Aquaculture digitalisation: Boosting businesses with data-driven decisions

Digitalisation and automation of the aquaculture industry

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), “global investment in aquaculture has increased 5 times over the last decade, from nearly $50 billion in 2000 to $250 billion in 2022.” The spread of digital technologies and the modernisation of the industry have driven this growth, and leading companies spend 3–6% of their revenue on software initiatives.

Digitalisation is transforming aquaculture in five main ways:

• •Automation: Automated feeding, monitoring, harvesting, and processing cut labour costs and improve efficiency, and make it possible to track fish health and behaviour more accurately.
• •Data analytics: Analytics tools process large volumes of data on fish health, behaviour, and the environment, finding the patterns and anomalies that inform management decisions and raise productivity.
• •Remote monitoring: Sensors, cameras, and other digital devices let farmers track fish behaviour and water quality from a distance, so they can respond quickly to environmental changes.
• •Precision farming: Feeding, water quality, and other factors are monitored and adjusted in real time, which optimises fish growth and reduces waste.
• •Traceability: Digital systems make the supply chain more transparent from farm to market, ensuring product quality and regulatory compliance.

Working with data platforms in aquaculture: strategies and tools

Managing large datasets calls for specialised tools:

• •Dashboard and visualisation tools: Bring multiple data sources into easy-to-use interfaces where patterns across datasets are easier to spot.
• •Cloud-based platforms: Store and analyse data centrally, accessible from anywhere, so stakeholders can collaborate in real time.
• •Artificial intelligence and machine learning: Automate the analysis of large datasets to find patterns that aren't obvious and produce insights quickly.
• •Integrated farm management systems: Bring operational data from feeding through to processing into unified platforms that give real-time insight into operations.

“One of the most efficient ways to perform analytics and monitor key parameters is to develop a data environment that provides valuable insights to management in real time: a Data Platform.”

Long-term benefits of data platforms

Data platforms deliver sustained competitive advantages:

• •Improved production efficiency: Real-time environmental and process data makes it possible to optimise feeding regimes and water quality, which reduces mortality and increases yields.
• •Enhanced sustainability: Monitoring environmental conditions supports responsible operations and meets consumer demand for sustainable seafood.
• •Better decision making: Real-time insight into production and market trends leads to better-informed strategic choices and higher profitability.
• •Improved supply chain management: Complete visibility from hatchery to consumer means better inventory management, less waste, and more efficient delivery.
• •Increased innovation: Access to real-time data helps companies identify trends and develop competitive products.

Transforming aquaculture data into value

Real-time monitoring technology lets operations optimise their practices and increase yields. The company's data-driven platforms support predictive analytics for resource management, finance, operations, and sales, informing decisions that promote sustainable growth.