operational practices. Overall, the SINTEF Ocean and Origin 600 collaboration contributes to the evolving toolkit available for aquaculture operations, informing future developments in data-driven, sustainable marine farming,” he said.
