MSD Animal Health launched a new generation of FALCON® vision technology at Aqua Nor to help optimize fish health and biomass production through comprehensive welfare monitoring and the early detection of sea lice. The new generation FALCON system integrates cutting-edge vision technology and AI to provide near real-time insights into the prevalence of sea lice and wounds in fish populations, while, at the same time, monitoring biomass development.

Vision Technology solutions from MSD Animal Health support healthy ecosystems where aquatic species can thrive. With this technology, actionable snapshots of the health and welfare of stock are delivered directly from the pen to the desktop for quick access to the data and insights.

The technology builds upon FALCON’s predecessor, the FALCON Biomass system, which has previously transformed fish farming operations for sea and land-based facilities across Norway, Chile, Iceland and the UK. FALCON, the new generation system, also supports sustainability in the aquaculture industry by enabling better production and treatment protocols to be put in place, along with more informed decision-making by facilities managers.

“The launch of the new generation FALCON marks a significant milestone in the evolution of sustainable aquaculture practices,” said Dafydd Morris, general manager of MSD Animal Health Aqua EURAM. “Early detection of fish lice and the data produced by the system means it has the potential to identify lice sooner than traditional sampling methods, allowing for earlier intervention. This approach helps in selecting the most effective treatment products for each lice life stage and assessing treatment effectiveness for continuous improvement. Additionally, monitoring wound prevalence, size, severity, and healing status trends enables enhanced health and welfare management for fish populations.”

Key features of FALCON include:

• High-resolution imaging – utilizing advanced stereovision and high-resolution cameras, the system can capture thousands of images daily, enabling comprehensive biomass estimation and fish monitoring.
• AI-driven analytics – FALCON employs a neural network to automatically detect sea lice and assess fish welfare, significantly reducing the need for manual sampling and minimizing stress on the fish.
• Cloud-Based Dashboard – users can access actionable insights from anywhere, with data stored securely in the cloud. The intuitive dashboard provides real-time updates on fish growth, size distribution, and overall health metrics.
• Optimized decision-making – by delivering near real-time data, Falcon empowers aquaculture operators to make more informed decisions about sea lice and health management, harvesting and treatment protocols, ultimately enhancing productivity and promoting sustainability.

Currently, the system is available in Norway but is set to be rolled out in other markets in 2026.

Bringing together biopharmaceuticals and technology

At Aqua Nor, MSD Animal Health also presented research on a new sensitivity test of salmon lice larvae (Lepeophtheirus salmonis), which enables more sustainable use of sea lice medicines.

Morris said that “FALCON builds upon the breadth of biopharmaceutical and technology solutions within MSD Animal Health’s aqua health portfolio, which also includes CLYNAV®*, a DNA-based vaccine that protects Atlantic salmon against pancreas disease. The vaccine joined the MSD Animal Health portfolio last year as part of an acquisition, highlighting MSD Animal Health’s commitment to delivering enhanced benefits to its aquaculture customers.”

“Together, this biopharma and tech approach is helping our clients to create ecosystems that optimize fish health and welfare, which promotes the sustainable production of this high-quality food source. As a business, we will continue to invest in aqua health to enhance the sustainability of fish farming,” said Morris.

*CLYNAV® is a prescription-only veterinary medicine. Only use under veterinary supervision and in accordance with local regulations.