CatchCam Technologies is continuing SafetyNet Technologies' mission! This marks a new chapter in our journey. Read more here.

CASE STUDY

Underwater LED Lights as an alternative to baitfish

Collaborators:

The International Pole & Line Foundation

Duration:

September 2022- September 2023

Location

Maldives

Objective:

The two-year project is looking for an alternative to baitfish in the Maldives pole and line skipjack tuna fishery. Combinations of light, sound and smell stimuli will be tested to see if they will trigger feeding responses in skipjack tuna.

GEAR TYPE:

Pole and Line

TARGET SPECIES:

Skipjack Tuna

Technology used:

Project Summary:

Currently, wild-caught baitfish are thrown into the water around fishing boats to encourage the feeding behaviour of Skipjack tuna. However, this project is looking to find alternatives to wild-caught baitfish to reduce the environmental impact of the pole and line fishery. Pisces underwater LED lights will be tested in this project and CatchCam will be used to watch the behavioural responses of tuna.

In the Maldives, vessels and fishers are responsible for catching their own baitfish. As a result, fishermen have severely limited sleep and must be at sea all night before they begin fishing for tuna. Furthermore, fishing for baitfish uses more fuel.

If successful, this project will have massive impacts for the pole and line fishery.

Firstly, pole and line fishers could spend more time with their families and get proper rest. Secondly, pole and line tuna fisheries could be developed in areas such as Cabo Verde and Senegal, where there is a lack of baitfish. As a result, these fisheries could boost the local economies. Lastly, using alternatives to baitfish will help conserve the resources of live baitfish.

Read more

Image taken from IPNLF website 

related TRIALS

IMG_0770

Bycatch reduction in Scottish Nephrops FIP

olga-tsai-iRgbLpf50IE-unsplash

Preventing turtle and shark bycatch in the West Indies (TOPASE Project)

pisces on trawl day

Commercially Launching Pisces with support from Expo Dubai 2020

We work with fishermen to ensure our devices are tailored to their needs

Sign up to our newsletter

Be the first to watch any underwater footage recorded by our CatchCam cameras, and hear about new deployments and product offers.