Award-winning aquaculture technology company, Ace Aquatec, have added another innovative product to their suite with the unveiling of their A-BIOMASS – an automated AI camera system which will revolutionise biomass data capture for fish farmers around the globe.  

Revealed for the first time at Aqua Nor 2023, the A-BIOMASS, an advanced underwater camera system, promises to transform the way fish farmers across the globe monitor and grade their fish stocks by using machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) for real-time millimetre accuracy.

The fully-automated camera is far smaller and easier to deploy than many on the market, weighing in at just 8.5kg, and has been proven to withstand the harshest environmental conditions, having been developed and tested in Scotland’s most northerly waters.   

The camera system is Ace Aquatec’s latest addition to its suite of high–welfare technology products and offers fish farmers a convenient, reliable and cost-effective way to estimate fish biomass without handling or manual intervention. The fully automated AI cameras use point cloud technology to track fish, simultaneously differentiating individuals from the shoal. 

Continuous measurement of fish size enables millimetre accuracy in the grading process and reduces feed waste, meaning less impact on the immediate environment and efficiency savings for farmers. The system can also be operated remotely so fish stocks can be monitored from anywhere in the world, reducing the need to be on site.   

The A-BIOMASS for Salmon is the first camera in the series, with modules for Trout, Sea Bass and Tilapia to follow in 2024.  

Keith Davidson, chief technology officer at Ace Aquatec said: “Our biomass camera has been five years in development, incorporating expertise and knowledge from scientists and partners around the world.  We’ve done extensive field testing and data collection to create a system that truly measures biomass and fits in with fish farmers’ daily processes and operations. 

Ace Aquatec is dedicated to supporting aquaculture to increase the welfare of their fish, the efficiency of their operations and the safety of their staff. The biomass camera we are launching today is the first of its kind and will transform the monitoring of salmon stocks. It requires no specialist skills to operate, offering a convenient and reliable solution to farmers across the globe.” 

Nathan Pyne-Carter, CEO at Ace Aquatec said: “We wanted to develop a product that was not only market-leading, but one that would become the fish farmer’s friend, supporting them with a system that is easy to deploy, manage and monitor.

 The team at Ace Aquatec have dedicated a huge amount of time and expertise to making sure that the biomass we are launching today optimises feed and growth rates and helps farmers stay within their stocking density quota.”