Article Category: Trawl Technology

Advancements in technology for maritime vessels and commercial fishing boats are being applied to autonomous control, smart sonar and systems utilizing artificial intelligence. Some of the top companies in the industry have recently announced innovative products or systems that improve situational awareness, enhance safety, and allow for better assessment of fisheries. Furuno Furuno Electric Co., Ltd., a company headquartered in Japan with bases in the U.S., has continued to focus on advancing technology for marine electronics, including radar systems, fish finders and navigational instruments. A few new products (MARK-2 models of the FSV-25 and FSV-85, and the 3D Sonar Visualizer F3D-S) that have been introduced globally will roll out gradually in the U.S. market this year as the l...

Trawl fishermen are faced with a dilemma: how to catch as much of the desired species of fish as possible, while limiting the accidental capture of bycatch, which are limited by government quotas and can be a major headache. A 2018 article in Fish and Fisheries estimated that around 10% of all fish caught worldwide is bycatch. These accidental captures can have negative effects on marine ecosystems and the productivity of fisheries. With large trawl equipment that captures hundreds of tons of fish a day, reducing this number is a difficult task. This problem has led researchers, fishermen and industry professionals to develop new trawl technology with the hope of reducing bycatch. Bycatch in the Bering Sea In the Bering Sea, the main bycatch issue is Chinook salmon, according to ...