Aquaculture – the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, molluscs and crustaceans – is a rapidly growing industry across the world. Freshwater and marine environments offer unique opportunities as farmers look for new ways to meet increasing demand for food in the face of environmental pressures. And like any other industrial sector, the use of smart technology, such as sensors and robotics, is playing an ever more critical role.
In this blog, we look at how smart tech is changing aquaculture and also at some of the companies that are leading the industry forwards.
What is aquaculture?
The National Ocean Service defines aquaculture as the “breeding, rearing and harvesting of fish, shellfish, algae and other organisms in all types of water environments”. There can be multiple aims, such as to produce seafood, restore habitat, and replenish stocks of wild or threatened species. For example, seaweed and shellfish farming can improve ocean health and biodiversity by filtering water, providing habitat and reducing acidity.
Seafish – a UK public body supporting the seafood industry – identifies aquaculture as the fastest growing food supply sector in the world: during 1990–2020, the total annual output of global aquaculture expanded by over 600%, with an average growth rate of 6.7%.
Taking UK aquaculture as an example, 217,000 tonnes of fish and shellfish were farmed in 2021, dominated by salmon produced in Scotland. Between 2016 and 2020, the volume of UK salmon production increased by 18%, according to Seafish. In 2021, the top 5 species by value were:
- Atlantic salmon – £1 billion
- Rainbow trout – £51 million
- Mussels – £12 million
- Oysters – £10 million
- Carp – £6 million
Aquaculture: the challenges
As with all forms of farming, aquaculture is under pressure to meet increasing consumer demand, resulting from an ever-growing global population. At the same time, aquaculture is facing environmental pressures arising from climate change, such as drought, changes in rainfall patterns and the acidification of oceans.
In short, just as with land-based farming, there is a continued need to do more with less.
There are also challenges around the potentially negative environmental impacts of aquaculture itself, although these can be minimised with effective management. The WWF lists some of the potential impacts of aquaculture as follows:
- Chemicals that are used for disinfecting and anti-fouling can pollute the water.
- If farmed fish escape, they can harm wild populations.
- Diseases can spread from farmed to wild fish.
- Feed production sometimes requires wild-caught species that are an important food source to both marine predators and people; also, soy production has been linked to deforestation.
- Feed production has been linked to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and human welfare issues.
Finally, aquaculture also presents some unique challenges. Unlike land-based farming, aquaculture operates within dynamic aquatic ecosystems, where factors like water quality, temperature and oxygen levels are crucial to the health and growth of aquatic species.
Therefore, monitoring these parameters is vital, so that farmers can make proactive and informed management decisions, with the ultimate aim of maximising yields.
The use of smart technology in aquaculture
In sustainable aquaculture, the balance between efficient production and environmental care is crucial. So, companies are increasingly turning to advanced sensor and robotics technologies to improve practices.
One of the key challenges in aquaculture is the need for precise monitoring and control of environmental parameters. Fluctuations in water quality and temperature can stress aquatic organisms, leading to disease outbreaks and reduced growth rates. To tackle this, companies are using advanced sensor technologies to continuously monitor water parameters in real-time.
Plus, robotics technologies are revolutionising the way that aquaculture operations are managed. From automated feeding systems to underwater drones for monitoring fish health, the use of robotics means that aquatic farms can now be managed more effectively than ever before.
Source: Innovasea
The benefits of using smart technology in aquaculture are very similar to its use in other forms of agriculture. For example, the benefits include:
- Greater efficiency and precision – e.g. feed and nutrients can be applied only when and where they are needed, helping to reduce waste and maximise growth.
- Reduced risks for the workforce and costs – aquatic environments can often be hostile and so removing the need for manual labour (e.g. for data collection, cleaning and feeding) reduces the risks; also, robots can often perform maintenance duties better and at lower cost than their human counterparts.
- 24/7 monitoring – data is crucial in all forms of modern farming, so continuous monitoring of key parameters is a fundamental component of the process.
- Enhanced data-driven decisions – data analytics and machine learning are helping farmers to understand their stocks better than ever before, meaning that they can identify problems early and work out how to maximise production.
…but it requires long-term thinking.
The use of sensor and robotics technologies in aquaculture is not without its challenges, however. One significant hurdle is the relatively high initial investment that’s required for implementing these technologies, particularly for small-scale aquaculture operations. Additionally, there may be technical complexities around integrating different sensor and robotics systems into existing farm infrastructure.
Despite these challenges, forward-thinking companies are recognising the long-term benefits of investing in sustainable aquaculture practices. By incorporating smart technology solutions, they can enhance operational efficiency, minimise environmental impact and ensure the long-term viability of their operations.
5 companies that are leading the way
Companies around the world are now racing to develop smart technology for aquaculture. Here, we look at 5 innovative companies that are at the forefront of developing solutions tailored specifically for aquaculture.
UMITRON
UMITRON uses remote sensing, IoT and machine learning to build a sustainable aquaculture model. Its products include an automated feeding system, and AI systems to measure fish, optimise feeding and estimate mortality.
The company states that:
Our technology helps farmers improve farm efficiency, manage environmental risks, and increase business revenues. Our final goal is to utilize computer models in combination with aquaculture to help the world sustainably and efficiently deliver protein in a human-friendly and nature-friendly way.
Deep Trekker
This company specialises in remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to monitor stocks and collect data. These ROVs are claimed to be affordable and customisable to fit within any budget. Also, the use of battery power means that environmental risks are reduced, compared with gas-generated power or on-site power.
Source: Deep Trekker
Applications include inspections of nets and moorings, ‘mort pushing’ to remove mortalities from the pen and conducting benthic surveys to evaluate the seafloor.
BiOceanOr
BiOceanOr aims to “unleash the power of marine biology and artificial intelligence to deliver bio-guided services that optimize fish welfare and fish growth while supporting sustainable aquaculture practices”. Its AquaREAL platform collects and analyses aquaculture data, and uses AI to understand the relationship between biology and the marine environment. For example, it forecasts dissolved oxygen levels, temperature and growth of microalgae blooms.
These “bioguided services” result in early warnings of problems, reduced OPEX, improved fish welfare and growth, and greater overall sustainability.
Remora Robotics
The fully autonomous Remora Cleaning Robot can also collect data while cleaning and inspecting fish pens. Remora claims: “With an average use of 2800 kW/h renewable power per year, CO2 emissions are reduced by 22 to 30 tonnes per cage per year compared to high-pressure washing.”
This technology also removes the need for conventional anti-fouling coatings, such as copper, which are often worn away by high-pressure washing and discharged to the water. Plus, more efficient cleaning of the cage results in increased water flow, a higher oxygen content and healthier fish.
Finally, the robot’s sensors monitor potential holes in the net, which helps to prevent escapes. They also provide insights for preventative maintenance and optimised operations.
GoSmart
GoSmart has developed a “fully integrated online system, providing continuous necessary data for optimal farming performance. GO Smart® supplies the farmer with new cutting-edge AI Technology. A complete set-up of tools that automatically analyse necessary data to manage fish farming in a more accurate and sufficient manner.” Its focus is on monitoring fish behaviour and accurately tracking patterns.
Source: GoSmart
The system consists of an underwater camera, a control box and a web application. The underwater unit contains oxygen and temperature sensors, which collect data before transferring it to the control box. This allows real-time monitoring of any fish species in any aquaculture environment.
Benefiting ecosystems and communities
The future of sustainable aquaculture lies in the greater use of sensor and robotics technologies. Through continuous innovation and strategic investment, companies are not only addressing the challenges of aquaculture but also setting new standards for environmental stewardship and efficiency in the industry.
As these technologies continue to evolve, they promise to unlock new opportunities for responsible aquaculture practices that will benefit both ecosystems and communities worldwide.
