WP 1- Microbiome profiling 
WP leader: SINTEF Ocean AS
The overall objective in this work package is to provide reliable data for parameterization of biological water quality, water treatment strategies and fish health. This will be realized by addressing the following sub-objectives:
  • Spatiotemporal mapping of microbial communities (microbiome profiling) in full-scale rearing systems and mini-RAS.
  • Precise quantification of total bacterial loads and selected bacterial species or groups.
  • Establishment of core-microbiomes to identify deviations before fish health is affected.
  • Assessment of effects of advanced water treatment strategies on water quality, hygienic barriers and fish health using microbiota monitoring.
  • Identification of water quality and fish health bioindicators.
  • Analyzing specific metabolic activities of SRB at different locations in rearing systems.
This WP has a central position in the project by providing directly essential data for WP2, 4, 5, 6 & 7.

WP 2- Biological water quality
WP leader: Bielefeld University, Center for Biotechnology
The overall objective in this work package is to provide reliable tools and technologies for identification and quantification of species in mixed environmental samples. This will be accomplished by addressing the following sub-objectives:
  • Amplicon sequencing for species profiling.
  • Full metagenome sequencing for generation of comprehensive annotated gene databases.
  • Bioinformatics for gene annotation and establishment of databases enriched for functional information.
  • Improving taxonomic information of metagenome contigs by long-read data assembly & annotation.
  • Facilitating development of primer sets for real-time RT and digital PCR.
This WP is tightly connected to other work packages by receiving samples from WP1 and providing essential data for WP1, 5 & 7.

WP 3- Chemical water quality
WP leader: International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory
The main objectives of this WP are the development, refinement, implementation and validation of protocols, method and systems for the detection at ultra-low level of H2S and off-flavour compounds in RAS using GC-MS  and portable platforms.
The information gathered regarding these parameters in the pilots will allow to assess the water quality status of the RAS and to establish the main relationships between the presence of certain microorganisms and the production of those dangerous/problematic compounds.

WP 4- Fish behaviour
WP leader: SINTEF Ocean AS
The overall objective in this WP is to investigate whether observation of the biomass itself may serve as a valuable indication of water quality. Potentially, this technique may comprise more factors than available in off-the-shelf sensors. The video recordings will also serve as valuable documentation to the fish trails, where new methods may be applied retrospectively.
The WP will address the following sub-objectives:
  • Video footage from lab trails from which classical analysis like e.g. operculum frequency may be withdrawn subsequently
  • A tool for detection of certain behaviors, and linking these to water quality measurements

WP 5- Fish health
WP leader: University of Patras
The general objective of this work package is an overall assessment of the health status of the fish in RAS systems in relation with microbiota in biofilter system and tank water. Three approaches will be applied to achieve this goal:
  • Examination of important tissues commonly examined in ichthyo-pathological studies, namely gills, gut, internal organs such as kidney, live and spleen by use of histological sections.
  • Surveillance of tank water for pathogens commonly encountered in the specific aquaculture systems such as bacterial pathogens, protozoans and viruses by use of real-time PCR and NGS technology.
  • Monitoring of stress level in fish by measurement of cortisol level in tank water. This approach should be used as it avoids stressing the fish, and possible artefacts due to handling and false results during sampling process will be avoided.

WP 6- Water treatment
WP leader: Lappeenranta University of Technology
The main objective of this WP is to search an effective technology for aquaculture wastewater treatment. Herein there are four main sub-objectives to approach the main objective:
  • To utilize advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) towards RAS water streams
  • To develop and test COFs for adsorption of off-flavor compounds and H2S
  • To integrate microalgae for water treatment and protein recovery
  • To compare technologies towards smart water treatment strategy development for RAS

WP 7-  Data integration
WP leader: Norwegian University of Life Sciences
Large amounts of multi-dimensional data will be collected within the DIGIRAS project. The overall objective of WP7 will be to integrate information on chemical and biological water quality with clinically relevant outcomes related to fish health and production. The ultimate aim is to utilize data from sensors and real time surveillance for early warning and data-driven decision support. The following tasks will contribute to achieving the overall objective:
  • Select of relevant  microbial species
  • Collection, cleaning and merging of fish health data
  • Modelling associations between water quality and fish health 
  • Diagnostic evaluation of Aqua-qPCR array
  • Validation and implementation

WP 8- Communication and dissemination
WP leader: SINTEF Ocean AS
The main objective of this WP is to make sure that all communication and dissemination (C&D) activities and needs from the different WPs and the project in general are considered and coordinated.
All partners will be included to contribute to C&D objectives, such as review and mapping of stakeholders at European, national and local levels, coordinated timing of dissemination activities, media presentations, and distribution of activities between partners.
C&D activities will be addressed through various channels to the scientific community, industry, public and authorities. 
This work package will be strongly supported by a Post-Doc candidate from partner UPA, dedicated working in this WP.​

WP 9- Coordination and management
WP leader: SINTEF Ocean AS
The main objective of this WP is to ensure the realization of the project objectives, accomplishment of described project deliverable  according to the work plan, in required quality and within the budget allocated. In short, This WP includes all administrative and organizational measures to guarantee the success of the DIGIRAS project.