Norwegian Firm Stingray Deploys Over 3,500 AI Laser Submarines to Protect 112 Million Salmon from Sea Lice
Oslo-based Stingray Marine Solutions reports deploying over 3,500 AI-powered laser submarines in Norwegian salmon farms, covering 20-25% of the country's farmed salmon as an alternative to chemical baths.
According to Tom's Hardware, Oslo-based aquaculture technology company Stingray Marine Solutions disclosed in its latest annual report that it has deployed over 3,500 autonomous underwater drones equipped with AI laser systems in salmon farms along the Norwegian coast. These units currently protect more than 112 million farmed salmon, accounting for approximately 20% to 25% of the country's total farmed salmon population.
Stingray's solution uses computer vision and AI algorithms to identify and target sea lice—parasitic crustaceans attached to salmon—in real time, then eliminates them with low-power lasers. This 'optical delousing' technology aims to replace traditional chemical bath treatments. While chemical baths can treat large numbers of fish simultaneously, they can stress the fish, lead to lice resistance, and negatively impact the surrounding environment.
The company states that this deployment scale makes it one of the largest commercial AI applications in Scandinavia. Stingray's deployments have increased by about 1,000 units compared to last year. By patrolling continuously 24/7 among the fish, the drones keep local sea lice populations low, reducing the need for cleaner fish (small fish used to eat parasites) and lowering mortality rates in farmed stocks.
Despite the environmental and welfare benefits, the report notes limitations: high upfront deployment costs may hinder adoption by some farmers; additionally, since the drones' patrol range is confined within the net pens, sea lice can still accumulate in darker, murkier areas and outside the patrol zones.