Oman’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources has signed a cooperation agreement with Sultan Qaboos University to develop a commercially viable fish-farming system using artificial intelligence and underwater imaging.
The 18-month applied research project will focus on an AI system that estimates fish weight and biomass without physical contact. It will also analyse feeding behaviour and connect the findings to an automated feeding mechanism designed to improve control over feed quantities.
The project includes image and data collection, AI models for biomass estimation and feeding analysis, a cloud-based monitoring dashboard, and an operating model for commercial use.
According to the announcement, feed represents between 50% and 70% of fish-farm operating costs. The technologies are expected to reduce feed waste, lower operating expenses, improve production efficiency and increase the accuracy of biomass estimates.
The initiative is part of the ministry’s efforts to bring modern technology into Oman’s aquaculture sector. It is also intended to help move research into production environments while strengthening cooperation between government, academia and the private sector.
Source: Oman News Agency
