DEMO: MARBLE Smart Mussel Farm: A Living Laboratory for Digital Aquaculture

The MARBLE Smart Mussel Farm is a research and innovation pilot site that brings together aquaculture, marine robotics, IoT, environmental sensing, and digital technologies to advance sustainable shellfish farming. During this guided demonstration, participants will tour the farm and become familiar with the infrastructure and equipment used in modern mussel farming. The demonstration will provide an introduction to modern shellfish farming practices and the technologies behind them.

Participants will also gain insight into the everyday challenges faced by mussel farmers, including environmental variability, biofouling, stock monitoring, maintenance, and operational efficiency. The demonstration will highlight how these challenges are being addressed through research on sensing technologies, autonomous systems, digital twins, and data-driven decision-making.

By combining practical aquaculture with cutting-edge research, the MARBLE Smart Mussel Farm demonstrates how emerging technologies can contribute to a more sustainable, resilient, and efficient blue economy.