PangaVax: A computer vision–based automated vaccination system for Pangasius fingerlings

Pangasius is a key freshwater aquaculture product in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, with the country accounting for over 90% of the global supply of frozen Pangasius fillets. Vaccination of Pangasius fingerlings is an effective approach to promoting sustainable aquaculture by preventing infectious diseases, reducing antibiotic use, and improving survival, product quality, and profitability. However, vaccination is currently performed manually, resulting in low productivity and high labor demand. In contrast, automated injection offers higher throughput, lower stress, and faster recovery, leading to superior physiological outcomes in fish. Therefore, accurate automated vaccination for Pangasius fingerlings is urgently needed. This paper presents PangaVax, the first automated vaccination system for Pangasius fingerlings. The proposed system integrates computer vision and mechatronic control to enable accurate, size-adaptive vaccine injection. Experimental results demonstrate a throughput of up to 3,600 fish per hour with an average accuracy of 99.59%. Furthermore, the use of open-source, low-cost components enhances practical feasibility and enables broader deployment in commercial hatcheries.