We developed a system for pre-catch size and species recognition for purse seine fisheries - based on optical and hydroacoustic technologies. We tested and identified the most suitable sensor types for the sensor system “SeinePreCog", and developed the housing for it. We also completed the development of acoustics algorithms for fish size estimation and species recognition, and tested the performance of a 3D camera for fish size estimation named “UTOFIA” and the testing of a size discrimination algorithm for anchovy by including acoustic and biological data from fishing trawls that targeted anchovy of large sizes. This enable us to fit an expanded targeted strength versus length relationship for a range of anchovy sizes from 4 cm to up to 16 cm. We also developed a cable based real-time camera system, dry tested it, and prepared it for onboard testing, adapting it for the UTOFIA 3D camera, so that it could also fit on a trawl. We also developed and tested software to view and analyze the data collected by this cable, and developed and tested the system named “FishFinder”. This delivered high quality images even in turbid water and could document both nephrops burrows and Norway lobster. We also developed and tested the cable-based 2D real-time monitoring system (RTM) “TrawlMonitor”. Finally, the underwater footage from the Nephrops scanner was processed using photogrammetry, to provide a 3D reconstruction of the seabed. Another line of work used LED technology to optimise the catching performance of trawl fishing gear. Based on the reaction of fish to light, we integrated a programmable LED light pod with an acoustic modem to test in real time the change fish behaviour with the use of artificial light in a trawl gear as well. With this new addition, it was possible to control the light settings in real time from the wheelhouse.
We also continued our work on the 3D machine vision system for catch analysis on on-board conveyor belts – the “CatchScanner”, which included species and weight estimation alogrithms in its final version. The “CatchSnap", a versatile, handheld 3D machine vision unit for inspecting catch samples on smaller fishing vessels, has been further developed with imaging procedures and sampling methodologies. Finally, the “CatchMonitor” – a system for automatic monitoring and analysis using CCTV cameras, used on larger vessels was tested for segmentation, fish species and count estimation algorithms with a number of datasets. Finally, we continued our work on “FishData” - a hardware and software infrastructure for acquisition, analysis and presentation of data from onboard catch monitoring systems and other relevant data sources. The system, which is in the form of a web portal, provides information in both visual and programmatic form about catch efficiency and catch composition in fisheries, as well as forecasts of marine environmental conditions.
Each of the systems are tested, demonstrated and promoted in at least one regional sea and within appropriate commercial fisheries and systems. For the technologies being tested in the Norwegian and Barents seas, there was a lot of planning, travelling, engineering, mechanical and electrical work, data collection, testing, troubleshooting and reporting done. The testing in the Mediterranean and Black seas has made logistic arrangements for the test trials to be conducted in the region, and taken pictures of the fish species in the seas around Turkey. The samples include fish and invertebrate species that have been measured and photographed by cell phone camera for the “CatchSnap” technology. The main outcome of the testing work West of Scotland was in the first two reporting periods the practical experience gained by staff working in demersal and shellfish fisheries in the case study area with the technologies developed elsewhere in the project in the last period. For the last reporting period, the focus has been on “CatchSnap” and “CatchMonitor” to evaluate their suitability and feasibility for use in fisheries in the region. For southern North Sea, Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay, we have developed and evaluated the automated image analyses algorithms to assess the performance of different lights technologies and the effect of the lights on the behaviour of fish during the catching process, and conducted and completed testing and demonstration for the defined technologies. For Kattegat and Skagerrak fisheries, we have been able to do the practical test and demonstration of “FishFinder” and “TrawlMonitor” for the stakeholder group in the region, and we are planning for test and demonstrations in 2022.
