In the world of fisheries and aquaculture, the transportation of live fish and shellfish is a crucial link in the supply chain. However, its complexity is often underestimated. What is involved in ensuring optimal living conditions during transport? Recently, JUMO, in collaboration with UNIT45, Ocean Perfect and Plumbing Company J.Hoogvliet, delivered a complete solution for transporting shellfish. Every year transport takes place worldwide, from Canada to Europe, from Norway to China and even to Australia.
Global fish and shellfish production amounts to tens of millions of tons annually. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), global fishery and aquaculture production reached a total of about 178 million tom in 2020. Of this, about 90 million tons came from wild fisheries and 88 million from aquaculture.
For transport, the industry uses special containers to ensure optimal living conditions for the animals. This application made use of the knowledge and skills of UNIT45 from Rotterdam in cooperation with Ocean Perfect from Yerseke and Loodgietersbedrijf J. Hoogvliet from Puttershoek, with over 30 years of experience the specialists in building containers for live stock purposes.
The containers are equipped with JUMO systems for monitoring water quality for temperature, pH, EC and the concentration of O2, CO2, CL and NH3 and controlling equipment in case of deviations from the desired values. Custom insulated containers were made for this project with space for the product and a separate space for the technical installation. A container can hold thousands to tens of thousands of live animals depending on the species and size of fish or crustaceans. For larger species of fish, these are obviously fewer. There is a growing trend to use advanced technologies to monitor and maintain optimal living conditions during transport, which can further reduce mortality and quality loss.
Intelligent analysis systems for safe transport of live animals
Water temperature in shipping containers is perhaps the most critical parameter. Deviations can lead to stress, disease and mortality. JUMO's modern temperature sensors continuously measure the temperature and, thanks to digital technology, transmit this data to the manager in real time. Thus, cooling systems and heating elements can be automatically adjusted to maintain the desired values.
In addition to temperature, pH also plays a major role. Too high or too low a pH can lead to skin and throat irritations and reduced resistance to disease. Because JUMO's digital sensors are linked to an analysis readout unit, the pH value remains within the optimal range and is increased if necessary.
The electrical conductivity of the water provides insight into the amount of dissolved salts and minerals. A deviation in EC can indicate pollution or an unbalanced ion balance, which can be harmful to fish. JUMO's digital EC sensors thus continuously measure water quality and provide warnings if values fall outside the set limits.
Like temperature, oxygen levels are essential for the survival of fish and crustaceans during transport. Precise oxygen sensors from JUMO continuously monitor the oxygen level and trigger an oxygen generator if the concentration is too low.
JUMO water treatment from sensor to cloud
Thanks to innovative process technology, all parameters are not only accurately measured but also regulated and controlled in the JUMO variTRON control platform. Advanced monitoring devices, such as JUMO AQUIS touch, collect real-time data on temperature, pH, EC and oxygen levels as well as the pressure system in the container. These are then processed and displayed via JUMO Cloud IoT platform or the SCADA environment, where a clear dashboard is available to the carrier. Alarms and notifications can be set up to see deviations of all critical parameters at a glance and immediate action can be taken.
The importance of monitoring and safeguarding optimal living conditions in transport containers for live fish and shellfish cannot be overemphasized. It is first and foremost a matter of animal welfare, but also, in addition, of economic efficiency and environmental sustainability. After all, high mortality rates and loss of quality lead to financial losses for the industry. Moreover, poor handling during transport can lead to reputational damage and loss of market share.
Total solution for fish farming
