On September 12, 2024, at the ALL In Conference in Montreal, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC) announced the Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) for Seafood Project, led by Canadian seafood software company ThisFish Inc.
ThisFish previously developed a successful smart manufacturing and supply chain platform called Tally, which enables seafood processors to automate production, quality control, traceability and inventory workflows using digital devices in real-time on the factory floor. Building on their Tally software, ThisFish integrated ML algorithms into the platform, as well as a computer vision feature, enabling automated, continuous quality inspection in seafood processing plants.
To continue building on its success, this new project will further advance the platform by integrating generative AI to improve insights and analytics. This next phase will make the software more scalable, especially for small seafood producers, and improve efficiency in seafood processing plants by automating tasks and enabling data-driven decision-making.
“The seafood processing sector is struggling with labour shortages in Canada and around the world, and we believe that AI can help to automate many labour-intensive activities such as quality inspection which will improve the productivity and economic viability of the sector,” says Eric Enno Tamm, Co-Founder and CEO of ThisFish Inc. “This investment from Canada’s Ocean Supercluster will help to establish ThisFish Inc. as the global market leader for AI in the seafood processing sector.”
The project is led by ThisFish in partnership with Bitstrapped in Toronto, ON and Orca Specialty Foods in Surrey, BC. The project will also include collaboration from seafood companies in Canada, Singapore, South Africa, United States and Ecuador. With a total project value of $1,655,567, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is investing $661,500 to the project from its allocation under the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy (PCAIS) Program, with the balance of funding coming from project partners.
The Generative AI/ML for Seafood Project will be an integral step forward in improving the efficiency and productivity of the Canadian seafood processing sector, keeping more jobs and value-added revenue in the country. The project is also positioned to stimulate economic growth and foster innovation in Canada’s ocean economy through the expansion of generative AI and ultimately ocean technology.
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About Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster accelerates the development and commercialization of made-in-Canada ocean solutions in energy transition, food security, future of transport, and climate change while also growing more companies, creating more jobs, and attracting ocean talent. As Canada’s national ocean cluster, the OSC is a convenor of members, partners, and networks and a catalyst for transformative growth that helps build the robust ecosystem needed to help realize Ambition 2035 – a 5X growth potential in ocean in Canada by 2035. To date, the OSC has approved more than 100 projects which will deliver more than 220 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world. For more information visit oceansupercluster.ca
