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Scientists from UC San Diego Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute (HDSI), UC Davis’ Department of Animal Sciences and Aquaculture Cooperative Extension, and the University of Washington Friday Harbor Laboratories have launched a camera system to determine white sturgeon anatomical traits.
Therefore, and thanks to the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI), preliminary images will be collected to train models that identify anatomical differences between male and female sturgeon, differences that are often overlooked even by an expert, and improve their production for protein and caviar.
"While our initial AI models initially achieved 76% accuracy, we have now reached a much higher milestone with 90% accuracy," assured Jackson Gross from the Department of Animal Science at UC Davis.
The software developed by this team of scientists runs on a mobile platform, which offers high-resolution imaging and receives over-the-air updates. Moreover, one of the essential features is that it is easy to use, so it can be applied in farms.
Additionally, the professor at the UW Friday Harbor Laboratories, Adam Summers, noted: "This innovation could set a new standard for non-invasive, efficient fish management, paving the way for further technological advancements in the field, which will also help current conservation efforts for endangered species of sturgeon and possibly other fish species."
This project has been funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Western Regional Aquaculture Center and U.S. National Science Foundation.
