About the Invention

Lights! Action! The cameras are rolling and the stars appear.

Royann Petrell has developed an innovative and non-intrusive video system to assist fish farmers in the monitoring of their stock. The VICASS, which stands for Video Imaging Capturing and Sizing System, films fish as they eat and measures them as they grow.

The VICASS consists of a waterproof and non-corrosive camera mounted on a stainless steel frame, which allows for ease of handling in and out of water, and a Pentium computer with an LCD screen in a waterproof, industrial strength case. Proprietory software tabulates different kinds of information that is gathered by the camera.

The VICASS was developed in Royann Petrell's fish image laboratory to collect data on how large numbers of fish feed and move around within an enclosed space. No one knows whether fish know what's best for them. For example, do fish know when to stop eating? The video camera helps farmers see when fish are full, but not too full, preventing the waste of fish food. The system has led to the development of new ways of feeding and sizing of farmed fish. The high definition, real-time visual image records additional information such as the general health of the fish.

About the Inventor

Royann has many goals, which include preserving fish species, restoring habitats, and promoting a sustainable aquaculture industry. She also believes in preventing waste in the environment, and being proactive instead of reactive.

Royann was born in the US and now works at the University of British Columbia as Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering. The field that she chose to work in presented several challenges, particularly when she was in graduate school. Engineering was male-dominated and she had to come up with creative ways of dealing with the imbalance. At times it was very difficult and her confidence slipped.

The best day of Royann's life is the day that she met her husband, who came along at the most crucial time in her career. He is very supportive of her work and, as Royann says, "It's not easy living with an absentminded professor." Royann admits that she likes to solve problems. In fact, she gets interested when there is a problem. A very inventive woman, she is always thinking of the future and always working on the next project. She has several projects on the go, and has a patent pending for an enhanced fish pellet (fish food).