RFID: Reliable identification for salmon

trace-back.

NASCO Marking Workshop December 6-8, 2004by Douglas McCartney

Identify UK Limited

Overview

• Introductions

• Traditional approaches to salmon ID

• Why use implantable RFID?

• What is electronic identification and how does it work?

• How is the transponder applied?

• Criteria for selecting a microchip system

About Trovan, Ltd.

• Privately held and funded UK corporation.

• Technology leader since 1989.

• 15-year track record of service and reliability.

• On-going product research and development program.

• Comprehensive technology and patent portfolio.

• Specialist in aquaculture applications.

Experience

• Product in over 40 nations and on 7 continents.

• Millions of salmon, tilapia, trout and arowana

identified.

• Customers include leading commercial operators and government agencies in Europe, South America, Asia, Australasia, and North America.

Traditional approaches to fish ID

• Coded wire tags

• Fin clipping

• Chemical markers

Why use implantable RFID?

• Non-contact, non-line of sight. Code can be read through animal tissue, in cloudy or turgid water, irrespective of orientation.

• Reliable. Over fifteen years continuous use in salmon fisheries.

• Unlimited tag lifespan. Code does not degrade over time.

• Permanent, non-removable ID.

• Implanted RFID does not impact fish mobility or alter fish behaviour.

• Automated data capture: Eliminates transcription errors.

How RFID works

Transponders

Transponders

Transponder IC

Portable reader

Swim-by panel reader

RFID in action

How is the transponder applied?Implantation

• Take fish off their feed 48 hours prior to tagging.

• Sterilize transponders in medical grade alcohol.

• Using scalpel or similar device, nick body wall just off mid-ventral line, behind pectoral fin.

• Insert tag with finger.

Implanting

Implanting

Criteria for selecting an implantable RFID system

• Can I read the tag? (1) Reading range

>20 cm for portable reader; Swim-by panel readers. (2) Read area (the larger the better) (3) Read speed.

• Automation of operations.

• Data integrity Unique numbers to guarantee positive identification.

• Quality and product reliability (1) Microchip design reliability: minimizing the number of components. (2) Manufactured to ISO 9001 standard.

TROVAN system advantages--all tags are not created equal.

• Performance (1) Reading range

>24 cm for portable reader. (2) Swim-by and pass-by panel readers. (3) Top read speed.

• Dedicated readers designed for fisheries applications.

• Over 550 billion unique ID numbers through patent protection.

• Quality and product reliability (1) Microchip design reliability: minimizing the number of components. (2) Manufactured to ISO 9001 standard.