The leader in aquaculture technology Ace Aquatec and established seafood processor Aquascot announced some days ago a new strategic collaboration to validate the collection of real-time morphometric fish data and integrate it into processing operations. Supported by grant funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the 12-month project aims to bridge a critical gap in the aquaculture supply chain for Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout. They reported that central to the initiative is Ace Aquatec’s cutting-edge AI cameras delivering accurate, non-intrusive monitoring.
Aquascot, spanning both farming and processing, brings decades of expertise in delivering high-quality seafood from the Scottish Highlands and will incorporate this data into its modern processing line. The system will be validated for its ability to measure individual fish weights, condition factor, head proportion and other key quality metrics.
“This collaboration with Aquascot is an exciting step towards unlocking the full potential of data in aquaculture. By validating and integrating real-time AI insights into processing operations, we’re not only improving traceability and efficiency, but we’re also building a smarter, more connected supply chain. Support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) Innovation team has been key in helping us turn innovation into impact for the sector,” said Ben Perry, Head of Sales at Ace Aquatec.
Collected during routine production, this data will boost efficiency by automating quality checks, reducing manual handling and improving yield forecasts. Traceability is then enhanced by linking biometric data to individual fish at harvest. Ace Aquatec’s A-Fishiq portal will also generate real-time alerts supporting transparency, auditability and continuous improvement across the supply chain.
Greater Transparency and Consistent Quality
The project will also benefit one of Aquascot’s primary retail partners, Waitrose and Partners, who seek suppliers leading the way in adopting advanced technologies. By improving data accuracy and traceability from farm to shelf, the initiative ensures greater transparency and consistent quality, helping consumers make informed choices with confidence in responsibly sourced seafood.
For his part, David Chapman, Manufacturing Director at Aquascot, commented: “We are hugely excited about embarking on this project with Ace Aquatec. This will be a ground-breaking development in our sector and we are delighted to be leading the way in our industry. As well as operational benefits for Aquascot, this will help drive continuous improvement and efficiency both upstream and downstream in our supply chain too. We are grateful to HIE for their support in helping to make this collaboration a reality.”
Finally, John Mackenzie, Senior Development Manager Innovation and Highlands & Islands Enterprise, highlioghted: “HIE is delighted to support this exciting collaborative innovation project using data to drive increased productivity and efficiency and look forward to seeing the outputs and benefits.”
USD 13.73 Million Investment to Accelerate Growth and Expand Digital Technologies
Some weeks before, Ace Aquatec announced the successful closing of its latest investment round. The funding will directly support the creation of 15 new jobs and accelerate the company’s mission to empower fish farmers with advanced, data-driven insights that promote sustainable, ethical, and efficient operations.
The round was led by Stolt Ventures, with participation from Scottish Enterprise and Aqua-Spark, and demonstrates strong confidence in Ace Aquatec’s vision, team, and business model. This latest round was oversubscribed and incorporates a period post close to allow for further investors to participate.
The round, consisting of USD 10.29 million in equity funding plus an additional GBP 2.5 million debt facility, will support the creation of 15 jobs at the company’s offices in Dundee, Glasgow and Chile. The roles will focus on the continued development of AI and its role alongside advanced sensors, cameras, and machine learning algorithms. These developments will offer real-time insights that optimise welfare from cage operations through to harvest, enhancing sustainability, and improving profitability for fish farmers. Aquamarine – Impact Capital Partners, a specialist blue economy investment banking advisory acted as lead financial advisor to Ace Aquatec.
The newly secured capital will enable the development of cutting-edge data-driven tools that provide actionable insights to improve both fish welfare and operational performance for farmers across the globe.
“Our customer is at the heart of everything we do, and this investment allows us to meet the needs of farmers globally by expanding our portfolio, hiring top talent, and deepening our data capabilities”, said Nathan Pyne-Carter, CEO of Ace Aquatec.
