From left to right, Ben Perry and Tara McGregor-Woodhams, from Ace Aquatec, and Dave Chapman and Andrew Davie, from Aquascot at Seafood Global Expo Barcelona 2025.
Photo: Ace Aquatec / Aquascot.
Aquaculture technology specialists Ace Aquatec and Scottish seafood processor Aquascot are launching 'Aqua Smart Vision', a 12-month project that will integrate artificial intelligence (AI) using specialized cameras to deliver real-time fish morphometric data from the fish farm to the processing line in a verifiable way.
Aimed to transform the aquaculture supply chain, the project is supported by grant funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Commenting on it, HIE Senior Development Manager Innovation, John Mackenzie, said: "Highlands and Islands Enterprise is delighted to support this exciting collaborative innovation project using data to drive increased productivity and efficiency and look forward to seeing the outputs and benefits."
His enthusiasm was shared by spokespersons for the Scottish companies participating in 'Aqua Smart Vision'. "We are hugely excited about embarking on this project with Ace Aquatec," David Chapman, Manufacturing Director at Aquascot, stated. "This will be a ground-breaking development in our sector and we are delighted to be leading the way in our industry."
"As well as operational benefits for Aquascot, this will help drive continuous improvement and efficiency both upstream and downstream in our supply chain too. We are grateful to Highlands and Islands Enterprise for their support in helping to make this collaboration a reality," he added.
Ben Perry, Head of Sales at Ace Aquatec, said for his part that this collaboration with Aquascot is an exciting step towards unlocking the full potential of data in aquaculture. "By validating and integrating real-time AI insights into processing operations, we're not only improving traceability and efficiency, but we're also building a smarter, more connected supply chain," he said.
"Support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise Innovation team has been key in helping us turn innovation into impact for the sector," Perry concluded.
In the joint release issued by the companies participating in 'Aqua Smart Vision', it is highlighted that at the heart of the initiative are Ace Aquatec's state-of-the-art artificial intelligence cameras, which offer accurate and non-intrusive monitoring. For its part, with expertise in both farming and processing, Aquascot brings decades of knowledge in delivering high-quality seafood from the Scottish Highlands, and will incorporate this data into its modern processing line.
Thus, using Ace Aquatec's biomass camera technology during routine production, the system will collect biometric data on Atlantic salmon and Rainbow trout, including weight and condition. Aquascot will then integrate this data directly into its processing operations, helping to automate quality controls, reduce manual handling, and improve yield forecasting.
By linking biometric data to each fish at the time of harvest, traceability will be enhanced. In addition, Ace Aquatec's A-FISHIQ® portal will also generate real-time alerts, supporting transparency, auditability and continuous improvement throughout the supply chain.
The system, whose ultimate goal is to bridge a critical gap in the aquaculture supply chain for Atlantic salmon and Rainbow trout, will be validated for its ability to measure individual fish weight, condition factor, head proportion and other key quality indicators.
In addition to Ace Aquatec and Aquascot, the project will also benefit one of Aquascot's main retail partners, Waitrose & Partners, with whom it already collaborates on the 'Simply Bake & Serve' range of products offered by the British supermarket chain.
The British retailer is always looking for suppliers who are leading the way in adopting advanced technologies. By improving data accuracy and traceability from farm to shelf, this initiative aligns with Waitrose's commitment to responsibly sourced seafood, ensuring greater transparency and consistent quality, and helping consumers make informed choices.