During the first 15 months of the project:A trial was conducted to test the impact of different frequencies on biofilm formation in mini-cages (diameter: 3 m, depth: 5 m) without fish. This allowed improvements to be made in terms of transducer position. This stage also helped measure the in field energy consumption values showing optimization was necessary to optimize the energy consumption for the sake of lower environmental impact and shorter ROI terms for a future product.
A one-month trial with fish in a 20m diameter, 8m deep cage aimed to test algae growth near transducers and their effectiveness in preventing biofouling. The fish exhibited no stress response during ultrasound use, but improvements in system setup were identified.
A three-month full-scale test in a 30m diameter, 20m deep cage with a higher stocking density involved the standardized application of ultrasound in operational offshore fish farms. Fish displayed no stress response during ultrasound use. The trial identified necessary improvements for system installation, transducer registration, and remote control access for system analysis.
In the second project phase (M16-M30), various work packages were finalized to create and evaluate an ultrasound-based anti-fouling system. WP1 focused on conducting effectiveness studies through field tests and large-scale trials to determine the safe use of ultrasound. High-frequency transducers proved most effective in preventing fouling, and fish did not exhibit stress responses during ultrasound application. AWI was responsible for biological field and lab studies for D1.1 and D1.2.
In the second phase of the project, WP2 focused on small-scale production and assessing alternative power sources. WP3 aimed to enhance the control box for offshore use and reduce power consumption, while WP4 developed a self-contained Netwave system consists of floating platform solar power units. Work Packages 5, 6, and 7 concentrated on preparing Netwave for commercialization, including manufacturing, documentation, sourcing agreements, and fish farm trials to evaluate its performance in a commercial context.
NetWave made notable enhancements in its dissemination efforts, boosting its online visibility through the creation of a Twitter account and a YouTube channel. The project actively participated in events to showcase the system and its outcomes, and it established partnerships with industry leaders to further enhance the system.
During the project's third phase (Month 31 - 36), significant efforts were directed towards validating the NetWave system, which utilizes ultrasound for cage antifouling. This phase primarily focused on commercialization, cost reduction, supply chain overview, and securing additional certifications that confirm the system's harmlessness to farmed fish. As a result, 11 market-ready units were successfully manufactured and tested, and extensive dissemination and communication activities were carried out to maximize project visibility. Ethical considerations for fish sampling and ultrasound application were taken into account, providing valuable support for the aquaculture industry's safe operational planning. The NetWave project concluded in August 2023, making a noteworthy contribution to biofouling prevention in aquaculture through ultrasound technology. Efforts continue to demonstrate system performance and secure partnerships for market-ready products.
