These solutions are advanced by:
The Real-time trawl camera and industry-based platform is being advanced within the project to improve monitoring and understanding of cod catches in Greenlandic waters. The solution combines in-trawl camera systems and artificial intelligence to automatically detect and measure cod during fishing operations.
By providing real-time information on catch composition and fish size, the system supports both fishers and fisheries managers with reliable data to guide operational decisions and strengthen stock assessment.
The challenge
Cod stocks are increasing in Greenland, creating new opportunities for fisheries. However, there is currently no dedicated cod survey covering Greenlandic waters, limiting the availability of detailed information on the species’ distribution and population structure.
As a result, fisheries managers and industry stakeholders require more accurate and timely data on cod abundance, spatial distribution, and size composition to support sustainable management and operational decision-making.
The solutions
Within MarineGuardian we are advancing an in-trawl camera technology with AI-based catch monitoring to automatically collect and process data during fishing operations.
The system is designed to support both industry and fisheries management by delivering:
- A real-time decision-support system (DSS) for vessel operators, displaying the ongoing catch of cod, including estimated quantities and size distribution.
- A data analysis platform that geo-references catch observations and describes the density and size structure of cod populations, providing valuable input for stock assessment and fisheries management.
By combining automated data collection with AI analysis, the system simplifies monitoring while increasing the availability of high-quality fisheries data.
Development and progress
Development of the system is led by DTU and Royal Greenland, with collaboration established with the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources to ensure strong end-user involvement.
Current development activities include:
- Selecting a suitable vessel for system development and testing, ensuring accessibility for data collection and active participation in cod fisheries.
- Evaluating system performance under operational fishing conditions.
- Assessing the most suitable in-trawl camera configuration, including whether to deploy an existing cable-based system or a new cable-free system currently under development.
The final choice of camera technology and communication system is expected to be made in early 2026.
Expected impact
The real-time trawl camera system is expected to significantly improve knowledge of cod distribution and size structure in Greenlandic waters while supporting more efficient fishing operations.
By providing automated catch monitoring and real-time data to vessel operators and scientists, the system will:
- Improve data availability for cod stock assessment
- Support sustainable management of growing cod fisheries
- Enable more informed operational decisions at sea
- Strengthen collaboration between industry and fisheries scientists
Ultimately, the solution contributes to more data-driven and adaptive fisheries management, ensuring that expanding cod fisheries can be developed sustainably.
