A Tassie tech company has developed the APAMA NRS, the world's first underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) designed to inspect and repair salmon aquaculture nets.
With the assistance of a Tasmanian Liberal Government grant, Kingston-based Southern Ocean Subsea has recently begun exports to Norway, which accounts for 40 per cent of the global salmon aquaculture market.
Minister for Innovation, Science, and the Digital Economy, Madeleine Ogilvie congratulated SoSub during a tour of their workshop.
"Mammals damaging salmon nets, leading to loss of biomass and environmental damage is a big issue in aquaculture," Minister Ogilvie said.
"While our fishy friends will always find a way to chew through nets, APAMA NRS can repair them more safely and quickly, at any angle and depth – far beyond what divers can achieve.
"This is a textbook example of Tassie innovation. We've harnessed our niche and island capabilities to create new intellectual property and are now exporting that to the rest of the world."
The Tasmanian Liberal Government has supported SoSub through a $20,000 investment as part of the Advanced Manufacturing Grant Program.
SoSub General Manager, Andrew Ford, has welcomed the support and is eyeing further growth and expansion.
"The APAMA NRS can be operated remotely from anywhere in the world, eliminating the need for divers, making net repairs safer, faster, and more cost-effective," Mr Ford said.
"We're looking at securing big orders over the next two years, all the while keeping jobs and expertise in Tasmania.
"We haven't forgotten who we are and from where we come."
SoSub is eyeing other salmon aquaculture markets including Scotland, Canada, and Chile.
