14.3.4

SDG 14.3.4

  1. Abandoned Fish Pond Activation閒置魚塭活化

Yilan is one of the four major land-based aquaculture regions in Taiwan. Two decades ago, during its peak, the aquaculture area in Yilan County approached 1,000 hectares. However, due to impacts from extreme weather, frequent aquatic diseases, low seedling survival rates, cold winter temperatures, and international fishing competition, the importance of the aquaculture industry has decreased. Nearly 70% of fish ponds are now idle and abandoned.

Currently, Yilan's aquaculture industry primarily uses high-density farming methods. Most operations still rely on weather and experience for traditional extensive farming, which is costly and labor-intensive. This high cost and the extensive manpower required make it challenging for young people to enter the aquaculture industry.

Additionally, the aquaculture industry in Yilan faces challenges due to drastic climate changes. To control pathogen proliferation, stabilize water quality, or reduce post-infection mortality rates, there may be a reliance on the use of medications. Improper management of these substances can lead to contamination of the natural environment and ecosystems, jeopardize the health of farmed aquatic species, and pose food safety issues related to drug residues for end consumers. It can also contribute to the development of drug-resistant pathogens. Therefore, adopting environment-friendly aquaculture technologies with minimal or no drug use will become a crucial goal for the sustainable development of the aquaculture industry.

To address the challenges faced by Yilan's aquaculture industry—such as environmental changes, aquatic diseases, reliance on medication, low seedling survival rates, and an aging farming population—this project introduces emerging technologies and supports sustainable aquaculture practices. The initiative includes conducting on-site guidance, educational training, and workshops to develop industry talent, innovate aquatic products, and build practical skills. It aims to continuously assist and guide local operators in transitioning to scientific and environmentally friendly aquaculture practices.

The project involves sampling at cooperating aquaculture farms in Yilan, demonstrating smart monitoring systems to aquaculture operators, and conducting water quality testing. Activities include providing support to traditional aquaculture operators, promoting technology, and facilitating exchanges through industry interviews, smart aquaculture training, new technology promotion, and sustainable aquaculture workshops.

Through these activities, the project enhances local operators' understanding of emerging aquaculture technologies and successfully helps traditional operators transition to more productive farming practices, improving seedling survival rates and overall aquaculture productivity.

Additionally, the project includes fish disease testing services and workshops on improving aquaculture water quality with probiotics. So far, collaboration has been established with three operators to guide them in healthy aquaculture techniques. These techniques address issues related to traditional medication and antibiotics by improving the gut microbiota of aquatic species. The project has also revitalized three idle fish ponds for trial farming of sea bass and Thai shrimp.

The plan involves revitalizing idle fish ponds using functional probiotics to farm sea bass, assisting traditional operators in adopting new technologies, and establishing safety management and monitoring systems for dissolved oxygen, pH levels, temperature, and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP). Additionally, the project trains aquaculture students to work in aquafarm and operate disease monitoring technologies.

Sustainable Impact:

  1. Increased Survival Rates:In 2022, the project established demonstration sites to showcase new-generation aquaculture techniques, achieving a survival rate of approximately 98% for sea bass. In 2023, this aquaculture model was replicated for partner operators, who were provided with seedling stocking and guidance programs. Feedback from these operators indicates that the current survival rate remains above 90%, and the farmed fish are now a key ingredient in their restaurants.
  2. Product Value Addition: By introducing probiotic-based healthy aquaculture techniques to replace traditional medications, the project helped operators establish brands and produce toxin-free, high-quality aquatic products. This has led to a 1.3-fold increase in product value through direct sales from the production site.
  3. Increased Tourist Numbers: The project assisted partner aquaculture operators in setting up tourist-friendly fishing farms. By incorporating aquaculture techniques into guided tours, the project enhanced visitor experiences and increased consumer confidence in aquatic products. This has resulted in more than a fourfold increase in the number of tourists.

宜蘭為臺灣陸上養殖四大產區之一，二十年前全盛時期宜蘭全縣養殖面積近千公頃。然而因極端氣候影響、水產疾病頻發、種苗育成率低、冬天氣候寒冷因素加上國際漁產競爭等衝擊，導致養殖產業重要性降低，至今已有近七成魚塭閒置廢棄。目前宜蘭的水產養殖產業主要採用高密度養殖方式，多數仍依賴天氣和經驗進行粗放式傳統養殖，且傳統養殖方式成本高，耗費大量人力、金錢，也因此青年較難投入養殖產業。

再加上宜蘭養殖產業因氣候的劇烈變化影響，為能控制病原體滋生、穩定水質或降低感染後的死亡率，可能有依賴性使用藥物的現象。若處理不當，不但汙染自然環境及生態系統，更危及養殖水生物與終端消費者藥物殘留的食安問題，也有可能造成病原體的抗藥性產生。因此零用藥的環境友善養殖技術將成為養殖漁業永續發展的重要目標。

為因應宜蘭地區環境變化影響、水產疾病、依賴性使用藥物、種苗育成率低及養殖人口老化等問題，本計畫導入新興技術，輔導永續養殖，透過舉辦實地輔導、教育訓練、工作坊等活動，培育產業人才、開發創新水產品及培養實作能力，持續協助及輔導在地業者轉型科學化養殖及友善環境永續經營。至宜蘭合作養殖場進行樣本採樣，針對養殖業者進行智慧監測系統示範，進行水質檢測；辦理傳統養殖業者輔導、技術推廣與交流相關活動，進行產業訪談、智慧養殖培訓、新技術推廣、永續養殖工作坊等。透過養殖技術相關活動辦理，提升在地業者對新興養殖技術之了解，並透過輔導及教育訓練成功幫助傳統養殖業者轉型，進行更高產量的養殖，提升水產品養殖的育成率。

此外，也進行魚病檢測服務與辦理改善養殖水堤益生菌工作坊，目前已與3間業者合作，輔導健康養殖技術，透過改善水產生物腸道菌相等技術解決傳統用藥與抗生素問題，並活化3處閒置魚塭進行金目鱸與泰國蝦試養。本計畫將閒置魚塭活化，以功能性益生菌飼養金目鱸，輔導傳統養殖業者利用海大新技術進行養殖，並建立溶氧、PH值、溫度及氧化還原電位（ORP）之養殖環境安全管理檢測，培育水產養殖學生投入養殖場，訓練學生操作疾病監測技術。

永續影響力:

  1. 提升育成率：本計畫於111年建立示範場進行新世代養殖技術示範，金目鱸育成率約98%，112年將該養殖模式複製給合作業者，並投放魚苗啟動輔導計畫，養殖戶回饋目前存活率仍高於90%，目前為該業者餐廳的食材來源。
  2. 產品加值：透過導入本計畫益生菌健康養殖技術取代傳統養殖用藥，協助業者建立品牌與生產無毒高品質水產品，透過產地直售提升約1.3倍產值。
  3. 提升遊客數：本計畫協助合作養殖業者建立觀光漁場，透過協助將養殖技術建立為導覽遊程，增加遊客體驗與建立消費者對水產品之信心以提升購買意願，遊客數增加超過4倍。

Evidence:

https://r088.ntou.edu.tw/var/file/103/1103/img/1564/IMG_3240.mp4

https://r088.ntou.edu.tw/var/file/103/1103/img/1564/IMG_4908.mp4

  1. Technologies towards aquatic ecosystem damage prevention 水生生態系破壞預防技術

NTOU showcases forward-looking innovations in the prevention of aquatic ecosystem damage, earning recognition at the 2023 Taiwan Innotech Expo.

  1. The TABT (Taiwan Aquatic Breeding Team), led by Associate Professors Huang Zhang-Wen, Gong Hong-Yi, and Assistant Professor Xu De-Hua from the Aquaculture Department, won the Gold Medal for their ‘Molecular Identification Method and System for Taiwan Tilapia Strains.’ This technology develops molecular markers to identify specific traits and has successfully bred tilapia with disease resistance, cold tolerance, and salt tolerance. The precision breeding method also won the 19th National Innovation Award – Academic Innovation Award (Agriculture and Food Biotechnology Category). Additionally, these advanced tilapia applications have been transferred to Sheng Dai Aquatic Technology Co., helping improve fry quality through scientific management and enhancing breeding efficiency to create new industrial value chains.
  2. Another Gold Medal was awarded to Professor Wang Rong-Hua from the Department of Electrical Engineering, who collaborated with Taichung Veterans General Hospital and industry partners, including Hui-Chi Gene and Chih An Quantum. They developed a system for cell quality prediction and automatic abnormal data detection. Using generative models, the system customizes embryo implantation prediction models based on individual users, regions, or ethnicities, improving the accuracy and reliability of embryo quality assessments. This technology ensures the best implantation rate while minimizing the risk of multiple births. It also reduces cumbersome data exchanges, lowering the risk of data leakage.
  3. Professor Chen Li-Li’s team from the Institute of Marine Biology received a Bronze Medal for their invention of black soldier fly larva-based feed. The larvae, which can act as carriers for oral vaccines, facilitate protein delivery in aquatic or marine animals. This feed can be used in breeding, marine conservation, and fish fry cultivation. Black soldier fly larvae reproduce rapidly and efficiently convert certain organic waste, providing essential proteins to enhance disease resistance and productivity in animals. The feed is a cost-effective and sustainable choice for the industry.

Sustainable Impact: These innovative technologies not only demonstrate significant potential in preventing damage to aquatic ecosystems but also provide crucial support for the sustainable development of the aquaculture industry.

關於水生生態系統損害的預防技術，臺灣海洋大學展現前瞻發明，研發成果獲「2023台灣創新技術博覽會」（Taiwan Innotech Expo）獎項肯定

  1. 本校水產育種團隊(TABT)養殖系黃章文副教授、龔紘毅副教授及徐德華助理教授技術「台灣鯛品系之分子特徵鑑別方法及其系統」獲得金牌獎，透過本技術針對特殊性狀品系進行分子標記開發，已培育出具抗病、耐寒與耐鹽等不同性狀的臺灣鯛品系，該精準選育技術也榮獲第19屆國家新創獎－學研新創獎（農業與食品生技類），且所衍伸之臺灣鯛相關應用技術已技術移轉至聖鯛水產科技有限公司，以科學化管理方式提升整體魚苗品質，使養殖業提高育成效益，並創造全新的產業鏈價值。
  2. 獲得金牌獎的電機系王榮華教授帶領團隊與臺中榮民總醫院，結合慧智基因、池安量子等產業界力量，發展細胞品質預測系統與自動偵測異常數據方法。藉由生成式模型開發，系統可根據個別使用者、地區或人種之經驗客製化，自動調變胚胎著床率預測模型，成功提升胚胎品質判斷之準確度及可信度，得到最佳胚胎著床率，避免產生多胞胎之風險；同時省去資料往來的繁瑣工作，降低資料外洩之風險。
  3. 海生所陳歷歷教授團隊所開發蠅蛆載體飼料獲得銅牌獎，本發明使用常見生物蠅蛆作為載體，可作為養殖動物口服疫苗，有效的幫助蛋白運送至生物體內，可應用於各式水產或海洋生物馴餌、生物復育、海洋或水產生物種苗或成體培育，且蠅蛆可以在短時間內快速繁殖，且對於某些廢棄性有機物質具有高效的轉化能力，為動物提供所需的特定蛋白質，增加抗病能力同時提高生產性，是低製造成本的更佳飼料選擇。

永續影響力: 這些創新技術不僅在水生生態系統損害的預防中展現出巨大潛力，也為水產養殖業的可持續發展提供了重要支持。

Evidence:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1GrC4N-L9w

https://www.1111.com.tw/news/jobns/153566

  1. Development of intelligent aquaculture feeding machines and systems 執行國科會(NSTC)「智慧化水產養殖投料機具及系統開發」計畫
  1. The motor department team implements the "Development of Intelligent Aquaculture Feeding Machines and Systems" project.
  2. This department provides relevant academic exchanges and lectures to allow our school and local personnel to obtain information professional education resources.
  3. This department provides 30 special lectures on understanding electrical machinery, allowing participating students/personnel to have a general understanding of the professional knowledge of electrical machinery.

Feed and input costs represent the largest expenditures in the aquaculture production process. Currently, the feed dispensing systems used in the industry are functionally inadequate, only allowing for timed and quantified feeding. If these systems can be enhanced with an AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things) solution, it would significantly improve production efficiency, achieving better labor savings, time efficiency, and cost reduction. Therefore, the purpose of this project is to develop smart feeding equipment and systems suitable for industry applications and promotion.

飼料及投料工作為水產養殖生產過程中，最大之支出成本，現行產業所應用之投料桶功能性不足(僅定時、定量噴料)，倘能搭配AIoT系統精進整體功能，將可大幅提升生產效能，達到省工、省時、降成本之良好效益，故計畫目的為開發適合產業應用及推廣之智慧投餌機具及系統。

Evidence: https://cse.ntou.edu.tw/var/file/63/1063/img/849864291.pdf

  1. (Taiwan) national "Development and Application of Ocean Detection and Environmental Analysis Technology under Climate Change" integration plan 執行國科會(NSTC)「鱸魚精準餵食及養殖環境監測與智能生產決策系統研究與開發 」計畫
  1. The motor department team implements the "Research and Development of Bass Precision Feeding and Breeding Environment Monitoring and Intelligent Production Decision-making Systems" project.
  2. This department provides relevant academic exchanges and lectures to allow our school and local personnel to obtain information professional education resources.
  3. This department provides 30 special lectures on understanding electrical machinery, allowing participating students/personnel to have a general understanding of the professional knowledge of electrical machinery.

  1. 電機系團隊執行「鱸魚精準餵食及養殖環境監測與智能生產決策系統研究與開發」計畫。
  2. 本系提供相關學術交流與演講，讓本校及在地人員獲得資訊專業教育資源。
  3. 本系提供數30場認識電機專題演講，讓參與學生/人員對電機學習的專業知識有概括性的了解。

Evidence:

https://cse.ntou.edu.tw/var/file/63/1063/img/849864291.pdf

https://reurl.cc/yv2jDO  (P2)

  1. Innovative Development of AIoT Aquaculture Management System to Enhance Fishermen's Operational Efficiency 創新開發AIoT養殖管理系統，提升漁民經營效率

Professor Chung-Cheng Chang’s team at our university has integrated AI (Artificial Intelligence), IoT (Internet of Things), and aquaculture expertise to create an AIoT-based aquaculture management system. This system helps reduce the entry barriers for fishermen in cage-net aquaculture operations and lowers fish pond farming costs, significantly improving fishermen's profits, strengthening Taiwan's aquaculture industry, and positioning Taiwan as a major global fishing hub.

Currently, the aquaculture industry in Taiwan faces the following challenges:

          1. High Labor Costs and Unstable Profits

Aquaculture work heavily relies on manual labor, which involves long working hours and high costs. When environmental conditions change, it becomes difficult to manage fish growth, which in turn affects harvest yields and makes the industry unstable.

  1. High Feed Costs

Feed accounts for more than 50% of the operating costs in the aquaculture industry and is the primary cost source. At present, feed usage is determined by the operators' experience, which can lead to significant feed waste. Overfeeding also increases costs, harms the environment, and lowers fish survival rates.

  1. Existing Automation Equipment Cannot Solve Feeding Issues

Current automated aquaculture system providers lack the necessary technology to address feeding issues effectively, leaving a gap in meeting the industry's needs.

To address the problem of feed waste, Professor Chung-Cheng Chang’s team has developed a smart feeding system. This system uses an AI algorithm trained on 700,000 data points, incorporating feed recognition and a feeding detector to perform automatic feeding. It also uses image recognition to assess fish school behavior and monitor competition for food. The system then adjusts feeding in real-time to save labor, reduce feed waste, lower feeding costs, and improve fish growth efficiency. According to experimental results, feed waste will drop significantly from the traditional manual rate of 40% to below 10%, saving approximately 30% of feed costs, which accounts for about 15% of total farming costs.

Furthermore, the smart feeding system can significantly reduce feed waste. To address the issue of insufficient automation, fish pond operators can monitor the three most critical water quality parameters—dissolved oxygen, water temperature, and pH—through a comprehensive IoT system. This data, combined with remote intelligent control of water pumps, can make real-time adjustments to continuously optimize the fish farming environment.

On the other hand, the system's global AIoT setup can monitor water quality indicators in real time and automatically connect to oxygenators. It can save farmers up to NT$100,000 per hectare annually on electricity costs. The system also provides early warnings for changes in water temperature and pH levels, giving operators more time to respond and improving the fish yield rate and survival rate.

Professor Chung-Cheng Chang’s team has also developed a system for analyzing underwater biological size, weight, and behavior. By measuring fish length, it can estimate their weight and growth. Currently, aquaculture operators must either use manual observation or capture fish for inspection to assess growth, which consumes a lot of labor and could potentially harm the fish. The algorithm developed by Professor Zhang's team achieves an accuracy of 90% for fish length and 80% for weight measurement, allowing operators to accurately monitor fish growth without harming the aquatic life.

The system's database already includes AI training for two main species of farmed fish—barramundi and tilapia—as well as other species like lobsters and squids. Notably, for any new fish species, the system can be trained in approximately two months to begin practical use.

Sustainable Impact: Professor Chung-Cheng Chang’s AIoT-based system revolutionizes Taiwan’s aquaculture industry by reducing feed waste, lowering costs, and improving fish growth efficiency. This technology enhances environmental sustainability by monitoring and adjusting water quality in real-time, optimizing farming practices, and reducing energy use. The system supports sustainable aquaculture by improving yields, reducing resource waste, and lowering operational costs, thus boosting both economic and environmental resilience.