SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF DISCARDS


The project will deliver a portfolio of innovative solutions that are effective in solving the problem of discards, and that are attractive to fishers, fisheries management, policymakers and industry.

It will advance specific technologies and techniques that help avoid unwanted catches, that minimise effects of fishing on sensitive habitats and species (pre-harvest), and that promote the survival of unwanted catches (post-harvest).

The acceptance and implementation of these solutions will be better facilitated because fishers will have participated in generating them during the project lifetime, working hand-in-hand with fisheries technologists and scientists.

SELECTION AND SURVIVAL


The project will explore enhancing the selectivity of fishing gears using a variety of both tried and tested techniques and recent innovations. From already proven but under-utilised technologies (e.g. sorting grids and large mesh panels) through to an improved understanding and application of novel stimuli (e.g. artificial light) to manipulate the behaviour of marine organisms during the capture process.

DEVELOPING EXISTING TECHNOLOGY


The project will demonstrate and develop observational technologies to reduce pre-catch losses, by testing systems such as Deep Vision on pilot vessels in different fisheries. Technologies will be advanced to systems than can be prototyped or, in specific cases, advanced to competitive manufacturing.

 
MINOUW in action