Digital Innovation Meets Aquaculture: The Future of Smart Farming with GTFL

The future of fish farming is being transformed by digital innovation and sustainability, with IntelliNet emerging as a groundbreaking tool that connects fish farmers to fish cages 24/7. Developed by Garware Technical Fibres Limited (GTFL), IntelliNet is the first IoT (Internet of Things) technology specifically designed to monitor fish farming nets in real-time, allowing farmers to receive alerts and respond instantly to potential issues. By providing continuous communication, IntelliNet addresses a major challenge in the aquaculture industry—fish escapes caused by torn nets.

The Problem of Fish Escapes

Fish escapes are a significant problem in aquaculture, posing ecological, economic, and sustainability challenges. Farmed fish that escape into the wild can affect native fish populations by competing for food and breeding grounds or introducing diseases. The root cause of these escapes often lies in net breaches, whether due to external factors like sea lions and seals or from wear and tear of the net materials over time.

Traditional monitoring of fish farming nets is labor-intensive and involves manual inspection by divers or remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). This process is expensive and time-consuming, particularly for large-scale operations or those located in challenging offshore environments. IntelliNet aims to streamline this process by offering real-time monitoring capabilities to ensure the security of aquaculture installations.

How IntelliNet Works?

IntelliNet is a fully connected system which is an IoT technology-based solution that alerts fish farmers on breakage in the cage nets resulting in better response time to control fish escape.

Advantages Over Conventional Methods

Traditional inspection methods, such as using divers and ROVs, present multiple limitations. They are costly, risky, and often constrained by weather and water conditions. More importantly, these methods cannot provide continuous monitoring, which means that any damage occurring between inspections might go unnoticed for days or weeks, giving fish ample opportunity to escape.

IntelliNet removes these limitations by offering continuous, real-time monitoring without the need for manual inspection. This automated approach reduces the operational costs associated with inspections and maintenance, while also providing a safer alternative to deploying divers. Moreover, the remote monitoring capability of IntelliNet is particularly useful for aquaculture installations located in offshore or deep-sea environments.

Trials and Testing

GTFL has conducted a series of successful tests to validate the IntelliNet system. Preliminary trials were performed with a 5x5 meter net comprising 35 individual panels at a research facility in Norway. During these tests, deliberate holes were introduced into the nets to evaluate the system's ability to detect breaches accurately. IntelliNet successfully identified the exact location of each tear, demonstrating its capability to effectively monitor and alert farmers to net damage.

Building on the success of these initial tests, more extensive trials began at a fish farm in Scotland. Here, IntelliNet was used to monitor two different types of nets—knotless and knotted—in real farming conditions. These trials are crucial in validating the technology's resilience in environments where predators like seals actively attempt to breach the nets. IntelliNet will undergo further testing at a fish farm in Chile, where it will monitor a larger 40x40 meter commercial net, marking the first instance of IntelliNet being used under full commercial conditions.

These tests not only highlight the system's effectiveness but also its versatility in adapting to different farming setups and environmental conditions. IntelliNet is compatible with various net types, including those treated with copper for biofouling prevention, making it suitable for diverse aquaculture environments.

The future of aquaculture lies in smart, data-driven management, and IntelliNet represents a significant leap forward in this direction. By giving fish farmers the ability to monitor their nets continuously and respond to issues instantly, IntelliNet not only prevents fish escapes but also improves the overall efficiency of aquaculture operations. As a result, fish farmers can focus more on optimising production and less on emergency maintenance.

At GTFL, we are committed to advancing the aquaculture industry through innovative solutions that enhance both sustainability and operational efficiency. By developing technologies like IntelliNet, we aim to provide fish farmers with cutting-edge tools to improve productivity, reduce environmental impact, and ensure the safety and well-being of farmed fish.