Combining Vision and Control for Sustainable Scallop Harvesting

Using technology from Scantrol and Deep Vision, Norwegian company Ava Ocean will begin sustainable scallop harvesting in the Barents Sea later this year. “We are proud and excited to supply our vision and control systems for this important and ground-breaking project”, says Espen Karlsen Eik, R&D Manager, Scantrol.

Final details: From left, Øystein Tvedt, CEO at Ava Ocean, Espen Karlsen Eik, R&D Manager at Scantrol, Robin Vestad, Skipper at Ava Oceans’s vessel, Artic Pearl, and Eirik Svoren Osborg, Project Engineer at Scantrol Deep Vision discussing the final details before delivery of the combined system.

Scallop dredging on the Norwegian seabed has been prohibited for 30 years because of its damaging effects on marine ecosystems. Ava Ocean has been working to develop and test their technology since 2016. Gentle and selective harvesting methods are a central aspect of this work. Several years of testing, research and development together with SINTEF and the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research have resulted in new patented technology for documented sustainable harvesting methods for the seabed. With Ava Oceans’ innovative approach to scallop harvesting, shells can be identified, selected, and sorted without destroying the surrounding flora and fauna.

“It was important for Ava Ocean to connect with the most experienced and preferred control systems suppliers for this unique catch operation. We already knew Scantrol and trust their high-quality products. The collaboration with Scantrol and Deep Vision was established early in the process”, says Øystein Tvedt, CEO at Ava Ocean.

Cutting-edge technology from Scantrol

«Ava Ocean has challenged us to make a control system that combines Active Heave Compensation (AHC), Trawl Control and Deep vision catch identification. We have had the pleasure to play a central role in this pioneering project”, says Helge Hammersland”, Managing Director at Scantrol.

The two scallop harvesters are controlled by Scantrol’ s standardized solution for monitoring and control together with mTrack AHC Controller.

Deep Vision automatic scallop detection

The harvesters will also use Deep Vision cameras to take images and videos of the seabed. All images will be used for scientific purpose in a project directed by SINTEF.

Ava Ocean’s vessel, “Artic Pearl” will be used for sustainable scallop harvesting in the Barents Sea later this year.

“Our goal is that the Deep Vision software will make it possible to automatically recognize scallops on the seafloor by help of images and machine learning”, says Hege Hammersland, Business Development Manager at Scantrol Deep Vision.

The combined control system will be used on Ava Ocean’s vessel “Artic Pearl”. “The patented technology will initially be used onboard the Arctic Pearl, but the potential for this technology is global, and also for other species on the seabed” says Bjørn Roppen, Head of Subsea Projects and Deliveries.