Fish Sense

The critical decline in freshwater species presents a significant challenge with widespread impacts on ecological balance, livelihoods, and food security. According to a report by Aliza Chasan on CBS News dated December 11, 2023, thousands of freshwater species globally face extinction, with 25% of them at risk. Climate change is worsening this issue, affecting at least 17% of threatened species through factors such as rising sea levels, pollution, invasive species, dams, and water extraction.

Uganda has 293 fish species, 40 (13.3%) of species are threatened with extinction. This decline has resulted in a national fish supply deficit of over 588,706.3 tonnes, affecting more than 5.3 million people who rely on fish for sustenance. In response, authorities in Uganda have displaced over 10,000 fishermen on Lake Victoria alone, accusing them of catching undersized fish. Illegal fishing methods persist, leading to an annual economic loss of US $429.6 million. Moreover, large commercial fish stocks in Lake Victoria have declined from 1.3 million tonnes in 1999 to 300,000 tonnes in 2008, representing a significant loss in value of US $1.9 billion and a 75% decrease in fisher income.

This displacement emphasizes the urgent need for conservation efforts and alternative approaches to meet the rising demand for fish, as 85% of Ugandan households consume fish. Transitioning to controlled fish farming is considered a viable alternative solution for displaced fishermen and a means to promote aquaculture for increased fish production. However, the 12,000 existing aquaculture farmers in Uganda face significant economic losses of 30–40% due to poor feeding and management practices. These losses encompass operational costs, feed wastage, fish stock losses, water pollution, market losses, inadequate feeding frequency, insufficient feed consumption monitoring leading to growth issues due to under/overfeeding, and inadequate water quality management.

Addressing these challenges requires a diverse approach that focuses on improving feeding and management practices in aquaculture. Implementing solutions to enhance feeding frequency, optimize feed consumption monitoring, and improve water quality management can mitigate economic losses and ensure the sustainability of fish farming operations. This approach is crucial not only for the livelihoods of thousands of farmers in Uganda but also for global efforts to conserve freshwater species and secure food security for millions of people worldwide.

Fish Sense is an automated solar fish feeder that employs AI for accurate feeding while integrating water quality control, wastewater recycling, and mobile monitoring. It incorporates cutting-edge components, including networked sensors for real-time water quality detection and optimization, radiator devices to address changing water quality conditions, a wastewater recycling mechanism, AI-driven precision feeding and analysis swimming pattern, real-time mobile monitoring, and data-driven insights to ensure optimal performance. The utilization of artificial intelligence, along with features like reports and an information chatroom, not only enhances fish farming efficiency but also represents a sophisticated application of technology in aquaculture. Furthermore, the tool's ability to tackle the complex challenge of deteriorating water quality through innovative networked sensors, precise feeding to prevent water contamination with uneaten feeds, and wastewater recycling showcases a high level of scientific sophistication. By seamlessly integrating these advanced technological elements, our solution, "Fish Sense," redefines aquaculture practices, promoting environmental sustainability, food security, and economic viability in a region wrestling with complex ecological and livelihood issues.

Fish Sense, our solution, is tailored to benefit fish farmers, particularly in lakeside and riverside villages where traditional aquaculture practices fall short in meeting the growing demand for fish caused by environmental concerns. This innovation significantly impacts the lives and livelihoods of these fish farmers by enhancing their commercial fish production capacities, improving feeding efficiency, and implementing effective operation monitoring strategies. The current challenges they encounter, including declining freshwater fish supplies to the market, limited access to wetlands, manual poor feeding management practices, and water quality degradation, are effectively addressed by Fish Sense.

Our solution introduces a comprehensive and innovative approach, featuring AI-driven precision feeding and swimming pattern analysis, real-time water quality monitoring, and wastewater recycling mechanisms to elevate fish farming efficiency. The target population, often neglected by conventional methods, gains substantial benefits from Fish Sense, optimizing feeding practices, preventing water contamination, and promoting sustainable aquaculture.

By elevating the overall efficiency and environmental sustainability of fish farming, Fish Sense plays a crucial role in supporting the livelihoods of fish farmers. It ensures economic viability, food security, and a more environmentally friendly approach to aquaculture, particularly in the Lake Victoria regions and other areas confronting complex challenges.

Our team is passionate about aquaculture farming, our team lead cultivated fish in tanks from a young age, recording failures. He pursued the same project line for his master's research, aiming to understand and find solutions to improve controlled fish farming with advanced technologies. This Our technical director is passionate at utilizing artificial intelligence to automate solutions, together as a team reinforcing our close connection and understanding of the communities we aim to serve. We prioritize a hands-on, community-centric approach that extends beyond academic or professional credentials.

The team lead's home village, located in lakeside villages, specifically Lake Victoria in a village named "Katosi," has direct ties to the community. Here, the team lead interacted with fishermen and witnessed the displacement of fishermen by authorities due to poor fishing practices. This shared background mirrors that of the target population, allowing us to intimately comprehend the challenges faced by fish farmers in these communities. Our firsthand experience with the local context ensures that our solution is not only technically sound but also culturally and socially relevant.

The design and implementation of Fish Sense are meaningfully guided by the input, ideas, and agendas of the communities we serve. We actively engage with community members through workshops, focus groups, and ongoing dialogue to understand their unique needs, concerns, and aspirations. This collaborative approach ensures that our solution aligns with the practical realities and preferences of the fish farmers. Regular feedback loops and community involvement are integral parts of our development process, ensuring that Fish Sense is a solution tailored to the specific requirements and details of the target population

we have developed and tested our automated Feeder deployed at our lab work station to dispense feeds based on set timely schedules, fish growth stage, water quality and biomass. we have developed a real time water quality control with networked sensors and now working on the mobile application and also we partly implemented a fish waste recycling system utilizing solid lifting technology to remove feed leftovers and purify water for reuse in fish production system but specifically we have not yet deployed the solution to the community for their use and feedback because of limited resources for mass production

knowledge on improving accounting strategies and business model 

collaboration with industrial international aquaculture leaders to equip us with mentorship, cloud service, software, and hardware support but also dataset resources especially for artificial intelligence 

apart from partnerships, we also seek legal support in terms of knowledge on acquiring a utility model

Financial support in terms of grant to enhance mass production of product, improve research and product improvement

Our automated feeder replaces the current manual, inaccurate, resource-wasting, and time-consuming practices for fish feeding and management. Unlike traditional aquaculture tools, our system incorporates cutting-edge technologies such as networked sensor real-time water quality detection, AI-driven precision feeding, and wastewater recycling. This comprehensive approach marks a significant improvement, optimizing feed efficiency, ensuring accurate feeding based on fish biomass, appetite and promptly addressing water quality challenges.

The innovation lies in our system's ability to establish a cooperative relationship between technology and aquaculture, promoting sustainable and efficient fish farming. By harnessing solar power, utilizing AI for precise feeding, and integrating real-time monitoring, our solution not only enhances overall fish farming efficiency but also minimizes environmental impact. The addition of a wastewater recycling mechanism further contributes to responsible water management, a crucial aspect of sustainable aquaculture that facilitates controlled fish farming.

As industry peers recognize the advantages of our solution, it has the potential to drive a shift towards more sustainable and efficient methods, transforming the aquaculture market landscape. The integration of advanced technologies not only boosts productivity for individual fish farmers but also contributes to collective efforts in creating a more sustainable and resilient aquaculture sector.

By integrating advanced technologies like networked sensor real-time water quality detection, AI-driven precision feeding, and wastewater recycling, we aim to optimize feed efficiency, ensure precise feeding based on fish biomass, and promptly address water quality challenges. The immediate outputs include the reduction of manual and resource-intensive fish farming practices, lowering economic losses for fish farmers, and mitigating the national fish supply deficit. In the long term, our solution fosters controlled fish farming, offering a viable alternative for displaced fishermen and an opportunity for urban fish farming. This not only meets the rising fish demand crucial for over 5.3 million people n Uganda but also contributes to conservation efforts by reducing pressure on wild freshwater species. The theory of change is substantiated by external research studies, data from interviews with the target population, and findings from a process evaluation, emphasizing the potential of our solution to bring about positive ecological, economic, and social impacts in East Africa and beyond.

Our impact goals for the Fish Sense solution include increasing the adoption of sustainable fish farming practices, contributing to freshwater species conservation, improving the economic viability of fish farming, youth job creation, enhancing water resource management, fostering community resilience through alternative livelihoods, and reducing the environmental impact of fish farming. Progress towards these goals will be measured through indicators such as the percentage increase in sustainable fish farming adoption, changes in biodiversity indices, economic metrics like cost savings and productivity gains, reduction in water usage at aquaculture farms, successful transitions to controlled fish farming, and environmental impact assessments. These goals collectively aim to transform the aquaculture sector, support community livelihoods, and contribute to broader environmental sustainability.

The core technology powering our solution, encompasses a blend of cutting-edge and traditional technologies tailored for sustainable aquaculture. Leveraging modern technologies such as networked sensor real-time water quality detection and optimization, AI-driven precision feeding, and remote mobile monitoring application with an AI chat, our solution optimizes feed efficiency, ensures precise feeding based on fish biomass, water quality, fish count, growth stage, and addresses water quality challenges in real-time. The incorporation of solar power enhances energy efficiency and reduces environmental impact. Additionally, our system integrates traditional aquaculture practices with advanced technologies, fostering a cooperative relationship between ancestral knowledge and modern innovation. This combination contributes to the conservation of freshwater species, supports community resilience, and promotes responsible water management. The versatility of our approach aligns with the mission to drive innovation for global challenges, utilizing a broad spectrum of technologies to benefit both people and the planet.

2 full-time staff

2 part-time staff

1 consultant

3 years

Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is evident in the composition of our leadership team, where a range of backgrounds and expertise converges to foster a collaborative and inclusive environment. Katumwa Willy, our Director, brings a wealth of experience with a Master's in Technology, Innovation and Industrial Development, coupled with a robust background as a Software Engineer in roles such as Systems Analyst, IT Manager, and Project Manager. Charles Kalungi, our Product Design Engineer, contributes seven years of expertise in firmware development, Internet of Things (IoT) systems, and embedded system designs, adding a valuable perspective to our technological innovations. Dr. Kahwa David, an Aquaculture Expert and Consultant, is a Senior Lecturer at Makerere University, providing crucial insights into aquaculture practices. Kyamulabi Namugalu Rebecca, our Sales and Marketing professional, offers a unique blend of Information Technology expertise and market analysis experience, contributing to our diverse skill set. Emmanuel Bua, our Operations Manager, brings comprehensive operational expertise to ensure the smooth functioning of TWAVE Limited. These diverse talents collectively contribute to our team's richness, and we are actively working towards expanding our diversity further through targeted outreach, training initiatives, and ongoing dialogue to foster an inclusive environment where every team member is valued and supported.

Our business model centers around providing a comprehensive solution to various customer segments, including aquaculture farms, consultants, and research institutions. Focused on optimizing fish health, growth, and providing data-driven insights, our products and services are designed to meet the diverse needs of our customers. We generate revenue through product sales (one off and installment basis), support and maintenance services, and consultancy services. Our engagement strategy involves offering technical assistance, regular updates through Over-the-Air capabilities, and fostering a community for knowledge sharing and collaboration. To execute this model, we leverage advanced technology infrastructure and maintain a dedicated development team. Additionally, strategic partnerships with sensor suppliers, resellers, institutions, and feed sellers are integral to our ecosystem, ensuring a robust and sustainable approach to delivering value to our customers and beneficiaries.

Our plan for financial sustainability revolves around a diversified revenue model that includes product sales, support and maintenance services, and consultancy services targeting aquaculture farms, consultants, and research institutions. By offering an all-in-one solution that emphasizes optimal fish health, growth, and cost efficiency, we aim to generate revenue streams that will cover our expected expenses. Our success in this plan is evidenced by the traction we have gained in the form of grants. Notable examples include grants from Heifer International under the Ayute African Challenge that have provided crucial initial support. Additionally, we have successfully raised 8000 USD in investment funding, indicating investor confidence in the viability of our solution. As we continue to expand our customer base and diversify our offerings, we anticipate achieving increased financial sustainability in the long term.