Krucial adds video streaming to satellite-linked fish farm service

Satellite-enabled communication specialist Krucial has added continuous video streaming to its Connected Seafarm solution for aquaculture, which will make it possible for fish farmers to remotely obtain feeding and environmental information they need from anywhere on the planet.

Glasgow-based Krucial said that by using its cutting-edge technology, farmers can get a continuous video stream from pens in areas even with no cellular connectivity or power and feed individual pens remotely using their desktop or mobile phone based on the insights received.

It added that auto adjusting flat panel antennas mean that barge movement does not impact the technology’s usability, offering an advantage over ‘line of sight’ solutions. If a farm is off the west coast of Scotland or Ireland, for example, and the operator is onshore or even thousands of miles away, they’ll be able to monitor fish behaviour continuously and feed with the click of a button.

Final piece

The uprated technology is the latest addition to Krucial’s Connected Seafarm product that is used for environmental monitoring. It provides what the company said is the final piece of what is now a complete solution that incorporates remote feeding enablement, algae detection, environmental monitoring, barge telemetry and asset condition management. Krucial is now looking for farming partners to pilot the new technology in the field.

The company said that currently poor connectivity on many fish farms makes remotely understanding fish behaviour challenging. This can impact decisions around exactly how much feed to distribute to sustain fish and maximise their welfare while minimising waste. Krucial’s solution will enable farmers to feed remotely from anywhere, meaning that during extreme weather or when other tasks come up, staff resource can be optimised. Given the significant cost of feed to the sector, the ability to optimise feeding can contribute to cost savings as well as the management of ocean impact.

A huge step

Co-founder and chief technology officer, Kevin Quillien, said: “This is a huge step forward for Krucial and our offering to the aquaculture industry. We are confident that with our new capabilities we are providing fish farmers with the ultimate tool in understanding what’s happening at their farms – ranging from fish behaviour to water quality to equipment conditions.

“Farmers can now sit at home or in the office, with all the information they need at their fingertips to take quick action that boosts efficiency and sustainability and reduces risk - even at their most remote and inaccessible sites.

“Aquaculture is on a mission to feed the world sustainably and this tool makes that job much easier, saving the industry time and money while benefitting the environment. We are looking forward to working with early adopters in the coming months.”

High bandwidth

The new solution will transmit high bandwidth video data over cellular or satellite, whichever is available. If the primary satellite fails, a secondary satellite kicks in to maximise resilience. This means that even in extreme weather or further offshore, where connectivity has traditionally been an obstacle, farmers still have an overview of their operations and can still feed remotely.

Krucial said it is actively engaging with several aquaculture operators about a series of pilots over the next few months.

The company recently announced it was working with salmon farmer Mowi Ireland, where it has deployed the Connected Seafarm for environmental monitoring. Krucial has deployed its technology on Mowi’s Portlea Farm, Clare Island.