EWOS Innovation is developing a new method that makes sampling of pigment and fat on live Atlantic salmon possible within seconds - without sacrificing the salmon.

\"Today, conventional fish sampling methods means sacrificing the fish to obtain quality samples, which are then ground and analyzed. This is both costly and labor-intensive. With merely low pressure, our new method makes it possible to scan the fat level and color content in only a few second. In addition, we can send a happy, live and kicking salmon right back into the cage after measuring\", said Product Manager Ernst Hevrøy.

The project is called MicroNIR, and is a collaboration between EWOS, EWOS Innovation and Aqua Gen. The objective is to develop non-destructive methods of measuring body composition in Atlantic salmon. The project was recently approved as SkatteFUNN-project, a funding scheme through the Research Council of Norway which provides financing through tax deductions.

The main goal is to develop a method for measuring body fat percentage and pigment content in the fillet of Atlantic salmon while it is alive, using an ultra-compact near-infrared spectrophotometer, the MicroNIR. An additional objective is to use the method for evaluation of the fat distribution, and to assess the general energy status of the fish.

MicroNIR will provide major benefits during fieldwork, both for the fish and the process. In production follow-up, quality sampling of the fish is a frequent task. MicroNIR makes this work considerably more efficient, since this method only require a few seconds to scan the fish fat level and color content. Moreover, the fish stays alive and healthy, and can go right back into the fish pen after measurement.

The MicroNIR project owner is EWOS Norway. Researchers at EWOS Innovation develop the technical solutions, which are tested on fish samples together with the salmon breeding company Aqua Gen AS.