Category: Fisheries Services
This pilot project is a joint effort by Archipelago, Marine Instruments and Marine Instruments local dealer in France, ISIFISH. Following reports of dolphin bycatch in gillnet fisheries in the Bay of Biscay, the French government commissioned a demonstration EM project to assess the data collection capabilities on these small vessels. A new MarineObserve EM system manufactured by Marine Instruments capable of transmitting live video and sensor data over 4G from the vessel was installed on four gillnet vessels, with the associated cameras and sensors. No changes were required to either fishing activities or catch handling and the privacy of the fishermen involved was maintained in the video collected using advanced techniques. All data analysis is done locally in France by the project holder, SINAY, using Archipelago’s EM Interpret TM (EMI) analysis software and training. The initial project will run for 5 months and based on successful data collection to meet monitoring goals there is the expectation of a one-year extension.
In 2021, Archipelago, partnered with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), embarked on a journey to test the efficacy of the FishVue LIME system. This innovative tool aimed to improve the accuracy and consistency of data collection, leading to the modernization of the management of the coastal WA Commercial Dungeness crab fishery.
During pilot projects in 2021 and 2022, on two and ten vessels, respectively, the FishVue LIME system proved its mettle by accurately recording fishing locations and tracking the number of pots fished under mandatory trap limits. The EM project also enabled WDFW to evaluate spatial fishery data, leading to strategies to minimize interactions with marine mammals. These key achievements were instrumental in WDFW’s decision to consider the projects successful. In the summer of 2023, WDFW successfully implemented EM regulations for the coastal WA Commercial Dungeness crab fishery, and California also implemented monitoring of their Dungeness Crab Fleet.
Today, Archipelago LIME systems provide near-real-time monitoring on 209 active vessels in Washington and 123 in California.
Archipelago provides electronic monitoring equipment (EM) and services to groundfish trawl vessels in the Pacific region based on the management and monitoring requirements of the fishery. EM services consist of providing equipment and technical support, managing and processing EM data and sharing results with industry and DFO stakeholders. Program services involve collecting and processing electronic at-sea EM data, profiling fishing effort and catch and categorizing at sea releases. EM data are integrated with dockside monitoring and fisher log data to detail catch for quota management. EM data and reports are prepared by Archipelago and the results are shared with DFO and industry stakeholders.
Throughout the program history, Archipelago has met regularly with industry and DFO representatives to discuss the program, identify challenges or areas of opportunity for improved data collection, and ensure the program is meeting its objectives. Program summaries were prepared by Archipelago and provided to fishery advisory committee meetings to facilitate program implementation, development and review. The groundfish trawl EM program continues to evolve with changes in the fishery and management requirements.
The Alaska Pollock Trawl EM program operates under an exempted fishery permit (EFP) allowing the use of EM as a substitute for human at-sea observers on 30 midwater trawl vessels fishing in the Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska pollock fisheries. This EM program is split between federally funded (via grants) and industry funded (directly from participants). This project is intended to evaluate the feasibility and cost-efficiency of using EM systems to monitor compliance with retention (salmon bycatch) and discard (groundfish) regulations, while improving data quality and timeliness in these fisheries. Archipelago provides equipment and field support services to the fishing industry. EM services to industry comprise providing equipment, installation, technical support and implementing changes and improvements geared towards increasing data quality. EM data is processed by Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC).
The West Coast Groundfish EM program operates under an exempted fishery permit (EFP) to use EM for three fleets: Pacific whiting, longline/trap (fixed gear), and trawl vessels. This project started in 2013 and is ongoing in the West Coast (California, Oregon, Washington) region. This EM program is coordinated by fishing industry association to meet Federal requirements with EM data being processed by Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC). The program allows participating vessels to use EM for at-sea catch monitoring instead of At-Sea Observers, greatly reducing their monitoring costs. There are over 40 vessels in the program. Archipelago provides equipment and field support services covering equipment, installation, and technical support.
Run through the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, this project operates under an exempted fishing permit (EFP) allowing the use of EM as a substitute for at-sea observers on five crab fishing vessels in California. The project uses EM to evaluate the commercial viability of an experimental box crab fishery. Archipelago provides equipment and field support services to the five vessels in this program.
Project Overview:
US Alaska Cooperative Research (Fixed Gear) EM Program started in 2014 and is currently still ongoing. It is primarily directed at ground fish hook and line (and trap) vessels targeting halibut, sablefish, and Pacific cod. The existing EM pool consists of over 140 vessels that carry EM for all fishing operations.
This is a federally funded cooperative research program, which is phasing into mandatory regulated program funded by industry through landing levies and contracted by the agency. The program allows participating vessels to use EM for at-sea catch and discard monitoring as well as mitigation device deployment instead of At-Sea Observers. Archipelago provides equipment and field support services to the fishing industry. EM services to industry comprise providing equipment, installation, and technical support.