Abstract
In the later years, “Recirculating aquaculture systems” (RAS) farming positioned itself toward high-yield production and high-performance operations. With digitalization and ever-powerful processing tools around the corner, the fish health department at Atlantic Sapphire questioned itself how to align in the company’s data-driven modus operandi and support it.
The answer lied in building more data. More specifically, this internship was dedicated in building a blood parameters baseline database. In a 12-week period, fish from different life stages were sampled to analyze their blood in a blood analyzer, giving us the possibility to analyze and monitor whole blood, blood gases, electrolytes, metabolites, co-oximetry, and other calculated results. Salmons were sampled according to industry and scientific standard method(s), more specifically the caudal method, both ventral and lateral. A special interest was given in this internship to find arterial blood the most possible. Fish health, welfare and biosecurity was also an inherent part of the project, due to the risky nature of RAS.
At the end, 830 blood samples were collected and analyzed. Data analyses were produced by tools like PivotTable and PowerBI to give a voice to the raw data. Although some adjustments were needed, the internship main goal was attained and contributed opening the door to better operational decisions, more stable farming parameters and ultimately contributing, via indirect effects, to the profitability goal of the company.