The Future of Aquaculture: The impact of industry 4.0 technologies worldwide

The so-called “4th industrial revolution” -Aquaculture 4.0 - is projected to enable a 15-20% increase in the aquaculture sector by the year 2030. In this context, European aquaculture has been recently applying innovative and disruptive technologies to transform fishery management strategies, with major impact on the implementation of new Circular Bioeconomy approaches. In addition to the expected impact on growth, the benefits of Aquaculture 4.0 include improved productivity, efficiency, and reduced costs.

By answering this survey, you will contribute in defining, integrating and scaling-up better solutions that aim to accelerate the blue growth economy. The approximate time of completion is 10 minutes. We thank you in advance!

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* 1. For which geograhical areas can you provide feedback on the Aquaculture market (whether from the supplying or the internal production side)?

Western Europe

Northern Europe

South America

Middle East

Northern Africa

Other (please specify)

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* 2. Which of the following stakeholders’ categories describes your organization best?

Research

Aquaculture farmer

Technology products manufacturer and/or vendor (RAS, sensors,etc)

Consulting firm

Maintenance and repair of equipment provider

Investment institution

Other (please specify)

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* 3. Do you have previous experience implementing aquaculture technologies within a project/or your in-house operations?. Please answer Yes or No. If no, why not?

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* 4. If your answer was “Yes, I have previous experience implementing aquaculture technologies”, would you be willing to include it again? If your answer is “No”, why not?

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* 5. What level of influence do you believe the following decision makers have when implementing aquaculture technology solutions in a specific project? Please rank the level of influence per slider (decision maker). (1= Very low; 5= Very high).

	Very low	Low	Neither low nor high	High	Very high
Raw materials suppliers (seed,feed,equipment,material)	Raw materials suppliers (seed,feed,equipment,material) Very low	Raw materials suppliers (seed,feed,equipment,material) Low	Raw materials suppliers (seed,feed,equipment,material) Neither low nor high	Raw materials suppliers (seed,feed,equipment,material) High	Raw materials suppliers (seed,feed,equipment,material) Very high
Technology providers (manufacturers and system vendors)	Technology providers (manufacturers and system vendors) Very low	Technology providers (manufacturers and system vendors) Low	Technology providers (manufacturers and system vendors) Neither low nor high	Technology providers (manufacturers and system vendors) High	Technology providers (manufacturers and system vendors) Very high
Local authorities	Local authorities Very low	Local authorities Low	Local authorities Neither low nor high	Local authorities High	Local authorities Very high
Whole sale and retailers	Whole sale and retailers Very low	Whole sale and retailers Low	Whole sale and retailers Neither low nor high	Whole sale and retailers High	Whole sale and retailers Very high
Fish farmers	Fish farmers Very low	Fish farmers Low	Fish farmers Neither low nor high	Fish farmers High	Fish farmers Very high
End consumers (households, restaurants, other final buyers)	End consumers (households, restaurants, other final buyers) Very low	End consumers (households, restaurants, other final buyers) Low	End consumers (households, restaurants, other final buyers) Neither low nor high	End consumers (households, restaurants, other final buyers) High	End consumers (households, restaurants, other final buyers) Very high

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* 6. When implementing innovative technologies in aquaculture, what do you believe are the main sustainability goals targeted?. Multiple answer are allowed.

Efficiency resource use

Feed

Water

Energy

Waste management

Infrastructure elements

Other (please specify)

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* 7. What are the most important aspects for you when investing in new technologies in the field/ markets you operate?

	Very low importance	Low importance	Neither low noe high importance	High importance	Very high importance
Quality of raw materials	Quality of raw materials Very low importance	Quality of raw materials Low importance	Quality of raw materials Neither low noe high importance	Quality of raw materials High importance	Quality of raw materials Very high importance
Integration with other in-house operatIonal systems (e.g. RAS)	Integration with other in-house operatIonal systems (e.g. RAS) Very low importance	Integration with other in-house operatIonal systems (e.g. RAS) Low importance	Integration with other in-house operatIonal systems (e.g. RAS) Neither low noe high importance	Integration with other in-house operatIonal systems (e.g. RAS) High importance	Integration with other in-house operatIonal systems (e.g. RAS) Very high importance
Costs (initial investment, supply costs, OPEX...)	Costs (initial investment, supply costs, OPEX...) Very low importance	Costs (initial investment, supply costs, OPEX...) Low importance	Costs (initial investment, supply costs, OPEX...) Neither low noe high importance	Costs (initial investment, supply costs, OPEX...) High importance	Costs (initial investment, supply costs, OPEX...) Very high importance
Scale of the project	Scale of the project Very low importance	Scale of the project Low importance	Scale of the project Neither low noe high importance	Scale of the project High importance	Scale of the project Very high importance
Return on Investment (ROI)	Return on Investment (ROI) Very low importance	Return on Investment (ROI) Low importance	Return on Investment (ROI) Neither low noe high importance	Return on Investment (ROI) High importance	Return on Investment (ROI) Very high importance
Payback period (time for the investment to be recovered)	Payback period (time for the investment to be recovered) Very low importance	Payback period (time for the investment to be recovered) Low importance	Payback period (time for the investment to be recovered) Neither low noe high importance	Payback period (time for the investment to be recovered) High importance	Payback period (time for the investment to be recovered) Very high importance
Partners involved in the project	Partners involved in the project Very low importance	Partners involved in the project Low importance	Partners involved in the project Neither low noe high importance	Partners involved in the project High importance	Partners involved in the project Very high importance

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* 8. Please rank the level of relevance (1 Very low - 5 Very high) of the aquaculture key market drivers in the markets you operate (at country level).

	Very low	Low	Neither low nor high	High	Very high
Zero energy and waste strategy directives	Zero energy and waste strategy directives Very low	Zero energy and waste strategy directives Low	Zero energy and waste strategy directives Neither low nor high	Zero energy and waste strategy directives High	Zero energy and waste strategy directives Very high
Requests by certification schemes	Requests by certification schemes Very low	Requests by certification schemes Low	Requests by certification schemes Neither low nor high	Requests by certification schemes High	Requests by certification schemes Very high
Significant demand for aquaculture technology products in markets of action	Significant demand for aquaculture technology products in markets of action Very low	Significant demand for aquaculture technology products in markets of action Low	Significant demand for aquaculture technology products in markets of action Neither low nor high	Significant demand for aquaculture technology products in markets of action High	Significant demand for aquaculture technology products in markets of action Very high
Financial incentives	Financial incentives Very low	Financial incentives Low	Financial incentives Neither low nor high	Financial incentives High	Financial incentives Very high
Environmental awareness	Environmental awareness Very low	Environmental awareness Low	Environmental awareness Neither low nor high	Environmental awareness High	Environmental awareness Very high
Increasing of renewable technologies penetration by clients	Increasing of renewable technologies penetration by clients Very low	Increasing of renewable technologies penetration by clients Low	Increasing of renewable technologies penetration by clients Neither low nor high	Increasing of renewable technologies penetration by clients High	Increasing of renewable technologies penetration by clients Very high
Increasing efficiency/ Return of Investment by adopting new technologies	Increasing efficiency/ Return of Investment by adopting new technologies Very low	Increasing efficiency/ Return of Investment by adopting new technologies Low	Increasing efficiency/ Return of Investment by adopting new technologies Neither low nor high	Increasing efficiency/ Return of Investment by adopting new technologies High	Increasing efficiency/ Return of Investment by adopting new technologies Very high

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* 9. Please indicate the most appropriate statement regarding the regulatory framework in the markets you operate (at country level).

Current regulations encourage/fit promotion of aquaculture technological products

European and National regulations are in conflict

Aquaculture-based regulations are totally independent from the general regulatory landscape

Regulations limit aquaculture technologies application and therefore there is a need for new regulations to arise

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* 10. Please select the most appropriate statement regarding incentives on aquaculture technology adoption in the markets you operate. One single choice allowed

The Aquaculture technology market growth is independent from incentives.

There is a need for new innovative incentives in the field of Aquaculture 4.0.

Current incentives fit and promote aquaculture technology market growth.

National and European incentives to boost aquaculture technologies adoption do not match.

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* 11. Please rank the level of relevance of the following activity segments when applying Aquaculture 4.0 in the field/markets you operate. (1= Very low; 5= Very high).

	Very low	Low	Neither low nor high	High	Very high
Subsistence/hobby aquaculture	Subsistence/hobby aquaculture Very low	Subsistence/hobby aquaculture Low	Subsistence/hobby aquaculture Neither low nor high	Subsistence/hobby aquaculture High	Subsistence/hobby aquaculture Very high
Small to medium scale commercial aquaculture	Small to medium scale commercial aquaculture Very low	Small to medium scale commercial aquaculture Low	Small to medium scale commercial aquaculture Neither low nor high	Small to medium scale commercial aquaculture High	Small to medium scale commercial aquaculture Very high
Large scale commercial aquaculture	Large scale commercial aquaculture Very low	Large scale commercial aquaculture Low	Large scale commercial aquaculture Neither low nor high	Large scale commercial aquaculture High	Large scale commercial aquaculture Very high
Non-profit projects (e.g., Aquaponics)	Non-profit projects (e.g., Aquaponics) Very low	Non-profit projects (e.g., Aquaponics) Low	Non-profit projects (e.g., Aquaponics) Neither low nor high	Non-profit projects (e.g., Aquaponics) High	Non-profit projects (e.g., Aquaponics) Very high
Aquaculture research projects	Aquaculture research projects Very low	Aquaculture research projects Low	Aquaculture research projects Neither low nor high	Aquaculture research projects High	Aquaculture research projects Very high

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* 12. Please rank the level of importance that Aquaculture 4.0 technologies have in the field/ markets you operate. (1= Very low; 5= Very high).

	Very low	Low	Neither low nor high	High	Very high
Improvement of fish behavior/welfare	Improvement of fish behavior/welfare Very low	Improvement of fish behavior/welfare Low	Improvement of fish behavior/welfare Neither low nor high	Improvement of fish behavior/welfare High	Improvement of fish behavior/welfare Very high
Reduction of drug treatments	Reduction of drug treatments Very low	Reduction of drug treatments Low	Reduction of drug treatments Neither low nor high	Reduction of drug treatments High	Reduction of drug treatments Very high
Reduction of fish waste	Reduction of fish waste Very low	Reduction of fish waste Low	Reduction of fish waste Neither low nor high	Reduction of fish waste High	Reduction of fish waste Very high
Optimization of other resources (reduction of feed waste, reduction of energy usage)	Optimization of other resources (reduction of feed waste, reduction of energy usage) Very low	Optimization of other resources (reduction of feed waste, reduction of energy usage) Low	Optimization of other resources (reduction of feed waste, reduction of energy usage) Neither low nor high	Optimization of other resources (reduction of feed waste, reduction of energy usage) High	Optimization of other resources (reduction of feed waste, reduction of energy usage) Very high
Standardization of farms and increase of social acceptance by farmers	Standardization of farms and increase of social acceptance by farmers Very low	Standardization of farms and increase of social acceptance by farmers Low	Standardization of farms and increase of social acceptance by farmers Neither low nor high	Standardization of farms and increase of social acceptance by farmers High	Standardization of farms and increase of social acceptance by farmers Very high
Increase of awareness for investors to provide alternative funding schemes	Increase of awareness for investors to provide alternative funding schemes Very low	Increase of awareness for investors to provide alternative funding schemes Low	Increase of awareness for investors to provide alternative funding schemes Neither low nor high	Increase of awareness for investors to provide alternative funding schemes High	Increase of awareness for investors to provide alternative funding schemes Very high

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* 13. What are the challenges of Aquaculture technology adoption in the field/markets you operate? Rank in terms of priority (1= Low; 5= High).

	Very low	Low	Neither low nor high	High	Very high
Cost reduction (upfront investments costs are currently high)	Cost reduction (upfront investments costs are currently high) Very low	Cost reduction (upfront investments costs are currently high) Low	Cost reduction (upfront investments costs are currently high) Neither low nor high	Cost reduction (upfront investments costs are currently high) High	Cost reduction (upfront investments costs are currently high) Very high
Lack of information symmetry and knowledge on the pilot plants and/or technical risks in aquaculture by non-technical groups	Lack of information symmetry and knowledge on the pilot plants and/or technical risks in aquaculture by non-technical groups Very low	Lack of information symmetry and knowledge on the pilot plants and/or technical risks in aquaculture by non-technical groups Low	Lack of information symmetry and knowledge on the pilot plants and/or technical risks in aquaculture by non-technical groups Neither low nor high	Lack of information symmetry and knowledge on the pilot plants and/or technical risks in aquaculture by non-technical groups High	Lack of information symmetry and knowledge on the pilot plants and/or technical risks in aquaculture by non-technical groups Very high
Need of implementing KPIs aligned with business strategy, so the risk to less technical groups is reduced (those risks linked to lack of knowledge about performance optimization, predictive maintenance, and manufacturing processes)	Need of implementing KPIs aligned with business strategy, so the risk to less technical groups is reduced (those risks linked to lack of knowledge about performance optimization, predictive maintenance, and manufacturing processes) Very low	Need of implementing KPIs aligned with business strategy, so the risk to less technical groups is reduced (those risks linked to lack of knowledge about performance optimization, predictive maintenance, and manufacturing processes) Low	Need of implementing KPIs aligned with business strategy, so the risk to less technical groups is reduced (those risks linked to lack of knowledge about performance optimization, predictive maintenance, and manufacturing processes) Neither low nor high	Need of implementing KPIs aligned with business strategy, so the risk to less technical groups is reduced (those risks linked to lack of knowledge about performance optimization, predictive maintenance, and manufacturing processes) High	Need of implementing KPIs aligned with business strategy, so the risk to less technical groups is reduced (those risks linked to lack of knowledge about performance optimization, predictive maintenance, and manufacturing processes) Very high
Product flexibility and adaptability to any type of farm	Product flexibility and adaptability to any type of farm Very low	Product flexibility and adaptability to any type of farm Low	Product flexibility and adaptability to any type of farm Neither low nor high	Product flexibility and adaptability to any type of farm High	Product flexibility and adaptability to any type of farm Very high
Technology standardization across industry	Technology standardization across industry Very low	Technology standardization across industry Low	Technology standardization across industry Neither low nor high	Technology standardization across industry High	Technology standardization across industry Very high
Regulations	Regulations Very low	Regulations Low	Regulations Neither low nor high	Regulations High	Regulations Very high
Products utility (Technology Readiness Level of products available)	Products utility (Technology Readiness Level of products available) Very low	Products utility (Technology Readiness Level of products available) Low	Products utility (Technology Readiness Level of products available) Neither low nor high	Products utility (Technology Readiness Level of products available) High	Products utility (Technology Readiness Level of products available) Very high

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* 14. Could you please explain what are the main challenges that have limited technological applications within your field/areas of action? And any suggestions in order to overcome them.

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* 15. How familiar do you consider yourself with Aquaculture’s latest technology development and product offerings in the market? (Very familiar=5; Not familiar=0)

2.5

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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* 16. What sources you commonly make use of when looking for information about Aquaculture 4.0 latest news and updates?

Internet News Portal

Contacts from the sector

Associations

Consulting firms

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* 17. Do you consider that there is a need for education in Aquaculture 4.0 within your field/sector?.

Yes

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* 18. If yes, what are the means you consider efficient to adress it?

Production and sponsoring of training materials in associations with high visibility.

Keep raising awareness in conferences/events.

Product demonstration in international fairs.

Training in university and college curricula.

Other (please specify)

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* 19. According to World Bank estimations, the projected 2030’s global demand for seafood can only be met if both data monitoring experts and fish farms engage in strong partnerships to standardize and facilitate digital transformation of Small and Medium aquaculture players. Do you agree with this statement? Can you specify why?

Agree

Disagree

Please specify:

The Future of Aquaculture: The impact of industry 4.0 technologies worldwide

Question Title

* 1. For which geograhical areas can you provide feedback on the Aquaculture market (whether from the supplying or the internal production side)?

Question Title

* 2. Which of the following stakeholders’ categories describes your organization best?

Question Title

* 3. Do you have previous experience implementing aquaculture technologies within a project/or your in-house operations?. Please answer Yes or No. If no, why not?

Question Title

* 4. If your answer was “Yes, I have previous experience implementing aquaculture technologies”, would you be willing to include it again? If your answer is “No”, why not?

Question Title

* 5. What level of influence do you believe the following decision makers have when implementing aquaculture technology solutions in a specific project? Please rank the level of influence per slider (decision maker). (1= Very low; 5= Very high).

Question Title

* 6. When implementing innovative technologies in aquaculture, what do you believe are the main sustainability goals targeted?. Multiple answer are allowed.

Question Title

* 7. What are the most important aspects for you when investing in new technologies in the field/ markets you operate?

Question Title

* 8. Please rank the level of relevance (1 Very low - 5 Very high) of the aquaculture key market drivers in the markets you operate (at country level).

Question Title

* 9. Please indicate the most appropriate statement regarding the regulatory framework in the markets you operate (at country level).

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* 10. Please select the most appropriate statement regarding incentives on aquaculture technology adoption in the markets you operate. One single choice allowed

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* 11. Please rank the level of relevance of the following activity segments when applying Aquaculture 4.0 in the field/markets you operate. (1= Very low; 5= Very high).

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* 12. Please rank the level of importance that Aquaculture 4.0 technologies have in the field/ markets you operate. (1= Very low; 5= Very high).

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* 13. What are the challenges of Aquaculture technology adoption in the field/markets you operate? Rank in terms of priority (1= Low; 5= High).

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* 14. Could you please explain what are the main challenges that have limited technological applications within your field/areas of action? And any suggestions in order to overcome them.

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* 15. How familiar do you consider yourself with Aquaculture’s latest technology development and product offerings in the market? (Very familiar=5; Not familiar=0)

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* 16. What sources you commonly make use of when looking for information about Aquaculture 4.0 latest news and updates?

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* 17. Do you consider that there is a need for education in Aquaculture 4.0 within your field/sector?.

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* 18. If yes, what are the means you consider efficient to adress it?

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* 20. Do you have any further recommendations on how Aquaculture technology adoption can be increased within your field/sector?