To harvest mussels, the salinity in the sea must be within set levels. Measuring salinity has previously been done in two ways: using rain data, which is inaccurate and leads to days lost; and using legacy data buoys, which have to be cleaned weekly at considerable cost.
A newly-designed data buoy, housing an In-Situ salinity sensor, connected to a Libelium IoT logger. It measures ocean salinity every 40 minutes and sends the results to Westpac Mussels.
More accurate salinity readings mean better harvesting decisions: fewer missed opportunities and more total harvesting time. Plus, the new data buoy only needs cleaning eight times a year instead of 50, saving time and money.
Better data leads to more harvesting time
Customers all over the world love New Zealand’s delicious green-lipped mussels. Family-owned Westpac Mussels exports to Europe, Russia, the Middle East and the US.
One unique feature of the industry is that Westpac Mussels can only harvest its product when the ocean salinity falls within the limits set by the Ministry for Primary Industries. Those limits are welcome because they ensure our mussels are safe and sustainable, but without an accurate way to measure the salinity, days of harvesting were being lost unnecessarily.
Working together with Adroit IoT Solutions Provider and Spark, the team at Westpac Mussels found a way to measure ocean salinity more accurately and cost-effectively. The new data buoy transmits information via Spark’s CatM1 network to Westpac Mussels, which they access via app or online. Fewer harvest days are lost, buoy cleaning costs are reduced, and more customers across the globe get to enjoy tasty and sustainable New Zealand seafood.
This solution is affordable, scalable and will work across both mussel and oyster farms around the country.
Scalable and affordable
“Spark and Adroit collaborating made it possible to find a game-changing tech solution for this specific and complex problem”, says Blair Stewart Commercial Director at Adroit.
“Their high level of engagement with businesses looking to leverage IoT, experience deploying large-scale technology solutions, and investment in the network were key reasons we chose to partner with Spark,” says Stewart. “Spark is contributing to the growth and development of New Zealand businesses through strong engagement and encouraging in the use of leading IoT networks and technology.”
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