The Bioeconomy Science Institute and New Zealand company Seaweave signed a new agreement to drive growth through AI technologies for aquaculture that enable data-driven gains in productivity.
Plant & Food Research, a group of the recently formed Bioeconomy Science Institute, has been developing smart AI imaging applications for fish in aquaculture, including individual identification, assessment for breeding programmes, and underwater monitoring applications. This technology is focused on increasing the availability of data from aquatic environments and the information available for decision making.
To take this technology to market, the Bioeconomy Science Institute signed licensing and science services agreements with commercial partner Seaweave, a company established by the Nelson, New Zealand-based group SnapCore. The group specialises in AI-enabled cameras and monitoring systems for harsh environments. With a team of over 40 staff and multiple business lines, SnapCore provides a pathway to impact with market opportunities in precision aquaculture identified in multiple global markets and across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Bioeconomy Science Institute Seafood Production Scientist, Dr. David Ashton, who led the development of this work says that it offers insights into fish growth and health and could have wider applicability within aquaculture and beyond.
“AI is a rapidly evolving field. It is critical to stay in touch with global advances and apply new approaches to the unique problems we want to solve in aquaculture. This work has benefited from the Bioeconomy Science Institute’s expertise in biology, engineering, and data science and is natural pairing to the expertise and technology in Seaweave,” he remarks.
Seaweave Director Chris Rodley regards the agreement as an exciting step forward in the precision aquaculture space. “Our company’s mission is to equip aquaculture producers with new information systems that increase their profitability. By adopting sensor technologies, producers can gain better insights a wide range of metrics such as feed utilisation, yields predictions and growth cycle timelines.”
Bioeconomy Science Institute Seafood Production Science Group Leader, Dr. Maren Wellenreuther, points out that a multidisciplinary science team is behind the project, which has been almost a decade in the making. “We want to support New Zealand’s aquaculture sector in reaching their aspiration of a $3 billion sector by 2035. There is increasing global demand for responsibly produced seafood, which often involves additional regulatory requirements, including for monitoring.”
“This project complements our wider suite of research with the seafood sector, including our Open Ocean Aquaculture research programme, where we are working to develop new feeds, species and aquaculture production systems, reducing pressure on inshore, coastal areas,” concludes Wellenreuther.
