UTM Students Develop IoT-powered Monitoring System For Small-scale Fish Farmers

By Nur Fatin Mohmad Kadenen

JOHOR BAHRU, June 17 (Bernama) -– An IoT-powered smart monitoring system developed by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) students is helping small-scale and new fish farmers reduce the risk of aquatic life losses.

Created by startup AquaTech Technology Enterprise, founded by UTM students Wan Muhammad Azim Wan Mohamad Zaharuddin, 22, and S Sri Prasaad, 26, the system enables real-time monitoring of pond water quality through a mobile app or dedicated screen installed near the fish pond.

AquaTech chief technology officer Wan Muhammad Azim said the system, which is supported by various government funding initiatives, is already in use at 55 kelah and tilapia ponds, primarily by small-scale farmers in Johor.

“The system monitors water quality by recording real-time readings of oxygen levels, pH and temperature. It can also trigger alerts and sound automated alarms in the event of a power outage,” he told Bernama.

The system was developed under the guidance of UTM Faculty of Electrical Engineering senior lecturers Dr Mohd Adib Sarijari and Dr Nor Aishah Muhammad.

Wan Muhammad Azim said that although IoT systems for aquaculture have been introduced in Malaysia, they are not yet widely adopted or commercialised, as many farmers still rely on traditional methods to monitor water quality.

“The idea to develop this IoT system actually came from our mentors and advisors while working with fish-farming communities. They saw a need for a system that could ease the burden on farmers, especially those lacking technical knowledge or experience.

“This system helps farmers monitor key indicators and take timely action, like knowing when to add water if pond temperatures rise. It’s especially useful for those who are new to the industry,” said the electrical engineering student.

Meanwhile, AquaTech chief executive officer Sri Prasaad said the IoT system helps farmers prevent major losses and is user-friendly, even when they are away from their farms.

“For example, if the oxygen pump fails for just a few hours, it could wipe out the entire fish stock, resulting in significant losses. This system helps prevent such situations by providing timely alerts,” he said.

The part-time Business Administration student said farmers have responded positively to the system’s effectiveness and regularly share feedback to help improve it, allowing issues to be resolved more quickly.

He added that AquaTech also plans to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into the system, using cameras to monitor fish behaviour and the functionality of pumps in the ponds.

“We’re also working on developing a more efficient auto feeder to schedule feeding remotely, as we found that farmers are sometimes away from their ponds but still need to feed their fish at specific times,” he said.

He added that AquaTech is open to collaborating with any party, including government agencies, to commercialise the system. 

“We’re ready to move to the next phase with this technology. We also hope that this IoT-based social innovation can benefit new fish farmers entering the industry,” he said.

-- BERNAMA