Consortium project looks to improve connectivity of Scottish aquaculture

A pilot project is aiming to accelerate the digital transformation of the country's aquaculture sector.

A GBP 1.3 million (USD 1.7 million, EUR 1.5 million) pilot project is underway in Badcall, Scotland, aimed at accelerating the digital transformation of the country’s aquaculture sector and supporting the enhanced sustainability, productivity, and operational efficiency of its fish farms.

Known as “Aquaculture Insights,” the project is being delivered by an international consortium comprising Japan IoT provider Uhuru United, Amsterdam-listed lighting firm Signify, Norwegian aquatech company Optoscale AS, Scotland-based Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC), salmon producer Loch Duart, and SB Telecom Europe.

Together, they are creating an “open data” software platform to provide a single point for fish farmers to interact with and understand the data produced by the variety of technologies on their sites.

Recognizing that while the last 20 years has seen significant growth in the amount and diversity of technology used in aquaculture, but that the majority have tended to work in isolation, Aquaculture Insights will create a single software package that combines multiple data sources and offers insights that cannot be provided by existing systems.

The initiative will also enhance the visualization and transfer of data from connected devices and systems, beginning with Signify’s underwater LED lighting system and Optoscale’s AI-enabled biomass camera.

SAIC CEO Heather Jones said that better access to insightful data could be transformative for aquaculture, helping the sector to be more efficient and sustainable, while also helping fish farmers to develop new ways of working.

“Aquaculture Insights could have significant potential for aquaculture, supporting its sustainable growth ambitions, which need to be underpinned by technological innovation and excellence,” she said. “We were delighted to help secure Loch Duart as the farming partner for real-world trials of this innovative technology.”

The project is receiving funding from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), which is part of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program.  

Photo courtesy of Phil Silverman/Shutterstock

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