(Montreal, Quebec) Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC) today announced the $2 million Autonomous Robotic Capabilities for Aquaculture Project (ARCAP). This project aims to create a complete autonomous system for the aquaculture industry, using autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and autonomous surface vessels (ASVs) to provide valuable data pertaining to fish health, quantity, size, infrastructure, and water quality.
ARCAP will advance automation in aquaculture, providing enhanced introspection of net pens, more efficient stock health detection, and increased operational data. This will boost seafood yields and quality in sustainable seafood. Improved observability will enhance sustainable practices, waste reduction, and early environmental impact detection. This project is also expected to yield valuable AI techniques and methodologies with broader applications, contributing to AI advancement in general.
The project is led by Independent Robotics with partner Innovobot both based in Montreal, Quebec, along with their collaborators including Cooke Aquaculture, Fleming College Centre for Innovative Aquaculture Production (CIAP), Fleming College Centre for Advancement in Mechatronics and Industrial Internet of Things (CAMIIT), and SINTEF Ocean AS. The project has a total value of $2 million, with $1 million in funding from Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, under its allocation through the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy (PCAIS) Program. The balance of funding will come from project partners.
Quotes:
“Through the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy, the Government of Canada is pleased to support Canada’s Ocean Cluster as it drives AI solutions for Canadian ocean companies. This autonomous robotics project, one of nine projects announced today by OSC, will improve the capability of aquaculture producers to operate sustainably by reducing waste and detecting environmental impacts more promptly.” – The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
“AI in ocean has the potential to help transform the way we do ocean business. Today Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announced the Autonomous Robotic Capabilities for Aquaculture Project which will use Artificial Intelligence and advancing technologies in an autonomous system to provide important data about the fish and their environment, and thereby helping optimize operations, inform decisions, and contribute to sustainability.” – Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
“The team at Independent Robotics is proud and excited to be part of such a worthwhile project that is so critical to the aquaculture industry”, says Pedro Gregorio, CEO of Independent Robotics. “Aquaculture is a billion-dollar business in Canada that plays a vital role in offering a sustainable complement to the traditional fishing industry. Some 70% of all finfish consumed come from the aquaculture sector. We thank Canada’s Ocean Supercluster for selecting us and we look forward to working alongside our project partners to help make aquaculture more sustainable and productive”.
About Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster accelerates the development and commercialization of made-in-Canada ocean solutions in energy transition, food security, future of transport, and climate change while also growing more companies, creating more jobs, and attracting ocean talent. As Canada’s national ocean cluster, the OSC is a convenor of members, partners, and networks and a catalyst for transformative growth that helps build the robust ecosystem needed to help realize Ambition 2035 – a 5X growth potential in ocean in Canada by 2035. To date, the OSC has approved more than 85 projects with a total value of more than $400 million which will deliver more than 200 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world. For more information visit oceansupercluster.ca
Media Contacts:
Nancy Andrews
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca