Nofima revolutionizes stress detection in aquaculture with hyperspectral imaging  

NORWAY – Nofima, a leading research institution in aquaculture, has unveiled groundbreaking technology for identifying stress in marine species through the innovative use of fluorescence and hyperspectral imaging. 

This pioneering approach allows researchers to detect early signs of stress and physical damage in fish and invertebrates, offering transformative potential for animal welfare and aquaculture operations.  

The research’s core is biofluorescence—an emission of low-energy coloured light from organisms exposed to high-energy blue light. While invisible to the naked eye, hyperspectral imaging can measure this fluorescence. 

According to Nofima’s findings, animals experiencing stress or physical damage emit stronger fluorescent signals, revealing valuable insights into their welfare conditions.  

“Fish may exhibit welfare traits in ways that are invisible to the human eye, and one of our objectives is to explore new technologies that can reveal this to us in real time,” explained Evan Durland, Scientist in Aquaculture Genetics and Project Leader at Nofima.  

Glow as a stress indicator  

The research, conducted as part of the AquaVitae and Deep Vision projects, focused on species like lumpfish, red king crab, and green sea urchins. 

Scientists discovered that when exposed to stressors, lumpfish and red king crabs produced heightened fluorescent emissions. 

Similarly, sea urchins with broken spines or lesions emitted brighter fluorescence in affected areas, signalling acute distress.  

This method presents a non-invasive alternative to traditional stress detection techniques, which often involve physical sampling or behavioural observation, both of which may introduce additional stress to the animal. 

Aquaculture operators can address welfare concerns before they escalate by enabling early detection, reducing mortality rates and improving overall productivity.  

Looking ahead, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to elevate the efficiency and practicality of this technology. 

A Nofima technology scientist, Samuel Ortega, elaborated: “We want to see if we can integrate AI into this method. The AI can analyse the biofluorescence data acquired through hyperspectral imaging and alert us if it detects any fluorescence changes that may indicate animal stress. We believe this could contribute significantly to the future of welfare measurement during aquaculture operations.”  

By automating data analysis, AI could enable real-time monitoring of stress indicators, ensuring swift interventions to optimise animal welfare.  

The EU Horizon 2020 program under the AquaVitae project supported the research and was further funded by Nofima through the Deep Vision project. 

It represents a collaboration between Nofima and Marie Curie PhD student Thomas Juhasz, who contributed to the investigation during his visit in 2022. 

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