TECH4ALL: Saving Norway's Wild Salmon

Norway’s wild Atlantic salmon face being overwhelmed by an invasive species from the Pacific - pink salmon.

In this video with Lucy Houliston, Zoologist, Conservationist, and National Geographic Young Explorer, we look at how how an AI-powered tech solution is offering the threatened species a lifeline:




Related: In Troubled Waters: Saving Norway's Wild Salmon


A world first

The project is the world’s first intelligent AI-based salmon filtering system deployed in a natural river system that has successfully captured a target species. It features several innovations:

AI: implements a fish recognition algorithm based on underwater images, the accuracy rate of which exceeds 99%+.

Tech-enabled solution for nature conservation: yields a much higher success rate at catching the invasive species than the manual sorting used in other rivers in Norway this year. It also allows native fish to pass through unharmed, unlike manual solutions that result in an average injury/death rate of 30%. All fish, whether they pass through the automated gate or are diverted to the water tank are neither frightened nor hurt.

Green and low-carbon: uses a smart PV system installed in the river to power the whole system. The project partners have worked to ensure that the solution is as environmentally friendly as possible.

Partnership between the private sector and local community: represents the combined efforts of the local community, conservation groups, and technology companies.

Research insights: collects data 24/7, which can reveal accurate patterns of migratory behavior, monitor different types of fish populations, provide information for further research, and help to prevent overfishing.

Awards

The above innovations and the resulting efficacy of the solution have resulted in three industry awards over the past two years:

• GeSI DWP: Digital with Purpose (DWP) Award 2024 & DWP Biodiversity Award 2024
• GSMA GLOMO @ MWC Barcelona 2024: Outstanding Mobile Contribution to the UN SDGs 
• World AI Cannes Festival 2023: Neurons Awards Special Jury Prize

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