During quiet days as well as during times of war, farmers going out into the field has become a complex challenge. Ahead of the Shavuot holiday, the demand for quality fish on the plate is steadily increasing, and the demand for fish such as sea bream, barramundi, and mullet, and even carp, increases by hundreds of percent. One of the greatest challenges for fish pond breeders these days is going out into the field to check the condition and health of the fish.
A new start-up called Aqua Sense, from the SeaNovation Eilat innovation center, allows fish breeders to weigh, count, and track fish in ponds remotely, using a unique and innovative automation system.
The technology of the Aqua Sense venture, developed by entrepreneurs Haim Rozenboim and Nitzan Gerzi, is based on unique electronic sensing, which allows remote assessment of the fish's length and volume with high accuracy. Unlike optical systems, the solution operates continuously and non-invasive even in turbid water. This is an innovative measuring device that checks the size and weight of fish without the need to remove them from the water and from a distance. The solution enables manpower savings, increases the health of the fish in the pond, and lowers the risk of diseases.
The technology at the base of the venture is based on an electric field instead of eyes: While regular camera systems go "blind" in turbid water, the Aqua Sense system does not need to see anything. It generates a smart electric field that detects every passing fish, measures its length and volume with maximum accuracy, and streams data in real time – everything is remote and completely automatic.
After a successful trial of the system in the north, with the assistance of Dudi Gada, the operations manager of the Ardag company, a new and advanced trial facility was established that "learns" new fish – sea bream, barramundi, and mullet alongside carp fish – and will become the most accurate database in the world of marine monitoring. Thus, with the help of innovative technologies in aquaculture, we too will eat healthier.
The SeaNovation innovation center in Eilat operates as a central hub for promoting marine technologies (Blue Tech) and climate innovation in the desert region. The center focuses on developing an ecosystem that integrates applied research, entrepreneurship, and industry in fields such as aquaculture, marine biotechnology, renewable energy, and smart management of marine resources. Through strategic collaborations, accelerator programs for start-ups, and professional networking events, SeaNovation assists technological ventures to move from the concept stage to operational pilots, while leveraging the unique advantages of the Eilat Gulf and Arava region.