Fish n' Bits - The Aquaculture Data Intelligence Podcast

What fuels the world’s most powerful AI models isn’t just data, it’s how that data is labeled and given context. In this week’s episode, we take listeners inside the often-overlooked world of data labeling, from Meta’s $14B investment in Scale AI to the billion-dollar rise of Surge AI, and connect the dots to aquaculture. You’ll learn why context-rich data—not just perfect data, is the real driver...

How does a disease you can’t see, and often don’t even know is there, cause some of the most expensive losses in salmon farming? In this week’s episode, we examine Cardiomyopathy Syndrome (CMS), a viral heart disease that’s been quietly impacting farms for decades but is now forcing its way into the spotlight. From the biology of Piscine Myocarditis Virus to the real-world costs seen in recent Sco...

Why do some salmon fight off sea lice with ease, while others struggle year after year? In this week’s episode, we discuss a groundbreaking new study from Nofima that explores what Pacific salmon, especially coho, can teach us about natural sea lice resistance. You’ll learn how cutting-edge techniques like AI-powered histology, proteomics, and spatial transcriptomics came together to paint a full...

What does it actually take to build an AI model that matters, not just for headlines, but for real-world decisions in aquaculture? In this week’s episode, we explore the evolving role of artificial intelligence in fish health prediction and dive into Manolin’s work on pancreas disease modeling. From the explosive growth of global AI to the quiet (but powerful) momentum inside aquaculture, we unpac...

Is aquaculture finally ready for the global stage? This week, we unpack the World Bank’s latest 100+ page aquaculture report—its first in 17 years—and why it's far more than hype. You’ll hear what the data actually says about aquaculture’s rise, where the next wave of growth will happen, and why the bottlenecks aren’t biological, they’re financial and political. From massive investment gaps to...

What happens when an old virus makes a new appearance? In this episode, we explore the legacy and resurgence of Infectious Salmon Anemia (ISA)—a disease that has shaped the global salmon industry for decades. With recent outbreaks reported in Northern Norway, we dive into what ISA is, how it spreads, and what history can teach us from past crises in Canada, Chile, Scotland, and the Faroe Islands....

When farms push smolt growth, what happens to biology, health, and risk? In this episode, we explore the evolving science and rising business pressures behind smoltification in salmon farming. From light control and brackish water systems to the push for 1 kg smolt, Tony breaks down why getting this phase right is so critical, and how larger smolt bring a new set of biological and operational chal...

What happens when the biology is strong but the market turns against you? In this week’s episode, we break down the Q1 2025 earnings from publicly traded salmon producers across six countries. While fish health remains solid, companies are facing some of the lowest salmon prices in recent memory, dragging down profits, shaking up leadership, and forcing a rethink of what “profitable farming” reall...

What happens when we build policy on the wrong measurements? In this episode, we unpack Norway’s proposed lice regulations and why the industry's biggest concern might not be the rules themselves, but the science behind them. From farm-level impact forecasts to a surprising case out of British Columbia, where sea lice returned despite the complete removal of salmon farms, we explore the statis...

What does it mean when sea surface temperatures break records before summer even begins? In this week’s episode, we dive into early-season sea lice data and rising ocean temperatures that are already signaling a challenging year for Norwegian salmon farms. From warnings of heat-driven outbreaks to shifting regulations and market pressure, we break down why 2025 could be another pivotal year for fi...

What happens when two global biotech giants team up to tackle one of aquaculture’s biggest bottlenecks? You get Veramaris - a joint venture between DSM and Evonik that’s producing high-potency omega-3s from algae, not fish. In this episode, Tony sits down with Ian Carr and Yann Le Gal from Veramaris to unpack how industrial-scale fermentation could be the key to unlocking more predictable, scalabl...

How do you turn millions of noisy farm records into clear, actionable insights that drive real-world change? In this week’s episode, we go behind the scenes of our recent Big Data study with Veramaris, unpacking how Manolin’s advanced techniques—like traced populations and inverse probability weighted regression—are redefining how aquaculture can learn directly from farm operations. Beyond the fin...

This week we sat down with acclaimed journalist Alexandra Talty , whose investigative reporting spans oceans, farms, and the global dinner plate. From her experiences covering fisheries and aquaculture to food security and climate resilience, Alexandra brings a grounded, global perspective to the conversation around sustainability in seafood. Alexandra's writing has appeared in publications su...

This week we break down Norway’s proposed overhaul of its aquaculture licensing system—a seismic shift that could redefine global standards. From scrapping biomass-based licenses to introducing sea lice emission quotas and a mortality tax, the new framework flips traditional input-based regulation on its head. We walk through the 115-page white paper to unpack what this means for farms, investors,...

Why are salmon prices dropping so dramatically—and why now? This week Tony unpacks one of the most unexpected trends so far this year: the early and steep decline in Norwegian salmon prices. With insights pulled from two decades of pricing data, fresh export stats, and market commentary, we explore why this drop is different, whether it could have been predicted, and what it means for farmers, exp...

What can other fish farms learn from Mattilsynet's ongoing system audits? This week, we break down the existing 2024–2025 Mattilsynet (The Norwegian Food Safety Authority) audits - Norway’s deep dive into fish welfare, risk management, and internal controls across some of the country’s largest salmon producers. From widespread regulatory devations to surprising gaps in how farms assess and act on...

This week we’re taking a thorough look at Greek aquaculture - how it became the EU’s top producer, what the 2009 debt crisis taught the industry, and why seabass and seabream farming still hold untapped potential. From historical growth and financial restructuring to the wild story of how seabass was first bred in captivity, this episode breaks down the past, present, and future of one of the Medi...

This week we’re back and exploring the latest Q4 financial reports of 2024 from the world’s top publicly traded salmon companies. While the holiday season brought profitability across the board, the real story lies in the strategic shifts companies are making - especially MOWI’s industry-shaking moves. From acquiring Nova Sea to potentially selling its feed division, MOWI is making bold bets on ef...

Is the future of sea lice management in Norway shifting toward automation? In this episode, we break down Norway’s latest push for mandatory automated sea lice counting, a move that could redefine how farms monitor and manage lice outbreaks. We discuss into key takeaways from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s new regulatory plans, insights from DNV’s latest report on automated lice monitoring,...

Fresh off this past week's presentation at the NFI global seafood market conference, we’re expanding on the narrative surrounding AI—viewed by some as humanity's greatest threat and by others as its most remarkable invention. Join us as we tackle the recent upheaval caused by DeepSeek's new AI model, which not only disrupted global tech valuations but also showcased breakthrough capabilities that...

How are Chile’s salmon farms grappling with the rising use of antibiotics, and how does this compare on a global scale? This week we look into the nuanced issue of antibiotic usage in Chile's aquaculture, highlighted by a 22% increase in the first half of 2024. We contrast these figures with global antibiotic usage trends to provide a comprehensive view. Despite the alarming headlines, initiat...

What role have Norwegian development licenses played in reshaping their salmon farming landscape? This week we explore the retrospective business case of these transformative licenses introduced in 2015. As instrumental as they've been, the actual outcomes and impacts might surprise you. We unpack the original intent behind these licenses, the ambitious projects they've spawned, and the tangible a...

What drives a global investment giant to dive deep into the aquaculture sector? We had the pleasure of talking with Aleks Engel, Partner at Novo Holdings. Novo Holdings has made headlines with significant acquisitions, including the salmon genetics powerhouse, Benchmark Genetics, and the innovative sea lice laser company, Stingray. Aleks shares insights on his intriguing career, the hurdles in dev...

We’re kicking off 2025 diving deep into Norway's recently updated white paper on animal welfare—the first such update in over two decades. This comprehensive 200-page document sets ambitious goals for the entire aquaculture industry, including a striking target to reduce fish mortality in farming to 5%. We’ll explore the implications of this directive, the specific measures proposed such as bannin...

What does it take to innovate in an industry steeped in tradition while staying true to its roots? This week we had the pleasure of interviewing Sondre Eide, the CEO of Eide Fjordbruk, and widely recognized as the “Elon Musk of Salmon Farming.” Sondre shares his journey from growing up on the family farm to the company developing their Michelin-starred seafood venture, unpacking how the core value...