IT for Sustainable Fisheries
Our vision for "i-ocean"
In recent years, the implementation of smart fishery technologies has been gaining attention in the aquaculture industry in Japan. This is in line with Goal No. 14 of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aims to "conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources."
i-enter started as an IT consulting company and has since expanded its services to include core system development, web system development, smartphone app development, web design, marketing, IT infrastructure, and other areas. In 2016, we established a cutting-edge technology team dedicated to examining and researching the use of IoT, AI, and XR in support of the primary industry, and began our marine tech business.
In 2020, we introduced two new services for our marine tech business: the Fish Size Estimation Camera, which is a patented technology that can measure fish size without physical contact, and the IoT Water Quality Sensor, designed for both land-based and offshore aquaculture to measure the water quality in fish tanks. To consolidate our marine tech business, we have established the brand "i-ocean" with the goal to address various challenges in the fisheries industry with the power of IT.
Development of Aquaculture, Food Safety and Stable Supply
We are committed to utilizing IT technologies to address a wide range of issues in both land-based and offshore aquaculture, in order to drive the development of the aquaculture business, ensure food safety, and maintain a stable supply. We believe that through IT, we can continue to provide innovative solutions that contribute to the creation of a sustainable society.
Smart Fishery
The Japan Fisheries Agency has been promoting the adoption of "smart fisheries," which utilizes Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to enhance the efficiency and value of the fisheries industry while reducing labor.
One of the challenges in the field is the lack of digital information about coastal resources. In the past, data collection was manual and time-consuming. In addition, it could lead to low efficiency, poor compatibility, high costs, and labor shortages due to reliance on intuition and experience.
ICT technologies offer solutions to these issues by efficiently gathering reliable and accurate information from the fishery field and the surrounding environment, improving the assessment and management of fishery resources. Furthermore, IT technology and big data analytics can automate operations, save labor, add value to the fisheries industry, and support local fishermen.
Applications of i-ocean
- ①
- Chinai Town, Hokkaido/ Offshore aquaculture water quality sensor
- ②
- Obama City, Fukui Prefecture / Land-based aquaculture water quality sensor
- ③
- Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture / Offshore aquaculture water quality sensor
- ④
- Shimomatsu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture / Land-based aquaculture water quality sensor
- ④
- Shimomatsu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture / Land-based aquaculture water quality sensor
- ④
- Nagashima-cho, Kagoshima Prefecture/ Fish Body Size Estimation System
- ⑥
- Nasu Karasuyama City, Tochigi Prefecture/ Land-based aquaculture water quality sensor
- ⑦
- Sumida-ku, Tokyo/ Offshore aquaculture water quality sensor
- ⑧
- Minato-ku, Tokyo/ Environmental water quality sensor
- ⑨
- Futtsu City, Chiba Prefecture/ Offshore aquaculture water quality sensor
- ⑩
- Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture / Offshore aquaculture water quality sensor
- ⑪
- Fujinomiya City, Shizuoka Prefecture / Land-based aquaculture water quality sensor
- ⑫
- Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture/ Land-based aquaculture water quality sensor
- ⑬
- Shima City, Mie Prefecture / Offshore aquaculture water quality sensor
- ⑭
- Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture / Environmental water quality sensor
【Outside Japan】
Denmark / Fish Body Size Measurement Camera
Automation and Labor-Saving
Standardize work that relies on experience and save labor by introducing automation technology.
Automated water quality analysis
Automated feeding
Labor-saving in visual inspection
Non-contact
fish size estimation
Alert notification
in case of abnormality
24/7
remote monitoring
Business Models
Automation of land-based and offshore aquaculture
Challenges
- Managing water quality and feeding takes time and effort.
- Manual data collection is time-consuming to organize and compile.
- Retaining and training workers takes time.
Solutions
- Shift from relying on intuition and experience to real-time data analysis in the field.
- Standardize operations to reduce workload and support recruitment and employee training.
- Provide production history to improve brand image and add new value.
New entry to the land-based aquaculture industry
Challenges
- As resources continue to deplete and food shortages become more prevalent, some companies are trying to repurpose amusement facilities into land-based aquaculture facilities in order to create new food production bases. However, these companies often lack practical knowledge of aquaculture techniques.
Solutions
- Shift the work from experience-based to data-based with an automated monitoring system that ensures 24/7 operation.
- Shorten the operation time and increase efficiency from production to shipping stages.
- Prevent pollution and overuse of resources.
A Friendly Approach to Fishermen, Consumers, and the Planet
i-ocean is capable of making measurements in coastal and offshore areas that are sensitive to environmental influences. This feature attracts interest from companies in Japan, as well as companies in other countries that engage in offshore aquaculture.
The fisheries industry faces numerous challenges such as resource scarcity, labor shortages, fish quality management, and product traceability management. To achieve sustainable fisheries, it is necessary to address issues like providing safe and secure production, reducing costs, and minimizing food loss and waste.
At i-ocean, we collaborate with companies, universities, and municipalities to improve our technologies and promote automation in aquaculture to benefit both fishermen and consumers. Our goal is to protect Japan's marine resources and create new brand value for Japanese farmed fish in the global market by combining the power of IT with the creativity of our partners.
Our Patented Technology
- April, 2020
- Patent granted
- Name of the invention
- Fish Size Calculation Device
- Patent number
- Patent 6694039
- Application number
- Patent application 2018-218922
- Discription
- A system that enables accurate measurement of the actual size of migrating fish
Our Marine Tech Businesses
IoT Water Quality Sensor
A web management system that provides 24/7 monitoring of water quality for land-based aquaculture, offshore aquaculture, rivers, and ponds.
Learn moreFisheries DX
Provide solutions to various issues in the field of fisheries by promoting digitalization.
Learn more