Despite technological advancements in off-bottom farming, on-bottom oyster farming has not seen significant innovation in decades. To address this issue, the University of Maryland is leading the Smart Sustainable Shellfish Aquaculture Management (S3AM) project, which aims to develop innovative technologies to make the farming process more precise, predictable, and sustainable.
As a part of the S3AM project, Fraunhofer USA is developing Find My Oyster, a software application that offers a solution to some of the challenges facing on-bottom oyster farmers. The app enables farmers to record their activities and observations in real-time, and uses GPS data to provide a map of the farm, which enables farmers to estimate their inventory and optimize their seeding and harvesting practices.
Find My Oyster is available as a standalone product, but it is also built to support and incorporate future technologies being developed as part of the S3AM project. For example, the S3AM team is developing a new surveying technology that uses a combination of sonar and cameras to create accurate maps of oysters on the bottom. They are also developing algorithms to optimize the dredging path to reduce time and fuel consumption. By integrating these innovative technologies into the app, we can revolutionize the way farmers monitor and manage their oyster beds.
Fraunhofer USA is actively seeking industry partners to test the app and provide valuable feedback. Interested shellfish farmers can use the app at no cost and help shape its future development, ensuring it meets their unique needs and challenges. Technological collaborations help support the growth and sustainability of the on-bottom oyster farming industry, while further promoting environmental stewardship and innovation.