AQUACULTURE

Scaling Innovation in Aquaculture with AI-Ready Data Infrastructure

AQUACULTURE, AI, DATA
July 22, 2026

Challenges

  • Limited continuous data collection during fish transfer operations.
  • Fragmented and delayed vessel and video data transmission.
  • Manual processes slowing analysis and reporting.
  • Increasing demand for integrated operational and environmental data.
  • Need for a scalable system to support future AI models.

Services provided

  • Automated data pipeline transferring operational and environmental data directly from vessels.
  • Integrated vessel, sensor, and video data into a unified database.
  • Expanded database architecture to support new data fields (temperature, pressure, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, etc.).
  • Improved ingestion and retention processes for smoother movement between AI tools, vessels, and reporting systems
  • Strengthened cybersecurity and data governance
  • A scalable platform ready for AI-driven fish counting, biomass analysis, and advanced reporting

Results

  • A fully scalable SmoothMove data solution
  • Significant reduction in manual effort through automated data transfer
  • Faster, more consistent access to operational and environmental data
  • Improved reporting accuracy and timeliness
  • Stronger foundation for future AI models and commercial expansion
  • Enhanced client support through reliable, real-time data availability
OVERVIEW

East Coast Innovation (ECI), a New Brunswick–based leader in aquaculture technology, needed a more scalable way to manage the growing volume of operational and underwater video data generated by its SmoothMove fish-transfer system. Manual processes, fragmented vessel data, and inconsistent connectivity made it difficult to maintain data quality, support clients, and prepare for AI-driven analytics.

IPSG Technology partnered with East Coast Innovation to modernize its data infrastructure, AI Fish Counting Model, automate data transfer from vessels, and build a scalable foundation for future AI capabilities.

The Digital Boost program has been a game changer for ECI. It connected us with IPSG, a local company whose expertise in data management and automation helped solve key challenges, allowing us to remain focused on what we do best — developing innovative solutions for fish farmers around the world.
— East Coast Innovation
 

 

Assessment Phase

As the only known technology in the aquaculture sector capable of continuously capturing underwater footage of fish interaction at the suction hose entry point during harvesting and treatment operations, SmoothMove generates significant volumes of operational and video data from vessels worldwide. However, the collection, transmission, and management of this information remained fragmented, creating risks related to delays, data gaps, and inconsistent quality, particularly in remote offshore environments with limited connectivity.

Through additional Digital Boost 3.0 Implementation Plus funding, ECI once again partnered with IPSG Technology to implement key recommendations from the original assessment. The project focused on improving how operational and video data is collected, transmitted, ingested, and analyzed to support faster insights, stronger reporting, and improved client support.

Implementation Phase

The Digital Boost 3.0 Implementation Plus phase focused on building a scalable, centralized data infrastructure for the SmoothMove platform. This included developing an automated data pipeline, enhanced ingestion processes, and expanded database functionality to support vessels operating with SmoothMove technology. The project aimed to reduce manual processes, strengthen data management, and improve analysis and reporting capabilities.

Through the project, IPSG Technology developed an automated upload pipeline that transfers operational and environmental data directly from vessels to the ECI database with minimal setup and no manual intervention. The database was expanded to support additional data fields, including water temperature, pressure, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity, alongside existing video analysis data. Additional enhancements to data retention and transfer functionality improved how information moves between AI tools, vessels, and reporting systems.

IPSG Technology partnered with East Coast Innovation (ECI), with support from TechImpact's Digital Boost program, to develop core elements of ECI's data framework: a custom fish-counting AI model, a dedicated SmoothMove database, and a live data-retrieval pipeline. SmoothMove is a fish loading device that improves fish welfare while providing operators precise, data driven control to optimize fish transfers. IPSG’s work on the data ecosystem provides the development framework to further advance the features offered by SmoothMove. ECI has recently gone on to secure institutional funding, supported by investor confidence in the scalability and competitiveness of its aquaculture technology.
— Siobhan Neil, East Coast Innovation
The Results

As a result of the project, East Coast Innovation (ECI) now has a more efficient and scalable system for collecting, storing, and analyzing operational data generated through the SmoothMove platform. Automated data transfer has reduced manual effort while improving the consistency, quality, and timeliness of information available for analysis and reporting.

The enhanced database infrastructure also provides ECI with stronger reporting capabilities, improved access to integrated operational and environmental data, and a stronger foundation for future AI-driven insights and continued commercialization within the aquaculture sector.

Digital Transformation Digital Boost East Coast Innovation IPSG Technology