Emerging technologies including underwater cameras, acoustic sensors, and machine learning are enabling continuous welfare monitoring in aquaculture that was previously impossible due to the aquatic environment.
Aquaculture welfare has historically been difficult to monitor because fish are in an environment that makes direct observation challenging and handling for assessment is itself stressful. Technology is rapidly changing this situation. Continuous behavioral monitoring can identify welfare problems including disease, crowding stress, and hypoxia earlier than any manual monitoring system. Earlier detection means earlier intervention and shorter duration of welfare compromise. The development and adoption of welfare monitoring technology represents a significant opportunity to improve fish welfare at the scale required for the billions of fish produced in aquaculture annually. Consumer and regulatory demand creates the commercial incentive needed to drive adoption.