Precision Aquaculture

Precision aquaculture is founded on a set of disparate, interconnected sensors deployed within the marine environment to monitor, analyze, interpret, and provide decision support for farm operations. Recent technological innovations facilitate aquaculture becoming part of the Internet of Things (IoT) -- modern farms are characterized by hundreds of interconnected sensors that store and serve data, interact with other sensors and devices, and connect with a fog and cloud ecosystem. We describe the implementation of the precision aquaculture concept to a number of farms in eastern Canada. The work combines partners from industry, technology, and academia to provide data-driven insight and decision that promotes ecologically sustainable intensification of aquaculture. The article presents a first case study on how IoT can instrument, inform, and impact the aquaculture industry. Challenges related to connectivity, interoperability, and standardization are discussed, and we elucidate how our experiences can inform future activities.