Recent updates from the Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture and Food have set a bold target: reducing overall mortality in the aquaculture industry to just 5%. Achieving this will be no small feat. How can salmon farms realistically align with such stringent expectations? We're going to break down some practical strategies with Manolin that can help farms meet these government mandates effectively.

How Will Farms Meet Industry Expectations?

To understand the challenge laid out by the report, it's crucial to first examine the historical context. Data from our networks from the past decade shows that the salmon industry has grappled with an average mortality rate of around 15% from 2012 to 2022.  The newly set target of reducing mortality to just 5% appears not only ambitious but pretty aggressive. This shift may seem daunting, especially for farms that have already been investing heavily in advanced technologies with varied results. Despite these investments, diseases, sea lice, and other factors continue to pose significant challenges, leading to recurring mortality events with each generation of fish. This situation raises critical questions about what's missing in the current strategies and what more can be done to achieve these stringent goals without exhausting the resources and resilience of the farms.

Embracing New Technology: Population-Level Tracing

If farms are to effectively address mortality issues, they must develop an intimate understanding of their data. This requirement might seem daunting, but that's exactly why Manolin was created - to assist farms in managing risks with precision and efficiency, allowing them to focus on what truly matters without the burden of time-consuming data analysis. You can't effectively tackle mortality issues at each individual farm without leveraging advanced technology that provides deep insights into the root causes of these problems.

In their recent report, the government directly alluded to the importance of this approach, calling for the implementation of "a fish group identity that follows the fish throughout production" as a critical step towards achieving the ambitious 5% salmon mortality goal.

Manolin has already pioneered the industry standard for population-level tracing technology.

Launched last year, our solution has significantly improved the data accuracy with which our users can manage and reduce fish mortality and health risks. This technology not only ensures our farm platform users are well-prepared to meet stringent government mandates but does so with unmatched precision, setting a new benchmark for data applications in the aquaculture industry.

Leveraging Data Intelligence for Reducing Future Risk

At Manolin, our data isn't just comprehensive; it's self-healing and built upon our industry-leading population-level tracing. This foundational strength allows our modeling to set the market standard, offering unparalleled accuracy in our predictions and forecasting. Our Watershed platform is already equipped with over 20+ advanced AI predictive disease models, each designed to improve risk management and reduce farm mortality rates effectively.

To address the government's stringent mortality goals and streamline compliance with regulatory demands, farms require robust platforms like Manolin. Our system leverages advanced data intelligence and AI, simplifying complex data for easy internal use and ensuring adherence to government objectives, reports, and audits. This integrated approach not only helps farms manage their risks more effectively but also positions them at the forefront of the industry.

So how will Manolin's models help farms achieve better mortality rates specifically?

This year, Manolin is set to launch an updated suite of new analysis tools and models, including a specific mortality model, enabling farms to customize their approach towards more effectively reducing generational mortality. These platform updates are designed to distinctly set our farm users apart, providing them with the tools necessary to tackle lingering core fish health problems and achieve significantly better outcomes while aligning more closely with governmental expectations.

The New Standard for Mortality Risk Analysis

Manolins new approach to advanced mortality analysis will set a new standard in how farms manage and understand mortality risks. Traditionally, models often fall short because they fail to accurately account for variable disease events that occur throughout a generation. For instance, a common question posed to farms is, "How does our mortality rate change following disease events?" Typically, these events alter expectations around mortality percentages, yet it's challenging for farms to track these changes accurately within their data. The reality is that without the right tools, farms can struggle to quickly adapt their strategies in response to shifting conditions, leading to forecasts that don’t align with actual outcomes across generations.

What Manolin's Mortality Model Achieves for Farms

Manolin's innovative mortality model offers a dynamic solution by providing mortality rate projections that evolve with each generation. This adaptability is crucial, especially when disease events occur, allowing the model to adjust forecasts dynamically for more accurate predictions. This capability ensures that farms are not left questioning whether they are performing well or poorly after such events; instead, they have clear, actionable insights into how their strategies are holding up under specific generational challenges.

Innovative Comparative Analysis for Enhanced Decision-Making

Beyond individual farm performance, Manolin’s model enables farms to conduct analyses based on similar conditions—a groundbreaking feature in the industry. This tool allows farms to benchmark their performance not just against the industry standard but also against specific conditions prevalent in similar setups. By examining variables like where and how fish are dying—whether due to weight class, disease, treatment failures, or natural causes—farms can gain a nuanced understanding of their operational efficacy. Moreover, Manolin’s insights can guide farms on optimal interventions, such as switching from feed A to feed B, based on historical data showing which strategies have led to improved mortality rates under comparable conditions.

Want to see these results? As a farm Researcher user you can. Reach out to learn more.

Get More Actionable Data Insights & Recommendations

Building on the strengths of our existing models, Manolin is committed to delivering even more insights and tailored recommendations to our users in 2025. Alongside the launch of new models on our platform, we are excited to introduce a series of new reports starting this quarter. These insightful reports will be available exclusively and free of charge to our Watershed farm users who subscribe to our Researcher and Explorer tiers.

Exclusive Insights Coming for Manolin Users.

Furthermore, we are stepping up our game by sending exclusive monthly data insights directly to our Watershed farm users. If you're interested in gaining deeper insights and more precise recommendations that can transform your farm's performance, please reach out to explore how you can benefit. For those not yet using Watershed, stay tuned for Manolin’s new series of quarterly reports, with our first launching later this month!