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Fishing vessels generate large volumes of operational and environmental data, yet much of this information is not fully integrated into real-time decision-making. Optimising gear performance while reducing fuel use and environmental impact requires smart systems capable of combining multiple data sources into actionable insights.
OptiGear is an AI-based decision-support system developed within MarineGuardian to help optimise gear usage parameters based on past and real-time observations of catch, fuel consumption and environmental conditions.
The challenge
Bottom trawl fisheries operate in dynamic environments where gear configuration, environmental conditions, vessel performance and fishing strategy all influence outcomes. However:
- Data from trawl winches, gear sensors, GPS and environmental systems are often not fully integrated
- Catch logbook data is rarely combined with operational parameters in real time
- Fishers lack consolidated tools to link gear performance with fuel use and environmental impacts
Without integrated analysis, opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce emissions and minimise ecological impacts may be missed.
The solution
OptiGear integrates multiple onboard data streams into a unified decision-support framework.
The system is:
- Connected to the automatic trawl winch (ATW) system
- Integrated with gear sensors, GPS and environmental sensors
- Linked to catch logbooks, including gear type, haul data and captain information
- Equipped with a basic reporting interface for analysing measurements and relationships between variables
- Designed to automatically upload vessel data to a land-based system for further analysis
By combining operational and environmental data, OptiGear supports evidence-based optimisation of gear usage parameters.
Development and progress
OptiGear has moved from integration to real-world testing:
- Integration established with ATW systems and onboard sensor networks
- Data registered in vessel databases with automatic upload to land-based systems
- Successfully tested on one commercial trawler, with expansion planned to five or more vessels
Current work focuses on scaling and data integration:
- Data permissions are being collected to enable integration with the TrackWell (Hafsýn) system
- A short survey has been prepared for bottom-trawl captains regarding gear use and willingness to share historic, non-logbook data (launch imminent)
- Planning to restart real-time multidata collection from commercial test vessels
Expected impact
OptiGear is expected to contribute to:
- Improved optimisation of trawl gear performance
- Reduced fuel consumption and lower CO₂ emissions
- Better understanding of the relationship between gear use, catch composition and environmental conditions
- Enhanced data-driven decision-making at vessel and fleet level
- Strengthened integration between onboard systems and fleet management tools
By supporting smarter operational decisions, OptiGear contributes to more efficient and environmentally responsible trawl fisheries.
