NetWave · Project

Chemical-Free Ultrasonic System That Stops Biofouling on Fish Farm Nets

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Imagine barnacles, algae, and mussels constantly clogging up fish farm nets — like plaque building up on teeth, but underwater. Farmers currently blast the nets with chemicals or haul them out for cleaning, which is expensive and stresses the fish. NetWave developed a smart ultrasonic system — think of it like a silent underwater speaker — that vibrates the nets at frequencies that stop organisms from attaching in the first place. The system adjusts itself automatically based on conditions, so farmers can leave it running without constant oversight.

By the numbers

10-20%

Share of farm exploitation costs spent on biofouling treatment

€1.8 billion

Global annual cost of biofouling treatment in aquaculture

€140 billion

Global aquaculture market size (2016)

15 years

Sofchem experience in water treatment equipment

67%

Industry partner ratio in consortium

Countries in consortium (DE, FR, TR)

The business problem

What needed solving

Biofouling — the growth of algae, barnacles, and other organisms on fish farm nets — costs the global aquaculture industry 1.8 billion euros annually. Current solutions rely on toxic chemicals, manual cleaning, and net replacement, eating up 10 to 20% of farm operating costs. These methods also stress fish, cause escapees, and create environmental damage, putting farms at odds with tightening regulations.

The solution

What was built

The project built the TWIN-f® system: integration-ready ultrasonic transducers that prevent biofouling on aquaculture nets without chemicals. A demo deliverable confirms transducers ready for integration. The system includes IoT smart farming capability with autonomous adjustment to different equipment and conditions, plus fish welfare validation from the Alfred-Wegener-Institute.

Audience

Who needs this

Marine fish farm operators paying 10-20% of costs on biofouling treatmentAquaculture equipment integrators and net manufacturersMarine anti-fouling service companies expanding into aquacultureOffshore cage system suppliers seeking chemical-free solutionsAquaculture certification bodies evaluating fish welfare technologies

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Aquaculture & Fish Farming

any

Target: Marine fish farm operators

If you are a fish farm operator spending 10 to 20% of your exploitation costs on net cleaning, chemical treatments, and fish escapees — this project developed the TWIN-f® ultrasonic transducer system that prevents biofouling without chemicals. It attaches directly to existing net infrastructure and self-adjusts via IoT, cutting labor costs and eliminating the need for anti-fouling chemicals that currently cost the global industry 1.8 billion euros.

Aquaculture Equipment & Supply

mid-size

Target: Net manufacturers and aquaculture equipment integrators

If you are an aquaculture equipment supplier looking to differentiate your product line — NetWave built integration-ready transducers designed to attach to any type of net or cage equipment. You could license or bundle this chemical-free anti-fouling technology with your existing net systems, offering customers a maintenance-reducing upgrade backed by fish welfare validation from a leading marine research institute.

Water Treatment & Marine Services

SME

Target: Marine anti-fouling service providers and water treatment companies

If you are a water treatment or marine services company already working with anti-fouling solutions for ship hulls — this technology was originally validated on large commercial vessel hulls and has now been adapted for aquaculture. The ultrasound-based approach opens a new market segment worth 1.8 billion euros globally without requiring chemical products, aligning with tightening environmental regulations.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

How much could this save a typical fish farm?

According to the project data, biofouling treatment currently represents 10 to 20% of farm exploitation costs — covering chemicals, net cleaning and repair, and fish escapees. Globally, that amounts to 1.8 billion euros. The TWIN-f® system eliminates chemical costs and reduces manual cleaning labor, though exact per-farm savings depend on operation size.

Can this work at industrial scale on large offshore farms?

The system was designed with scalability in mind — it uses IoT-connected, autonomously adjusting transducers that adapt to any type of equipment or conditions. The consortium includes NESNE, an expanding aquaculture integrator with an international sales and maintenance network, specifically to address global scale-up.

Who owns the IP and can I license this technology?

The core TWIN-f® technology belongs to Sofchem, a water treatment equipment provider with over 15 years of experience and a strong IP portfolio. Licensing or commercial partnership inquiries would need to go through the consortium. Based on available project data, the technology was originally developed for ship hulls and adapted for aquaculture under this project.

Has this been tested on live fish? Is it safe?

Yes — the Alfred-Wegener-Institute, a leading marine biology research center, was specifically included in the consortium to evaluate the innocuity of the ultrasonic technology on fish welfare and health. This validation was a core part of the project design, not an afterthought.

How does this fit with existing farm equipment?

The transducers were designed to be integration-ready, as confirmed by the demo deliverable 'Transducers ready to be integrated.' The system adapts to any type of equipment or conditions according to the project objectives, meaning it should retrofit onto existing net and cage infrastructure.

What is the project timeline and current status?

The project ran from September 2020 to August 2023 and is now closed. It was funded as a Fast Track to Innovation action, which targets technologies close to market deployment. The system should be at or near commercial readiness.

Is there ongoing technical support available?

The consortium partner NESNE brings an international sales and maintenance network for aquaculture equipment. Based on available project data, this network was intended to provide ongoing support and distribution capacity for global deployment of the system.

Consortium

Who built it

The 3-partner consortium across Germany, France, and Turkey is lean and commercially oriented, with 67% industry participation and 2 SMEs. Sofchem (France) brings the core TWIN-f® ultrasound technology and 15 years of water treatment IP. NESNE (Turkey) provides direct aquaculture market access with an international sales and maintenance network. The Alfred-Wegener-Institute (Germany) — one of Europe's top marine research centers — handled the critical fish welfare validation that de-risks adoption. This is not a research-heavy consortium; it is structured for market entry, with each partner filling a specific commercial gap.

ALFRED-WEGENER-INSTITUT HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM FUR POLAR- UND MEERESFORSCHUNGCoordinator · DE
NESNE ELEKTRONIK TASARIM-DANISMANLIK SANAYI VE TICARET LIMITED SIRKETIparticipant · TR

How to reach the team

Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Germany — contact through SciTransfer for a warm introduction to the project team.

Order a report on this consortium See ALFRED-WEGENER-INSTITUT HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM FUR POLAR- UND MEERESFORSCHUNG profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing or pilot deployment of the TWIN-f® anti-biofouling system for your aquaculture operation? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the project team and arrange a technical briefing.

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