OptiFe3D – Next-generation decision support for precise and sustainable feeding

About the project

OptiFe3D develops the next generation of decision support for feed optimization in aquaculture using acoustic technology and AI. The project runs from September 2024 to September 2026 and focuses on improving precision and sustainability in salmon feeding.

OptiFe3D – Integrated 3D-based feeding decision support

OptiFe3D is Waive’s largest R&D project to date (2023–2026), developed together with Sintef Ocean, Aanderaa Data Instruments and Lingalaks. The goal is to create the world’s first fully integrated decision support system (DSS) for salmon feeding based on:

3D multibeam sonar
advanced machine learning
continuous environmental monitoring

The project is funded by the Research Council of Norway and SkatteFUNN, and builds on Waive’s existing 3D sonar platform that already measures biomass, swimming behaviour and fish positioning with high accuracy.

Why OptiFe3D?

Feeding is the most critical operation in salmon farming – economically, biologically and environmentally. Research indicates that nearly 10% of all feed in Norwegian salmon production is lost to the environment each year, leading to:

substantial financial losses
increased CO₂ footprint (feed ≈ 85% of production emissions)
risk of reduced fish welfare and local environmental impact

Current feeding control relies mainly on cameras and operator experience. These tools:

have limited range and only cover parts of the pen
cannot reliably measure appetite at group or individual level
cannot show where feed pellets end up in the water column

OptiFe3D addresses these limitations by providing full-pen 3D insight and data-driven feeding recommendations.

What is being developed?

OptiFe3D consists of three coordinated research areas that together form a complete DSS for feeding.

RA1 – 3D monitoring of appetite behaviour

Using Waive’s high-resolution multibeam sonar, the system builds a full 3D model of the entire pen. New algorithms are developed to detect:

changes in swimming speed and direction
breaks in schooling patterns
vertical positioning in the water column
individual and collective appetite signals

These behavioural indicators are analysed together with environmental data (current, oxygen, light, temperature) to separate true feeding behaviour from responses driven by environmental changes.

RA2 – Automatic estimation of pellet loss

RA2 focuses on tracking feed pellets in 3D sonar data and understanding how environmental conditions affect pellet drift. The aim is a system that delivers:

real-time estimates of uneaten pellets
alerts when current patterns or fish behaviour indicate risk of overfeeding
insight into pellet distribution throughout the water column

This is achieved by combining:

3D sonar from Waive
environmental sensors from Aanderaa
models for pellet transport and distribution

RA3 – Real-time feeding optimisation

In RA3, behavioural analysis (RA1) and pellet estimates (RA2) are integrated into a unified, real-time decision support system that provides recommendations for:

duration and intensity of feeding
pauses and feeding cycles
evaluation of each feeding period
improvement suggestions based on historical data

The system is tested and validated using production data and customer trials at Lingalaks.

Full-scale data collection

The project builds one of Norway’s most comprehensive datasets on feeding and behaviour, including:

3D sonar data from Waive
environmental measurements from Aanderaa (current, waves, oxygen, temperature, salinity)
production data from Lingalaks
growth and biomass measurements
pellet consumption and feeding regimes

Data is collected over several years at two sites with different hydrographic conditions – one fjord site and one coastal site.

Expected benefits

For the aquaculture industry

Reduced feed waste
Lower CO₂ emissions from production
More predictable feeding and improved growth
Better fish welfare
Documentable precision in feeding operations

For Waive

OptiFe3D forms the basis for a new product:

An intelligent feeding module built on Waive’s existing 3D platform for biomass and behaviour.

This significantly increases the value delivered to fish farmers and strengthens Waive’s position as a technology provider in precision aquaculture monitoring.