GreenFox Marine is Innovation Award winner

The company’s solution combines medical ultrasound with artificial intelligence (AI). The technology is non-invasive and, the awards judges said, represents an international breakthrough for automatic gender sorting of fish.

Gender sorting of fish using the Greenfox Technology has shown promising results with improved growth and lower mortality rates in sea cages, along with fewer wounds and injuries to the fish.

By combining gender sorting with integrated, non-invasive health screening, the technology offers insight into both external and internal health conditions. This gives the technology a new dimension, Greenfox said, with the possibility of early sorting of weak/sick fish with low robustness early in the production process.

CEO Erling Aspen of GreenFox Marine explained that the Innovation Award means a lot for the Norwegian company. He said: “We’re a relatively small business, so it’s particularly inspiring for us to be chosen as winners – in competition with other very strong and innovative nominees.”

Aspen received the award alongside colleague Kjersti Jullum, Sales and Marketing Manager of GreenFox. She said she is well aware that previous winners have received a lot of attention after receiving the award: “Being chosen by the jury as winners of the award can contribute to more visibility for us and strengthen the knowledge the market has about us. In the fall we will launch the next generation of our machine, so the timing of this award is very good for us, she says.

The Nor-Fishing Foundation’s Innovation Award is given based on a product, process or other concrete measures that can make a difference when it comes to sustainability, efficiency, security or quality in the industry. The winner of the award receives NOK 100,000 (£7,258) and a diploma.

The runners up this year were UltraAQ, which has developed an autonomous electric cleaner for net/cage maintenance; and Circmar AS, which produces a reusable packaging solution for the seafood industry.