Fisheries worldwide are seeking to improve catch data and regulatory compliance while managing costs. Electronic monitoring (EM) has clear potential to meet these challenges by incorporating cameras, sensors and electronic reporting systems into fishing operations. However, program development costs as well as the costs of human video review and video storage present significant barriers to moving EM programs forward.
At the American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting in Tampa, Florida in August, a symposium on Emerging Technologies in Fisheries-Dependent Science and Catch Monitoring brought together experts in electronic technologies and automated data processing to examine how ongoing efforts can improve fisheries-dependent data collection. Presenters explored the status and economics of current and developing EM programs; the evolution of EM hardware and software solutions; the potential for monetizing EM-derived data; small-boat EM solutions and advances in wireless technologies that can reduce video transmission costs.
There were 19 presentations at the symposium. Fourteen abstracts and PDFs are available in the table below.
Presentations addressed a range of topics. Machine-learning experts are building large-image datasets and creating algorithms to automate aspects of video review, thereby reducing costs. On-deck cameras can now be adjusted from shore-based facilities. Satellite communications will soon enable real-time data uploads from fishing vessels, and “smarter” EM systems will reduce video capture, transmission and storage costs that might otherwise be accrued during periods of low-to-no fishing activity. Meanwhile, in chute tests, accuracy of species identification is approaching 95% across dozens of species.
The symposium provided time for hallway conversations as well, of course, and participants identified important opportunities and needs for the future, including: support for continued research; fish ID and image recognition competitions to encourage technology development; and information sharing with leaders in the European Union, New Zealand and other regions where large-scale EM projects are underway.
Thanks are due to the Symposium Steering Committee: Brett Alger (NMFS Office of Science and Technology); Farron Wallace (NMFS, Alaska Fisheries Science Center), Jane DiCosimo (NMFS, Office of Science and Technology), Jennifer Mondragon (NMFS, Alaska Region), Chris McGuire (The Nature Conservancy), Carmen Revenga (The Nature Conservancy), and Erika Feller (National Fish and Wildlife Foundation), and also to Jennifer Cudney (NMFS, Southeast Region) for her support at the symposium.
On behalf of the Steering Committee, we hope the information and insights gained through this symposium help you in your work. Opportunities such as this for practitioners and experts to talk about their experiences, ideas and lessons-learned are critical for advancing the use of EM in fisheries management. If you have ideas about additional subjects that should be explored, or if you would like to reach any of the presenters and don’t have their contact information, please drop a line to info@eminformation.com.
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