FischFitPRO

Development of a sensor-based system solution for the objective assessment of animal welfare and animal health in aquaculture 

Reducing stress and improving animal welfare is increasingly becoming one of the key challenges in fish farming and breeding. The aim is to develop a sensor-based system solution that makes it possible for the first time to evaluate animal welfare in various application scenarios using objectively collected measured values. The solution is based on the fusion and interpretation of heterogeneous data. One technical challenge is the camera-based monitoring of movement behaviour (swimming speed and pattern). Length and mass growth is also determined using cameras. Another challenge is the semi-automated detection of cortisol in the water in the ng range, which allows the substitution of invasive sampling to determine this key stress parameter. All values (including other water parameters) become part of the data set, which is analysed using machine learning methods. The aim is to create an early warning system that makes it possible to optimise stress management, reduce fish mortality and increase the profitability of aquaculture.