Online Webinar on Smart Aquaculture – IOT (Internet of Things) Approach towards Efficient Farming

The Department of Aquaculture, Dr. M.G.R. Fisheries College and Research Institute, Ponnerihas organized aOne day Online National Webinar on “Smart Aquaculture – IOT (Internet of Things) Approach towards Efficient Farming” on 23.06.2021.The webinar was conducted using Google meet link and around 100 participants registered for the webinar. The webinar started with the welcome address byDr.Cheryl Antony, Professor and Head, Department of Aquaculture, Dr.M.G.R. FC&RI, Ponneri. She welcomed the speakers , faculty and participantswho had registered from various states.

The technical session began with the presentation by Dr. P. Chidambaram, Professor, Department of Aquaculture, Dr.M.G.R. FC&RI, Ponneri on “Smart Aquaculture – A way forward”on behalf ofDr. B. Ahilan, Dean, Dr.M.G.R. FC&RI, Ponneri. He gave a brief introduction onthe various smart techniques and their applicationsin aquaculture. It was followed by the expert lecture on “Application of Artificial intelligence (AI) in shrimp farming”by Dr. P. Nila Rekha, Principalscientist, ICAR- Central Institute of Brackish-water Aquaculture (CIBA), Chennai. She emphasised on artificial intelligence, automatic feeders and how the ycould reduce the feed cost in shrimp farming and the major role played in efficiently maintaining the water quality. She also listed about the thrust areas of research needed in AI at present and future. The webinar session was followed with presentation made by Dr. M. K. Anil, Principal scientist, ICAR – CMFRI, Vizhinjamcenter, Kerala on “Smart Mariculture; the present and Future”. The final presentation was given by Dr. Antony J Prabhu, Senior researcher, Feed and Nutrition group, Norwegian Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway, on “Smart technologies in Aquaculture – An example of Norwegian salmon farming; the present and future”. His lecture was on the past, present and the future of the salmon industry after the introduction of artificial intelligence in Norway.

He elaborated on the role of AI and its application in open sea cage farming of salmon and on the containment of parasites in sea farming. This was followed by question and answer session. Through this session the doubts of the participants were cleared by the speakers. Before the close of the session Mr. T.L.S. Samuel Moses, Assistant Professor, Department of Aquaculture, Dr. M.G.R. FCRI, Ponneri delivered the vote of thanks. At the end participants were requested to share their feedback about the webinar in the posted Google Form. Totally, 100 participants including Entrepreneurs, Faculty, Scholars and students participated. The arrangements for the webinar were made by Dr. Cheryl Antony, Organizing secretary and Dr. V. Ezhilarasi, Organizing Co-ordinator, of the event.