At sea, under the eyes of cameras, fishermen work as the government monitors catch »
Please click through for this excellent story about The Nature Conservancy’s work in New England and the fishermen pioneering EM .
Atlantic / U.S. East Coast
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Electronic Monitoring in the New England Groundfish Fishery: Lessons Learned »
Click here for report in PDF Executive Summary
In 2013, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association (MCFA), the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) and Ecotrust Canada (‘project partners’) embarked on a three-year pilot project to further the development of electronic monitoring (EM) in the New England groundfish fishery. The overarching goal of the project was to determine if EM technology could be used to collect information on catch and discards that is comparable to existing monitoring and reporting programs in a cost-effective manner. The primary objective was to develop an EM system that could capture high quality video footage for identification of groundfish species and accurate length estimates of individual fish discarded at sea without drastically changing fishermen’s normal operations.
Project… Read More »
DFO considers making on-board cameras a must in N.S., P.E.I. tuna fishery »
Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans is considering making onboard surveillance cameras mandatory in the tuna fishery in northern Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
Next week DFO will release to industry its review of a two-year pilot project that saw cameras installed — starting in 2015 — for the first time in a commercial fishery in Atlantic Canada. The rear-facing cameras are aimed only at fishing activity.
The department, which collects and reviews the data, says it may move to full implementation in the Gulf region for the commercial and charter boat catch-and-release bluefin tuna fishery in 2017.
Two EM program updates added »
We just posted two EM program updates (November 2016) over at the Atlantic / U.S. East Coast Region page.
Posted overview of Atlantic HMS Tuna Longline Fishery »
Please find an overview of the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Tuna Longline Fishery here !
New England Electronic Monitoring Project Phase III »
New England Electronic Monitoring Project Phase III, April 2015 PDF)
The goal of the New England Electronic Monitoring (EM) Project was to investigate the potential for using EM within the broader Northeast Multispecies Fishery (NE groundfish fishery) catch monitoring program. EM systems are designed for the automated collection of fisheries data while vessels are at sea. They collect high-frequency sensor data and closed-circuit television (CCTV) imagery during fishing or related activities which are then reviewed post-trip to provide data needed for fisheries management, compliance, and/or science.
Phases I and II of the project were completed and documented in 2010-2013 (Pria et. al., 2011, 2012) and laid the initial groundwork for understanding how EM could best be applied in the monitoring needs of the NE groundfish fishery. These results… Read More »
Video equipment installed on Cape fishing boats (Cape Cod Times) »
Cape Cod Times , by Doug Fraser, May 28, 2016
HARWICH, CT — On the Dawn T, commercial fisherman Nick Muto inked “Big Brother” next to a switch that turns on a sophisticated video system that will record everything on deck from the time he leaves the dock to his return.
Between 10 and 20 fishermen from Rhode Island to Maine on Wednesday will flip the switch and turn on the cameras. Three Cape fishermen have had the equipment installed on their vessels, and three more are scheduled to be outfitted.
“We all need to take ownership of what we are doing,” Muto said. “If we want to see a future in fishing, we need more accurate information.”
Video: Video equipment installed on Cape fishermen’s boats
While there… Read More »
Northeast Electronic Monitoring Workshop: Summary Report (October 2014) »
Northeast Electronic Monitoring Workshop- Summary Report (Download PDF)
EM in the Northeast – Groundfish »
THIS NEEDS TO BE RECLASSIFIED AND MOVED TO ITS PROPER LOCATION. EM PROGRAM AT A GLANCE
New England groundfish fishermen have been interested in using EM for a number of years. Their priority is to create a cost-efficient system that provides timely, accurate catch and discard monitoring…. Read More »
2014 Survey of Southeast Region (South Atlantic & Gulf Councils) Updates »
Since the National EM Workshop: