This summer, our partner Heriot-Watt University did trials to test the latest developments of Smartrawl, an innovative solution advanced in MarineGuardian. Smartrawl is tackling one the largest challenge faced in trawling: the bycatch of species and their high risk of mortality.
Smartrawl is an in-water sorting device which is retrofitted inside the net of a commercial fishing trawler. The system has three components:
a stereo camera, taking images of animals in the trawl
a computer, with artificial intelligence to detect, identify and size animals
and a gate, controlled by the computer to either catch or release animals controlled by a latch.
Smartrawl is designed with, and for, UK fishers, and their vessels to reduce discards and bycatch. The entire system needs no cables from the vessel and can be pre-programmed dependent on the fishers’ desired catch. Fisheries Innovation & Sustainability is the main partner behind the financing of the new gate for Smartrawl which was designed by Almond Engineering Limited. Thanks to them this innovative solution is reaching a new milestone in tackling bycatch from trawling.
In the last month they have manufactured a new, improved and more robust gate. At the beginning of September, they tested it in the Firth of Forth (just outside Edinburgh), evaluating if the gate would react well at being towed behind a small vessel. The tested performed showed the gate responded well, performing and rotating smoothly.
