UMITRON launches the world’s first ocean-based fish appetite detection system

UMITRON PTE. LTD. launches Fish Appetite Index (FAI), the world’s first real-time ocean-based fish appetite detection system. UMITRON FAI uses efficient machine learning and image analysis techniques to extract relevant data that can then be used to accurately quantify fish appetite. FAI software has already been rolled out to existing customers to optimize their feeding operations.

Over the past twenty years the aquaculture industry has been expanding at an exponential rate with annual production tripling during this brief time span. This rapid expansion has largely been driven by strong demand from both an ever-increasing global population, and increasingly affluent consumers in Asia looking for healthier sources of protein. At the same time, however, aquaculture feed prices have also risen dramatically due to a lack of key ingredients such as fish meal and fish oil. This presents an ever-growing challenge for farmers since feed costs account for a majority of their operational overhead.

Farmers must walk a tight line—underfeeding their fish risks lower growth rates and slower time to market—while overfeeding increases costs and potentially harms the environment. In some cases, a farmer only has a limited amount of time to feed and observe each cage before needing to move onto the next one. New technologies such as IoT devices and machine learning offer farmers a solution to improve their feeding operations with the use of efficient data analytics.

FAI takes the guesswork out of fish feeding. The FAI algorithm takes in the same visual information that humans would and then scores fish appetite and presents it in an easy to understand chart. When used in tandem with a smart feeder such as UMITRON CELL, the feed time intervals and amounts can be automatically adjusted with minimal human interference. Farm operators can utilize FAI to fine-tune their feeding schedules, ensuring fish are always satiated. This is easily done via their smartphones with the UMITRON app, where they can check and remotely adjust feed settings based on the FAI feedback.

FAI benefits farmers by reducing wasted feed, improving profitability as well as environmental sustainability. Additionally FAI improves farmers work life by eliminating the need to be out on the water during dangerous conditions. Many smallholder farmers work seven days a week, only taking a rest for emergencies or special occasions. FAI in combination with technology such as CELL allows farmers to stay onshore during weekends while still keeping a close eye on their fish stocks. Furthermore, it reduces the need for every employee to be an expert at feeding and instead frees workers to focus on other tasks that improve fish welfare.

Existing UMITRON customers have already begun using FAI alongside CELL. 

Masahiko Yamada, managing director of UMITRON, said:

“Today, there are many companies developing machine-learning algorithms for a variety of industries but only testing them under ideal conditions. The UMITRON Fish Appetite Index on the other hand is already being embraced by our existing customers at their ocean-based farm sites where it operates under real world conditions. It might be difficult for some of our potential customers to completely trust artificial intelligence at first, but FAI is an important tool that can be used to increase productivity and reduce waste.”

Takuma Okamoto, CTO of UMITRON, added:

“Our appetite analysis approach is being developed with customer feedback in mind UMITRON will continue to develop similar value-added software services that can be automatically rolled out to our existing customer base. Also, we are open to developing other practical applications after discussions with potential customers or equipment partners.”

UMITRON is looking for partners interested in using FAI for species such as Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, European sea bass, and gilthead sea bream. 

About UMITRON

UMITRON is a Singapore and Japan based deeptech company whose aim is to solve worldwide food and environmental problems by empowering aquaculture through technology. UMITRON builds user-friendly data platforms for aquaculture by using IoT, satellite remote sensing, and artificial intelligence (AI).