DNV acquires AquaCloud to strengthen shared data infrastructure for aquaculture
DNV has entered into an agreement to acquire big-data specialists AquaCloud, strengthening its ambition to further develop shared data standards and trusted data infrastructure for the aquaculture industry. The acquisition will enable more effective use of production data for insight, learning and decision support, contributing to improved fish welfare and operational efficiency.
Since its establishment, AquaCloud has developed digital tools and data platforms for the aquaculture sector. The company has worked closely with industry and research partners on areas such as fish health, sea lice coordination, data standardization and secure sharing of production data, and has contributed to several research and innovation projects. AquaCloud recently applied for bankruptcy and the agreement includes its intellectual property and technology.
“The aquaculture industry is facing increasingly complex biological and regulatory challenges, from changes in water temperature and algal blooms to jellyfish and disease. At the same time, new technology creates significant opportunities. To respond effectively, the industry needs a common, trusted foundation for sharing and using data, allowing decisions to be based on a broader and more representative knowledge base,” said Thomas Vogth-Eriksen, Director of Aquaculture and Ocean Health at DNV.
Enabling broad industry participation
DNV’s ambition is to build on AquaCloud’s work to establish a shared industry infrastructure. With access to sufficiently broad and representative data, companies can gain better insight into which measures work under different biological and environmental conditions.
Data related to, for example, sea lice levels, wounds, mortality and underlying causes can support more targeted interventions, improved fish welfare and increased production efficiency. Broad participation is essential to realize this value.
“For participants to benefit from improved insight, benchmarking and cross-company learning, the data foundation must represent a substantial share of production. Our focus will therefore be on broad industry engagement, secure data sharing and open dialogue, so that companies can participate with confidence and retain full control of their own data,” said Trude Steinbru Heggstad, Head of Digital and Innovation, Aquaculture and Ocean Health at DNV.
Built on DNV’s experience with secure data platforms
Under DNV ownership, AquaCloud will be managed as part of DNV’s cloud platform, Veracity. Veracity is designed for the secure handling and sharing of verified data between stakeholders and is already used in industries with high requirements for data quality, security and trust. Today, the platform is used by leading shipping companies for secure data management and regulatory reporting, storing verified operational data for more than 11,000 vessels.
“Shared data standards must be supported by an infrastructure that ensures quality, traceability and long-term trust. Veracity provides this foundation, enabling secure data sharing while ensuring that data owners retain full control over how their data is used,” added Mikkel Skou, Director of Veracity at DNV.
“A digital ecosystem of industry data has the potential to become an important foundation for aquaculture. It can strengthen site optimization, enable more targeted use of technology and improve transparency, while also supporting compliance with evolving regulatory requirements. Our ambition is to further develop this infrastructure in close collaboration with the industry, enhancing competitiveness, sustainability and fish welfare over time,” concluded Thomas Vogth-Eriksen.
