One of Four Accelerated Ocean Solutions Program Projects Announced Today
Watch the video announcement here…
Today Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announced four new projects with a total value of $4.5 million from its Accelerated Ocean Solutions Program (AOSP) stream including the Tallybot Project. Through the development of automation and predictive machine learning algorithms, branded Tallybots, this project represents the next generation of seafood processing powered by traceability and production software focused on improved efficiency and quality, and environmental benefits as a result of reduced waste.
With a total project value of $842,000 the Ocean Supercluster will provide $500,000 in funding for the project, with the balance coming from industry partners. The Tallybot Project is led by British Columbia-based company ThisFish Inc., with partners Orca Specialty Food, Hardy Buoys Smoke Fish Ltd, McGill University, York University, and Eurofish. Together they will collaborate on the development of Tallybots embedded into ThisFish’s existing Tally software that automates and digitizes the collection of data in seafood processors.
The project team expects to be one of the first in the world to embed Artificial Intelligence (AI) into seafood production and traceability software. Tallybots will analyze the large datasets created by ThisFish’s Tally production and traceability software to help processors maximize yields, improve quality and reduce data errors as well as noncompliance. The project may also extend the AI technology to fishing vessels to improve catch handling, freezing and storage at sea.
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is an industry-led transformative cluster focused on tackling the shared challenges across ocean sectors through a collaborative program designed to accelerate the development and commercialization of globally-relevant solutions, while also building a highly-capable, inclusive workforce. To encourage innovation and trigger new industry investment during these challenging times, the Ocean Supercluster supplemented its core programs with an additional project stream called Accelerated Ocean Solutions Program (AOSP). This enables the development of smaller projects on a shorter timeline that deliver tangible outcomes, while continuing to build resiliency in our ocean sectors.
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Quotes
“The Ocean Supercluster is driving innovation in the ocean economy by investing in areas where Canada has a competitive edge. The four projects announced today demonstrate the depth of expertise that the Supercluster is fostering within the ocean economy, ranging from smart, green electricity grids to artificial intelligence-informed seafood traceability.” The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
“The projects we are funding under the Ocean Supercluster will play a vital role in Canada’s emerging blue economy. Improving underwater imaging and offshore infrastructure inspections will allow us to grow our marine industries more safely and sustainably. Our government will continue to invest in ocean science and technology, so we can get more Canadians working on and in our oceans.” The Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
“The fishery is an incredibly important part of Canada’s economy with significant export opportunity. We are proud to provide $500,000 for the Tallybot Project that will help drive the next generation of seafood processing through traceability and production software that delivers improved efficiency and quality, environmental benefits, and increased economic activity and opportunity in the industry.” Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
“Seafood processing faces many problems that can be solved by artificial intelligence. Because of the natural variability of fish, such as species, fish size, seasonality, fishing zone, catch method and so on, seafood processors often have difficulty predicting production and quality outcomes, such as yields. There are simply too many variables. That’s a perfect problem for our new Tallybot technology, whose core strengthen will be its ability to take numerous variables to accurately make predictions and automate processes.” Eric Enno Tamm, CEO of ThisFish Inc.