Aalto DFFishcounter – KAKE Project
The Fishcounter is a solar-powered, IoT-based monitoring device designed for use in traditional trapnets. Developed as part of the KAKE program, it uses infrared sensors, a camera, and cellular connectivity to count and measure fish entering the trap. Images and data are uploaded in real time to the cloud, helping fishermen remotely know the content of their trapnets. This direclty leads to reduced fuel and time use for unnecessary visits to the trapnets. The project has been a collaborative effort between Aalto Universtiy Design Factory, The Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE) and partnering commercial fishermen. As part of the Kake project, 4 counters are tested in Loviisa, Inkoo, Pori and Merikarvia in Finland during the fishing season 2025.
Project Photos
Underwater Detection
Image captured underwater by the Fishcounter’s camera as a fish enters the trap.
Event Overview Interface
Web interface showing details of a recorded fish event: size, direction, timestamp, and image.
Diagnostics and Summary
Another Fish Detected
High-resolution image of another fish passing through the Fishcounter gate, captured in real time.
Trapnet Installation
Fishcounter system installed inside a traditional trapnet structure in the Finnish archipelago.
PROJECT CO-FUNDING
The Fishcounter is part of the KAKE development project and has been co-funded by the European Union through the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF).
