October saw FIS Executive Director Kara Brydson and Chair John Goodlad travel to St Andrews to take part in the Responsible Seafood Summit, hosted by the Global Seafood Alliance. Across four days, the Summit welcomed seafood experts, businesses, and innovators from all over the world – with discussions ranging from crew welfare on fishing vessels, to the latest in aquaculture technology. Read a summary of all Summit sessions here.
FIS was delighted to chair a panel on the ‘New Eyes of Fishing Technology’, focused on the role of cameras and AI in advancing fisheries sustainability. Presenting FIS’ Smartrawl technology, collaborator Professor Paul Fernandes, Heriot-Watt University, updated attendees on the latest trials of the cutting-edge Smartrawl ‘gate’, demonstrating how its rotating action – dictated by an AI-enable computer, reviewing catch in the trawl via a stereo camera – can select and sort-out unwanted species. Smartrawl is currently advancing through Technology Readiness Levels and, following sea-trials during which the system will be compared to traditional trawling, will be a ‘Technology Demonstrated in a Relevant Environment – which means the invention is taking strides towards being a viable solution to the global problem of discards and bycatch.
Following trials at sea, a crucial next step will be to get the technology directly into the hands of fishers so that they can better meet regulatory and market demands. Smartrawl’s intellectual property and patent is held by FIS members – but with FIS being a nonprofit organisation, the road to full commercialisation of a product is new territory.
Commenting in an article for Global Seafood Alliance’s the Responsible Seafood Advocate, Kara Brydson said how much FIS is looking forward to working with others on a route to market for Smartrawl – “we’re considering options to ensure that the system can be accessible as quickly as possible and affordable to fishers,” she said. “A great idea is only great when it’s adopted by those fishers who can actually make a difference.”
Read the full article – The AI tool that aims to make bottom trawling smarter and reduce bycatch and discards – here, via The Responsible Seafood Advocate.
