OPTOCO2FISH

Development of an Opto-chemical Carbon Dioxide Sensor for Aquaculture and Oceanography Applications

 Partecipanti

Mappa

 Word cloud

Esplora la "nuvola delle parole (Word Cloud) per avere un'idea di massima del progetto.

 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Today, some 45% of fish consumed by humans, 48 millions tonnes in all, is raised on fish farms. The actual relating European market, of which Norway is the leader, produces 1.3 millions of tonnes of fish farming products every year, which represents an approximate value of 3 billion Euros. Due to the highly competitive market the aquaculture business is confronted with the challenge to increase its productivity. The accurate measurement and control of CO2 can contribute to sustain the health of fish and in consequence guarantee the productivity of fish farms and the quality of human food. There are actually no on-line measurement systems available (titration tests and electro-chemical sensors), which are able to determine the CO2 concentration accurately enough over time for an efficient control of the CO2 concentration in intensive cultures. Furthermore there are still no reliable sensors on the market, which can be used for the measurement of dissolved CO2 in oceanography, but they are strongly requested by researchers for stationary and mobile applications. The objective of the project OptoCO2Fish is to develop a CO2 sensor to meet these demands. We intend to develop a novel solid state opto-chemical CO2 sensor system based on the principle of Resonance Energy Transfer. This principle offers the possibility to generate a compact and cost effective sensor system and furthermore is able to meet the essential requirements of fish farming staff, which is high accuracy and stability combined with low maintenance and low re-calibration effort. Titration tests and electro-chemical sensors together dominates the market. This one is currently led by American companies. This project can enhance the competitiveness of European companies, strengthen the position of aquaculture in Europe against the worldwide competition and can contribute a reliable sensor system for the research on effects of global warming due to CO2 emission.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Europe is poised to capture an important market for continuous carbon dioxide sensors for seawater applications. The new instrument will also help safeguard the productivity of its highly valued aquaculture industry.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Half of the fish on our plate come from fish farms. Europe is an important player in this highly competitive industry. The greenhouse gas emissions associated with climate change present a possible risk to the future of aquaculture. However, it is not known how fish will respond to rising concentrations of dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2) in our oceans and lakes.

The aim of the 'Development of an opto-chemical carbon dioxide sensor for aquaculture and oceanography applications' (Optoco2fish) project was to investigate the potential impact of increased CO2 concentrations on fish health. EU funding was also put towards developing a sensor capable of accurately detecting CO2 dissolved in seawater.

The various species of fish common to aquaculture were exposed to elevated levels of CO2, a condition known as hypercapnia. While brief exposure had limited effects, extended periods of exposure severely impaired the fish, often with fatal results.

As a consequence of this vulnerability, a measurement campaign was initiated. The goal was to determine how dissolved CO2 concentrations vary between different aquaculture models, such as cages, ponds and flow-through systems, and fish species. High risk combinations have been identified.

With respect to delivering an online CO2 sensor capable of surviving in saltwater, the Optoco2fish team focused its efforts on sensitive membranes. Experiments have been conducted with different combinations of dyes, polymer matrixes and protective coatings. The most promising candidates have been selected for field tests.

Manufacturing and calibration issues must also be resolved in order for the sensor to be a viable solution for fish farmers looking to continuously monitor CO2. Oceanographers will also be interested in such a sensor for studying the effects of climate change on the Earth's oceans.