SMART Bycatch Detection Systems

ECO-CATCH will focus on innovative technological solutions, including developing and implementing Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based detection systems for fisheries monitoring, specifically targeting sensitive species and juvenile fish. ECO-CATCH’s solutions will help to:

Reduce the time taken to review Electronic Monitoring data for set net fisheries by 60%, by trialling an AI-assisted bycatch event detector for monitoring unintentional catches of Endangered, Threatened, and Protected (ETP) species.

Provide a 90% accurate estimate of the ratio of juvenile versus marketable fish passing through bottom trawls while fishing, via the development of an AI-assisted juvenile fish detector.

Achieve at least 80% accuracy in species classification and reporting on beam trawlers, by developing and implementing a ‘Machine Vision System’ or AI-assisted conveyor belt detector, which helps to improve the identification of discards and undersized fish.

In addition to these technical solutions, ECO-CATCH will drive new Data Sharing Agreements with fishers for aggregated bycatch data.

How will ECO-CATCH deliver ‘SMART Bycatch Detection Systems’?

Fishing for Data: Building Robust Datasets for Fisheries Monitoring

DTU, SLU, ILVO, ANLAB

ECO-CATCH will develop a set of comprehensive training datasets for developing AI-based detection systems. These systems will be trained via imagery from commercial vessels already using Electronic Monitoring and dedicated image collections on scientific vessels.

Monitoring Fishing with AI: Model development for automatic detection in Fisheries Monitoring

DTU, SLU, ILVO, ANLAB

Building on the image trained datasets, ECO-CATCH will train Machine Learning AI (MLAI) models to automate the identification and length measurement of sensitive species and juvenile fish. These models will be refined with input from end-users throughout their development.

Anchoring AI: Integrating and Validating a Smart Catch Information System

ILVO, DTU, IMR, ANLAB

Following this, ECO-CATCH will integrate these AI models into existing software and hardware solutions for use in standard commercial fishing operations and monitoring systems. This will help to validate the models performance and their utility for the fishing industry. To help facilitate global uptake of these systems, ECO-CATCH will consult a global eMonitoring industry leader to ensure interoperability between ECO-CATCH Research and Development and existing electronic monitoring equipment currently on the market.

Results