Ahead of Aqua Nor 2023, we took the opportunity to reflect on two major CleanTreat® anniversaries this August, with Jamie Dawson, Global Product Manager of CleanTreat®.
First, we celebrate the 2-year mark since CleanTreat® began commercial operations in Norway. Then we recall that very important announcement back in 2019 when CleanTreat® won the Nor-Fishing Innovation award.
Watch the video of the treatment operation using CleanTreat ®
Two-year anniversary since the commercial deployment of CleanTreat®
CleanTreat®, the aquaculture industry’s first water purification system which can be used alongside medical bath treatments, began commercial deployment in August 2021, following ten years of research, development, testing and improvements. Jamie reminds us of what Benchmark set out to do, how CleanTreat® works today and what might be next for the solution.
What was Benchmark’s vision for CleanTreat®?
Benchmark set out to develop a water purification system which could be used alongside medicinal bath treatments, to prevent the release of the medicine into the environment. We wanted to play our part in championing sustainability and supporting the global aquaculture sector’s drive to reduce environmental risk.
Since launch, 1,600,000m3 of water has been purified across our two vessels, preventing 32,000kg of medicine entering the sea.
Environmental responsibility was a core aim when we set out to develop this new system and remains so today.
How does CleanTreat® work today?
CleanTreat® is currently used in Norway, in conjunction with Ectosan® Vet, our veterinary medicine for the treatment of pre-adult and adult salmon lice infestations on Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout.
The solution makes use of the common practice of using wellboats for managing salmon delousing. After treatment, the fish are rinsed to remove any external medicinal residues and dewatered to ensure all treatment water remains on the wellboat, before they are returned to their sea pens.
The treatment water, and rinsing water, is then transferred to a separate vessel where our CleanTreat® system works by removing the medicine from the treatment water before returning purified water into the sea. CleanTreat® also has the added benefit of removing organic material from the treatment water including sea lice and sea lice egg strings to help prevent development of resistance against the medicine.
Additionally, a pilot study funded by SAIC and in conjunction with industry partners has also been performed. In this study CleanTreat® was used to purify water containing Salmosan® Vet at a Scottish salmon farm in April 2022. The study successfully investigated the performance of CleanTreat® at field scale in reducing the discharge of the medicine into the environment. This trial highlights the potential for CleanTreat® to support sustainable industry growth through enabling the use of existing medicines in alternative approaches as well as a tool for bringing new medicines to market.
Is an Integrated wellboat solution next for CleanTreat®?
The integration of CleanTreat® will further build on our existing platforms in the market increasing market accessibility for the aquaculture industry and enable greater use of efficacious and high-welfare sea lice medicines in an environmentally responsible way.
The project is running well, and I have been very impressed with the knowledge and expertise that both the MMC and SALT teams have brought to the project. We have developed a great working relationship between the teams which has facilitated knowledge sharing and idea generation between the parties. It has been fantastic to see, and I believe it is paving the way for a successful collaboration.
Four-year anniversary since CleanTreat® won the Nor-Fishing Innovation award
Back in 2019 when CleanTreat® won the Nor-Fishing Innovation award
Do you remember how you and the team felt on the day?
It was great to be part of the team that won – it really felt like a team achievement that everyone was proud of. The Nor-Fishing Innovation Award recognises innovative products and solutions and is well-known across the industry. It felt an honour for this to be presented to CleanTreat®.
I recall there was a real buzz on the Benchmark stand and throughout Aqua Nor that week. The stand was full daily of people wanting to know more.
Why was it significant?
We were still two years away from the commercial launch in the knowledge that a lot of work was still ahead of us, winning was a fantastic recognition that the industry needs to move towards innovative more sustainable solutions while still incorporating from some of the key benefits that new medicinal treatments bring as part of an integrated sea lice management approach. It was also well-deserved recognition for the team that had put all that work into this project, from concept to the field trial – it really gave the team a boost for those final steps.
Four years on it’s still a talking point with our customers and partners.
Has any other milestone come close to this achievement?
The commercial launch and winning the innovation award are undoubtedly the most momentous, however, there are other moments the team and I are extremely proud of including working closely with customers to further increase the efficiency of the CleanTreat® systems. Additionally, when the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) confirmed that they had included CleanTreat® as a mitigation tool in their current ‘Weighted Number of Medicinal Treatments’ – resulting in all treatments receiving a score of zero. This recognition was an important achievement, reinforcing the importance of CleanTreat® as a key part of an integrated pest management toolbox.
August is an exciting month with many travelling to Trondheim for AquaNor. We wish all those shortlisted for this year’s innovation award the best of luck. We will also be supporting our colleague Katrine Eliassen from Benchmark Genetics Salten who has been nominated for the Fish Welfare Award from the Norwegian Veterinary Institute and the Institute of Marine Research and will be presented at the AquaNor.
