FlowCam Assists Harmful Algal Bloom Mitigation in Salmon Aquaculture

FlowCam Assists Harmful Algal Bloom Mitigation in Salmon Aquaculture

In 2016, 23 million salmon died from a harmful algal bloom (HAB) at a farm in Chile.  The economic cost of  that die-off is estimated to have been $800 million.  The impact of such mortality events is serious.  Grieg Seafood is employing cutting-edge technology to expand monitoring, stay ahead of HABs, and keep their fish stocks healthy.

Historically, Grieg has used manual microscopy to identify and count algae to determine if there was a need to employ mitigation strategies.  On any given day, there could be upwards of 100 species of algae, and using a manual microscope can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. The quality of data is not consistent with this manual process that is also prone to error.

FlowCam collage of Chaetoceros phytoplankton
Chaetoceros cells as imaged by the FlowCam


Read the case study about how Grieg Seafood is using the FlowCam in their daily monitoring program to track trends in algal populations and help with forecasting of harmful algal blooms.

The FlowCam has been instrumental in helping Grieg reduce fish mortality by proactively monitoring their fish pens and the water quality.

If you're attending the Aquaculture 2019 in New Orleans, be sure to attend Harry Nelson's presentation of the paper "Use of Imaging Flow Cytometry (FlowCam) to Monitor and Characterize HABs and Other Micro Organisms in Aquaculture".  Saturday March 9th at 2:15, please check the schedule.

Learn more about how the FlowCam imaging flow cytometer is used for aquaculture and othe r aquatic applications

Post Topics

Related Posts

Notes from the Field: The 2024 Northeast Aquaculture Conference & Expo
In January, Savannah Judge and I attended the Northeast Aquaculture Conference & Expo and the Milford Aquaculture Seminar (NACE/MAS) meeting in …
Read Post
Four women on boat with kelp harvest
A Kelp Farm Tour with Spartan Sea Farms Provides Insight into Relationship Between Micro- and Macroalgae
From nutritional supplements to biopolymer materials to epicurean delicacies, kelp is growing in popularity and finding its place in Maine's evolving …
Read Post
Need Supplies?

Find supplies and spare parts for your FlowCam instrument or ask for a quote. 

Order Now

Need Help?

Get technical support and application help. Request training or preventative maintenance.


Submit a Support Ticket

Need Information?

Check out our knowledge base including white papers, application notes, technical notes, and videos.

View Resources