A company started by Kyoto University has developed a system to search fishing areas through artificial intelligence (AI) and data on sea temperature sent via satellite.
The system, developed by Kyoto-based Ocean Eyes Co., aims to ensure effective fishing by helping fishermen swiftly locate fertile fishing areas without depending on experience and intuition.
The system is expected to provide information and communication technology to balance out the gap created as fishermen age amid an industry-wide labor shortage.
Ocean Eyes was established in April last year mainly by researchers at Kyoto University and the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology to utilize data collected during research in the fishing industry. Focusing on the fact that sea temperatures suitable for spawning and migration differs from fish to fish, the company began directing the system toward finding bountiful fishing areas.
The system uses nationwide data on sea temperatures that are constantly monitored by the Himawari weather satellite, which uses infrared rays.
Areas that cannot be monitored when the sea surface is covered under cloud cover are analyzed via AI, based on massive amounts of data, and then estimates the sea temperature in a particular area.
The company also used a supercomputer for the system to project ocean temperatures three days ahead, allowing it to send a color-coded map indicating the figures to tablets on fishing boats.
The system is said to help fishermen swiftly spot desirable fishing areas where such as bonito or sardines are expected to migrate.
In December, the Ocean Eyes started a trial service to send the information to fishing boats. While improving the system, the company, that has sent relevant data to about 10 fishing boats, examines the aspects of the system, including its effectiveness and flaws.
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