The project consisted of four phases:
1. Design of data monitoring systems and installation in the vessels.
The aim of the SusTunTech project was to provide the tuna fishing industry with a suitable data acquisition system to support the exploitation of the project results. This system enables fishing vessels to contribute to publicly available ocean data and to support the development of short and long-term decision support services for fisheries. The devised system was based on Ratatosk, an in-house data acquisition system developed by SINTEF Ocean. To demonstrate and validate our system, an onshore testing facility and two tuna fishing vessels were equipped with all the sensors required to monitor and record engine parameters, fuel consumption and environmental variables. The two vessels that took part in this project provided valuable data as well as useful advice for further development of the system.
2. Model development and statistical validation.
SusTunTech developed algorithms using data collected from vessels and Earth Observation (EO) data obtained from Copernicus, and which have been tested in real world operations. These algorithms provide tuna distribution, route optimization and fuel efficiency models, which are combined to produce a set of tools that help skippers find the desired catch in a more efficient manner.
Moreover, the potential of the datasets compiled from fishing vessels used as data acquisition and harvesting platforms and as inputs for the services of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) was assessed. To advance towards this project objective, an evaluation of the variables from the three main data sources available (vessel, radar, and buoys) that could be most useful for the global effort of ocean monitoring was performed. Afterwards, to ensure the quality of the data and to make these datasets available to the marine community, an assessment of the datasets for pursuing the FAIR principles, together with a validation with independent data sources of the same variables, was carried out.
3. Integration of results into commercial products and testing.
The modules developed were integrated in the software which provides the users with the necessary information from their ships’ surroundings, to locate where the most productive fishing areas around them are, and to show the most efficient route to follow during normal operation, with the aim of spending less time at sea, saving fuel, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
4. Improvement, dissemination and commercialization of the developed products.
The Dissemination and Communication plan has promoted the project through online activities (website, social, video etc), traditional media, events, scientific communication, and many other tools, such as articles in EU magazines.
In terms of scientific outputs: 1) ten papers have been published, SusTunTech has also contributed to a book; 3) invited talks or discussions in international forums such as the e-shape clustering initiative, several ICES working groups and talks in universities and scientific conferences.
The project webpage has been regularly updated with articles promoted through the project’s social media accounts and promotional videos about the project and the three main products have been released.
At the end of the project, it can be stated that the listed phases have been completed. The consortium is however aware that there is still room for improvement in some aspects of the commercial products (Ratatosk 2.0 MarPrime Plus and SmartMarineView).
From now on, the dissemination of the project results and the commercialisation of the products should continue.
