Live fish wellboats rely on BWMS-type technology

In the high-volume transport conditions experienced in salmon farms and other commercial marine environments that require live fish to be moved, preventing infection and contamination is crucial, as is ensuring fish welfare, noted water treatment specialist BIO-UV. 

To address these concerns, wellboats that sort, treat and transfer farmed salmon to open seas and back rely on BIO-UV and Redox hygiene and biosecurity solutions to keep the fish fresh. 

Transporting farmed fish, especially salmon, for commercial purposes must comply with mandatory welfare requirements to minimise stress and danger to the animals being transported. 

According to the EU Platform on Animal Welfare Voluntary Initiative on Fish Welfare (2020), water quality parameters should be kept within acceptable limits throughout the journey, with supplemental oxygen supplied and changes in water temperature avoided.

It also stresses key water quality parameters should have limits established that are specific to the species and life stage of the fish.

BIO-UV has a long history of activity in aquaculture and wellboats, and its UV- and ozone-based water treatment technology tackles the proliferation of algae and addresses risks of waterborne diseases affecting fish stocks.

The company has partnered with Redox, a leading aquaculture technology supplier in Norway, to provide effective water treatment solutions to wellboats operating globally.

Redox provides solutions for regulating water quality to the fisheries and aquaculture industry, with a particular focus on encouraging good growth and water quality while increasing biosecurity at customers’ facilities.

"We have an R&D department that accompanies each project from design to installation," said BIO-UV Group export sales director Patrick Jean Pichavant, "We offer flexibility regarding manufacturing of the device chosen and are able to respond from presales to after-sales services."

Many of the key aspects of the technologies used in keeping wellboat water safe also apply to the ballast water treatment sector, in which BIO-UV has had a strong presence since 2011 with its brand, BIO SEA.