MSD Animal Health has launched its latest FALCON® vision technology at the Aqua Nor fish farming conference, designed to enhance fish health and biomass production. This new system offers advanced monitoring of sea lice infestations and overall fish welfare.
The updated FALCON system employs cutting-edge vision technology and artificial intelligence to deliver near real-time insights on fish health, including the detection of sea lice and the assessment of injuries. With capabilities to generate comprehensive health snapshots, the system allows aquaculture operators to quickly access vital data.
“This approach helps in selecting the most effective treatment products for each lice life stage and assessing treatment effectiveness for continuous improvement,” said Dafydd Morris, General Manager of MSD Animal Health Aqua EURAM. The technology builds on the success of the previous FALCON Biomass system, which has already transformed operations in countries like Norway, Chile, Iceland, and the UK.
Key features of the new FALCON system include high-resolution imaging technologies, including advanced stereovision and cameras, which play a crucial role in capturing thousands of images daily to provide accurate biomass estimations in aquaculture.
This is complemented by AI-driven analytics, where a neural network autonomously detects sea lice and evaluates fish welfare, thereby reducing the need for manual sampling and minimising stress on the fish.
A cloud-based dashboard offers users secure remote access to real-time updates on vital metrics related to fish growth and health. Together, these innovations facilitate optimised decision-making, enabling informed choices about health management and treatment protocols, ultimately promoting sustainability within the aquaculture industry, the company notes.
Currently available in Norway, the FALCON system is planned for broader rollout in 2026.
At Aqua Nor, MSD Animal Health is also presenting research on a new sensitivity test for salmon lice larvae, aimed at ensuring more sustainable use of treatment medicines. Morris noted, “Together, this biopharma and tech approach is helping our clients to create ecosystems that optimise fish health and welfare.”
