A consortium of aquaculture technology and research firms has launched OptiFeeSH, a data-driven platform designed to improve feeding and production planning in fish farming.
The project brings together SPAROS, Flatlantic, Integrated Information Systems SA (aquaManager), and Blue Analytics LTD. OptiFeeSH estimates fish feed needs using biological models, site-specific growth curves, and nutritional data. The tool helps fish farmers develop and compare multiple feeding strategies to meet goals such as improved growth rates, lower feed conversion ratios (FCR), or higher profitability.
A real-world case study on seabream cage farming showed that OptiFeeSH plans outperformed existing feeding strategies. For a target weight of 450 grams over 14 months, Plan 3 increased cage profits from €50,900 to €51,500 and achieved the target weight 11 days earlier. The platform’s “Meet Requirements Plan” also outperformed the current user strategy, offering a profit of €0.84 per kg of biomass compared to €0.64, and reducing the economic FCR from 1.83 to 1.69.
Flatlantic’s production controller Rui Amaral said the tool improves confidence in daily feeding decisions by reducing variability based on human judgment.
Angeliki Sagia of aquaManager noted that OptiFeeSH generates feed and growth metrics based on fish biology and producer goals, enabling practical, customized planning. Kostas Seferis, Director of Blue Analytics, and Luís Conceição, Co-CEO of SPAROS, emphasized the platform’s potential to improve efficiency, profitability, and environmental outcomes in aquaculture.
The consortium encourages interested parties to follow SPAROS or aquaManager on LinkedIn for updates.
