Fish counters, tagging and vaccination

Fish counter and marking systems for aquaculture

Fish counters can be based on various advanced technologies, such as camera vision, infrared sensors, or RFID systems. These technologies allow the detection of fish passage, analysis of their size, and in some cases, even identification of their species in real time. This enables more efficient management and continuous monitoring of fish biomass.

Main Features:

Precision and Reliability: These devices ensure precise counting of fish, which is essential for optimal stock management, harvest planning, and growth monitoring.
Adaptability: The counters are designed to be used in various environments, whether in industrial aquaculture, natural environments, or scientific studies.
Time and Labor Savings: Automating fish counting reduces manual efforts and minimizes human errors, improving efficiency.
Health and Growth Monitoring: Some systems not only count fish but also analyze their size, behavior, and well-being. This can help detect health issues or nutritional imbalances at an early stage.
Data Collection: These devices collect real-time data that can be integrated into management systems, facilitating more informed decision-making and better tracking of farming operations.

Common Applications:

Aquaculture: For tracking fish growth and optimizing biomass management, ensuring more sustainable production.
Fishing: Used to assess fish populations in rivers and lakes, helping to manage natural resources responsibly.
Scientific Research: These tools are valuable for monitoring fish migrations, studying their behavior, and collecting crucial ecological data.
Regulation and Conservation: To ensure sustainable fish stocks and compliance with fishing quotas, contributing to the preservation of aquatic ecosystems.

Advantages:

Efficiency: Reduced time spent on manual counting leads to significant productivity gains.
Improved Management: These tools enable more precise, faster, and responsive management of aquatic resources, essential for sustainable operation.
Cost Reduction: Less need for labor and resources in stock management, thus reducing operational costs.
Detailed Monitoring: In some configurations, such as RFID systems or tagging, individual fish tracking becomes possible, allowing for even more precise management of the farm.

Fish counters are thus indispensable tools for aquaculturists, researchers, and resource managers, providing the ability to make informed decisions that enhance productivity, sustainability, and profitability of aquatic systems.

Aquaculture France distributes a wide range of fish marking solutions, allowing precise identification and tracking of fish or fry. These solutions include the use of RFID chips, tattoos, dyes, tags, and other systems tailored to the specific needs of each farm. Fish marking is crucial for individual tracking, stock management, as well as traceability and scientific research.

Subcategories

Fish counters
The fish counter is an essential piece of equipment in aquaculture for measuring and counting fish in real-time. It enables precise tracking of stock density, optimized batch management, and monitoring of fish growth performance. This device is used in intensive or semi-intensive farming operations, particularly for fish destined for sale or processing.

Technical Features
- Operating principle: the counter uses optical sensors, ultrasonic sensors, or pressure sensors to count fish passing through a channel or hopper
- Counting rate: from 100 to several thousand fish per minute, depending on the model and species
- Accuracy: counts fish of various sizes, including fry and market-size fish
- Display: digital screen or computer interface for real-time tracking
- Alarms: alert system in case of discrepancies in counting or flow anomalies
Advantages
- Precise tracking of fish stocks, reducing the risk of overcrowding or losses
- Time savings: automatic counting with no manual intervention
- Improved management: real-time monitoring to optimize farming and harvesting processes
- Easy integration into existing monitoring systems
- Durability: designed to withstand harsh working conditions, especially in aquatic environments
Available Options
- Connectivity: integration with aquaculture management software or stock management systems
- Adjustable sensors to accommodate different fish types and sizes
- Automatic cleaning systems to ensure counting accuracy
- Portable models for flexible and temporary installations
Tagging
Fish marking is an essential technique in aquaculture, used to track and identify individual fish throughout their life cycle. This method is employed for stock management, growth monitoring, and scientific research. It also helps to reduce the risks of mixing stocks and ensures better health monitoring.

Marking can be done in various ways, including tattooing, electronic marking (RFID tags), or fluorescent color applied to the scales, depending on the specific needs of the aquaculture operation.

Technical Features
- Marking methods:
  - Physical marking: visible tattooing or fin perforation
  - Electronic marking: subcutaneous implants or RFID tags
  - Chemical marking: application of fluorescent dyes or invisible markers
- Duration: lasting throughout the fish’s life cycle
- Non-invasive: techniques that respect animal welfare
- Compatibility: applicable to various fish species, from fry to adults
Advantages
- Precise tracking of fish for optimized stock management
- Facilitates scientific studies on growth, reproduction, and fish health
- Reduces the risk of loss or confusion between fish batches
- Improves health monitoring and targeted treatments
- Respect for animal welfare through non-invasive techniques
Available Options
- RFID electronic marking with remote reading for automated stock management
- Mobile tracking system for on-site marking information reading
- Visual marking with fluorescent colors, ideal for quick control
- Subcutaneous implants for permanent and discreet marking
Vaccination
Fish vaccination is a key practice in modern aquaculture to prevent infectious diseases and ensure healthy population growth. It helps to reduce the use of antibiotics, enhance farm biosecurity, and promote a sustainable and responsible production system.

Vaccination is commonly used for sensitive species such as salmon, trout, or sea bass, and can be administered manually or through automated systems, depending on fish size and production scale.

Vaccination Methods
- Intraperitoneal injection (most common)
- Immersion: fish are bathed in a vaccine solution
- Oral: the vaccine is incorporated into feed
- Spray (aerosol): an emerging method for certain species or early stages
Benefits
- Effective protection against major bacterial and viral diseases
- Reduces mortality and improves growth rates
- Lowers the need for antibiotics and chemical treatments
- Improves sanitary and commercial quality of the fish
- Complies with traceability requirements and animal welfare standards
Applications
- Suitable for small and large farms
- Compatible with automated vaccination systems
- Can be integrated into biosecurity programs
- Vaccines available for various species and specific pathogens