Fisheries Automated Sampling Technology (FAST) Platform
Custom and cost-effective automated fisheries data collection stations
Big data from any fishery
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Automated weight and image capture in 2 seconds per fish
Demo at the Solomon Islands National University before deploying in Honiara. Currently in use by the Ministry of Fisheries & Marine Resources for market surveys. Video courtesy of Maria Honig, WWF Coastal Communities Initiative.
WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER
Rulers, clipboards, and data entry errors are a thing of the past!
Starting in the U.S. Caribbean in 2014, we have been developing and fine tuning a suite of tools that can be easily used by fishers, community members, and fisheries professionals to collect reliable data in the field.
Recent advances in computer vision technology provides a new opportunity to process large amounts of high-quality data that can be submitted from members of all communities. We have developed a platform which capitalizes on these technological advancements and creates an efficient and simple data collection process which can be used by virtually anyone.
Today, the FAST Platform is giving fishers, community members, and fisheries professionals around the world a quick and easy tool to collect more and higher quality data for actionable science. In the process, the FAST Platform is developing into a core technology with emerging applications in fisheries biology.
- Automated length
- Automated weight
- Automated species ID
- Legacy image library, georeferenced and timestamped
- Maturity studies
- Quality control in otolith processing
- Hardware and software designed to easily transfer to new fisheries and applications
Currently working with:
- NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center
- Alaska Department of Fish & Game
- U.S. Virgin Islands Division of Fish & Wildlife
- Solomon Islands Ministry of Fisheries & Marine Resources
- Marshall Islands Conservation Society
- Southern Environmental Association of Belize
Video scrubber/Frame extraction: Save countless hours reviewing footage!
THE FUTURE IS FAST
Our Integrated System
The FAST Platform is an integrated suite of technologies for automatically collecting fisheries landings data. Because sampling environments can be challenging, each component of our system was designed with two goals in mind:
- Increase the speed of sampling to minimize the burden on fishers and/or markets.
- Allow for reliable, defensible data to be collected by minimally trained individuals.
In the fisheries where the FAST Platform has been deployed, users are seeing a dramatic increase in the amount of data a single sampler can collect, as well as improved management due to the data’s trustworthiness and simplicity.
Hardware
Automated image and weight capture
Smart Sampling Stations capture weight (if needed) and an image of each fish. From images, length, weight, time, and location are automatically generated later.
Stations are custom built to fit any field situation and keep fish flowing. Dockside, on a ramp or beach, in a factory, or at sea, you can get the data FAST:
Software
Simple app for error free data entry
An app is loaded on the same device used in the Smart Sampling Station to capture images (phone or tablet).
The app is designed so that anyone who can push a button can collect data. No training and no writing required.
Data are stored locally in the app, quality controlled on entry, and uploaded to database when sampler has connectivity.
Web Interface
Verify and access data
A web-based user portal provides data access, as well as a backend interface for AI-assigned species ID and length points.
Validated data are available almost immediately for analyses and/or adaptive management advise.
CUSTOM AI
Globally accessible cloud-based data pipeline
To be nimble and applicable to every fishery that is interested in using the FAST Platform, we start with the identification and length determination algorithms from other locations. As partners initiate a new data collection program, each image will be identified to species by a local expert until a representative sample of the top 20 – 30 species are collected. We then use a process called transfer learning to “tune” our algorithm to the reference library of the species of interest, at which point we provide partners with an open source code specific to their fishery.
Ease of use for global applications
If you can take a picture, you can do great science
Because the FAST Platform process was designed to overcome capacity gaps common to fisheries worldwide, it is being successfully adopted by users of all stripes from all corners of the globe for a range of applications.
Emerging Applications
The FAST Platform is has developed into a core technology and is now also being used for various applications in fisheries biology, including:
What will you use it for?
The FAST Platform is currently operating in the following locations and fisheries. Put yourself on the map!
- U.S. Southeast and Gulf of Mexico/America (shrimp fishery)
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- Puerto Rico
- Republic of the Marshall Islands
- Solomon Islands
- Belize
Hooked?
For more information, please reach out to our team at the contact info below. We look forward to collaborating!
Phone number: +1.804.684.9522 (USA)