Holistic end-to-end water intelligence for changing waterscapes

Who we are

FP AQUA is at the forefront of transforming water management with innovative technology that addresses critical challenges for our planet and aquatic food production.

Using a proprietary microscope and AI, we deliver continuous, automated insight into plankton blooms, jellyfish, and other invisible threats before they become visible problems.

The challenge we’re solving

Sudden plankton blooms and jellyfish outbreaks are becoming more frequent and severe, driven by climate change and nutrient run-off. These invisible shifts cost farmers billions and degrade ecosystems.

FP Aqua provides continuous water intelligence to help farmers, regulators, and coastal managers detect and respond earlier.

In aquaculture
Aquaculture operations face increasingly frequent “invisible” threats: harmful algal blooms, micro-jellyfish, and parasite larvae. These develop between manual samples and only become obvious once fish are already stressed. Reaction windows are shrinking with warming waters and tighter biosecurity rules, pushing farms into costly, last-minute responses that can affect welfare, survival, and compliance.

In ocean monitoring
Across coasts and open-water infrastructure, decision-makers lack continuous, fine-scale visibility of what’s moving through the water column. Bloom dynamics, seasonal plankton shifts, and episodic events are hard to track with periodic surveys alone, making it difficult to manage risk, evidence ESG performance, or understand cumulative impacts from activities like offshore energy and shipping.

In rivers & catchments
In river systems and catchments, pulses of nutrients, sediment, and contaminants from land use and storm events can trigger sudden ecological shifts that propagate downstream to estuaries and farms. Without early indicators on plankton composition and water quality, authorities and water users are left responding after fish kills, intake fouling, or bloom conditions have already escalated.

“A new paradigm is emerging with dynamic preventative approaches requiring seamless integration of early warning data solutions and various methods to combat emerging biological threats.”

Frederik Taarnhøj, Co-founder FP AQUA

What we do

We detect and monitor zooplankton with AI powered sensors and advanced data analytics to enable preventive solutions and improve ocean health

Our low-cost AI-powered sensor technology continuously detects and classifies planktonic organisms - from salmon lice larvae at the copepod stage (<0.5 mm) to harmful algae, micro-jellyfish, and other invisible threats. By identifying these organisms before they cause damage, we enable proactive management and prevention across aquaculture, coastal, and freshwater environments.

Our technology enables continuous real-time monitoring that integrates with interactive dashboards and web portals, allowing for energy-efficient measures with minimal environmental impact. 

The result is reduced treatment costs, healthier fish stocks, and richer, more resilient marine and freshwater habitats.

  • AI Powered Sensor Technology

    LiceSensor V3 detects salmon lice larvae at the copepodid stage before they attach to the fish, enabling early warnings and timely preventative actions. Earlier than ever....

  • Low Cost

    Using off-the-shelf sensor technology and parts allows not only low cost, but also scales with future technology advancements within AI, detection and prediction, camera and sensor technology, and sustainable materials.

  • Real-time monitoring

    Our technology offers continuous real-time monitoring, allowing for activation of energy-efficient measures with minimal environmental impact. 

  • Advanced data analytics

    Simple API integration into web portals and interactive dashboards. Reporting and documentation fully integrates into your tools….

Our technology

PlanktonSensor V4™

PlanktonSensor V4™ extends its capabilities beyond salmon lice detection to a wider range of planktonic threats.

The system enables early identification of organisms such as salmon lice larvae, micro-jellyfish, and harmful algae using advanced AI and machine-learning models that distinguish between zooplankton species in real time.

PlanktonSensor™

  • Detect sea lice larvae threats earlier

  • V3 Using a 64MP camera adapted into a high-resolution underwater microscope in a waterproof housing

  • Measure at various depths

  • Types of species is expandable to monitor other harmful zooplankton like micro jellyfish

Data Platform (under development)

  • Monitor seasonal variations

  • Get access to site-to-site comparisons

  • Contribute to regional monitoring efforts

  • Reporting and documentation made easy

Prototype testing with our technology partners

  • November 2024 – MOWI

  • November 2024 – MOWI

  • November 2024 – MOWI

  • September 2024 – Bjørøya

  • September 2024 – Bjørøya

  • September 2024 – Bjørøya

  • June 2024 – Risø – DTU

  • June 2024 - Limfjorden - DTU Aqua

  • June 2024 - Risø - DTU

  • June 2024 - Limfjorden - DTU Aqua

FAQs

Learn more about our technology

  • The sensor is designed to monitor zooplankton and phytoplankton that displays positive phototaxis and are attracted to the sensor. Plankton serve as critical indicators of marine ecosystem health, and their monitoring provides valuable early warnings of ecological changes.

  • The sensor utilizes 420 nm light to attract zooplankton.

  • Resolution is around 3 micrometers, which means that we are able to detect and classify zooplankton and phytoplankton, that display positive phototaxis, down to 100 micrometers. The upper limit for target organisms we can target is around 3000 micrometers.

  • We train a compact inference model based on the auto clustered data, using a vision transformer for YOLO / Detectron2 object detection.

  • The submerged microscope uses a single cable for power and gigabit ethernet. Currently, all image and video data are uploaded to the shore through high-speed links. As we improve our auto-segmentation model, we'll only send the important parts of the images and videos to reduce data transfer. Eventually, our AI models will analyze the data directly on the submerged camera or an on-pen AI edge server, eliminating the need for high-speed data uploads.

  • Yes, FP Aqua can develop an API.

  • Yes, the technology can be adapted for monitoring various marine species and ecosystems beyond just salmon.

  • We provide crucial tools for assessing the state of marine ecosystems. By offering precise and continuous monitoring, the solution can identify early signs of ecological stress and evaluate the effectiveness of initiatives aimed at improving ocean health.

  • Partnerships are a critical component of our strategy. We are actively seeking additional partners for technology validation and future collaborations. We believe our technology aligns perfectly with the industry’s trend towards digitalization and partnerships.

GET IN TOUCH

Vacancies

Join our growing team

FP Aqua is at the forefront of transforming aquaculture with innovative technology that addresses critical industry challenges.

We invite you to join us in this exciting journey towards a sustainable and profitable future for global aquaculture.

  • We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Lead AI Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will be responsible for designing and implementing advanced AI and machine learning systems, as well as leading the development of API and UI systems that are critical to our operations.

    You will play a key role in shaping the future of our technology and driving our mission to make aquaculture more efficient and environmentally friendly.

Apply via LinkedIn