Source : https://aquarobotics.no/halo-oversikt/

The aquaculture industry has long battled its own underwater jungle. Fish-farm nets quickly become homes for unwanted marine hitchhikers like algae, mussels and barnacles. This net fouling slowly transforms the cages into clogged filters, restricting water flow, lowering oxygen levels and turning the serene sea into a stressful environment for farmed fish. Traditional countermeasures, such as high-pressure washing or copper-based antifouling coatings, have their own sea monsters to confront: heightened fish stress, hefty operational costs and pollution concerns that cloud marine sustainability goals. These challenges opened space for a more intelligent solution, one that could keep nets clean without constant intervention from noisy vessels or toxic chemicals. That is where Aqua Robotics AS stepped in the scene with its autonomous Net Maintenance System.

Aqua Robotics AS is a technology company founded in 2016 that provides autonomous robotic systems for cleaning nets in the aquaculture industry. The key founder and chairman is Knut Molaug, who had previous experience in aquaculture technology. Aqua Robotics was established with the idea of automating and improving the net-cleaning process by delivering a system that can continuously clean nets in situ (without service vessels), thereby enhancing fish health, lowering operational disruption, reducing environmental footprint, and ultimately supporting the growth of farming operations in a more sustainable way. They highlight benefits such as elimination of copper coatings, reduction of high-pressure jets (which stress fish), lower CO₂ emissions by reducing vessel visits, and improved water flow and fish health.

Source : Source : https://aquarobotics.no/halo-oversikt/

The flagship system, called HALO Net Maintenance System, is a fully-automated robotic net-cleaning solution designed specifically for aquaculture cages. It is permanently mounted to the fish-farm cage infrastructure and runs 24/7, continuously brushing both the inside and outside surfaces of the cage net to keep it free from fouling organisms and debris. 

Key technical and operational features include:

• Track and robot carriage system: The HALO robot runs along a rail or track installed at the top of the cage (sometimes called “HALO Track”), enabling it to travel the full perimeter of the cage. The robot moves horizontally around the cage, and the attached cleaning brush assembly moves vertically along the net from top to bottom. 
• Brushing units: The cleaning unit comprises multiple rotating brush cylinders and fixed transverse brushes, in combination with reversible wings or foils that press the brushes in towards the net surface, ensuring both the inside and outside of the net wall are cleaned in one pass. 
• Autonomous power and charging: The robot is battery-powered and periodically docks at an inductive charging station (the “HALO Charger”) for recharging. The system is designed to be rugged and marine-rated, with watertight enclosures for electronics and a built-in flotation device (“life jacket”) in case of accidental detachment. 
• Remote monitoring and control: The HALO system is delivered as a full service including the robot hardware, software, installation, and ongoing monitoring. Fish-farm operators can view system status, performance metrics and access controls from a mobile phone or PC. 
• Installation into existing infrastructure: The HALO system is designed to be integrated into existing cage systems with minimal disruption. The track system is mounted around the cage and fits within standard fish-farm operations. 

Performance benefits: Because the net is kept clean continuously rather than intermittently, water exchange and oxygen flow through the net remain optimal, reducing stress on the fish, lowering disease risks, and avoiding the need for frequent high-pressure washing or copper-based antifouling treatments. The company confirmed, the energy consumption associated with nets is reduced by 98% annually and lowers CO2 emissions by 24 tons per cage per year on average.. 

In short, the HALO system is a technological shift away from episodic, manual or vessel-based net-cleaning toward a continuously operating, autonomous brush-based robot that supports fish-welfare, operational efficiency and environmental sustainability in aquaculture.

As per January 2024, Aqua Robotics AS has secured NOK 85 million (USD 8.4 Mio) in funding through Skeie Technology AS and Stavanger-based Nysnø Climate Investments AS, as well as the existing shareholders T.D. Veen AS, Jakob Hatteland Holding AS, and Kkera Invest AS. The aim of the investment is to help Aqua Robotics ambitions as a technology provider within fish health, fish welfare and sustainability. 

Final Thoughts

Aqua Robotics is proving that clean nets can mean clean conscience. By replacing episodic, high-stress maintenance with quiet and continuous care, the HALO system embodies a new era where technology nurtures healthier seas and healthier seafood. Aquaculture is growing fast to feed the world, and innovations like HALO ensure that this growth does not come at the expense of animal welfare or the marine environment. The company’s trajectory signals a future in which farmed fish swim with better oxygen, farmers operate with lower emissions, and the ocean retains its natural balance while still supporting global food security.

Reference

Aqua Robotics. (n.d.). About us.  https://aquarobotics.no/

Aqua Robotics. (2024, January 22). Aqua Robotics girer opp for vekst med Skeie og Nysnø.  https://aquarobotics.no/aqua-robotics-girer-opp-for-vekst-med-skeie-og-nysno/

European Investment Fund. (2023). Aqua Robotics – Norway. InvestEU Case Studies.  https://www.eif.org/InvestEU/case-studies/aqua-robotics-norway.htm

Fish Focus. (2023, October 12). New fully automated net cleaning solution.  https://fishfocus.co.uk/new-fully-automated-net-cleaning-solution/

Mynewsdesk. (2024, January 22). Nysnø Climate Investments and Skeie Technology invest in Aqua Robotics.  https://www.mynewsdesk.com/nysnoinvest/pressreleases/nysnoe-climate-investments-and-skeie-technology-invest-in-aqua-robotics-3300248

Nysnø Climate Investments. (2024). Aqua Robotics.  https://www.nysnoinvest.no/portfolio/aqua-robotics-en/

PitchBook. (2024). Aqua Robotics Company Profile.  https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/498226-06

SalmonBusiness. (2024, January 22). Net-cleaning robot manufacturer raises $8 million in funding round.  https://www.salmonbusiness.com/net-cleaning-robot-manufacturer-raises-8-million-in-funding-round/

Contributor : Dyah Ayuning Tyas
Reviewer     : Imam Buchari