Fish is an invaluable source of income and food around the globe for millions of people – yet leaving it behind may seem compassionate; but doing so disregards both human costs and environmental impacts that are alleviated through fisheries.
Presently, inadequate data systems and management incentives are preventing fisheries from reaching their full potential. Applying human-centered design processes that yield great products people use daily could provide the solution to these issues.
Smart Boats
The smart boat industry is growing exponentially as more boats connect to devices that make their use simpler, such as bluetooth devices and advanced navigation systems. They offer enhanced experiences on the water whether fishing, sailing or just relaxing with friends.
As connectivity has become an integral component of modern life, it makes perfect sense that it would eventually find its way onto boats as well. There are various products available for boat connectivity – from simple monitors and alarms to full NMEA-2000 networks and digital switching solutions.
Jost predicts that having smart technology in your boat can give it an edge when selling it. He anticipates an increase in electric and hybrid-electric boats entering the market due to advancements in electrification, automation, and artificial intelligence.
Sensors
Like businesses of all kinds, fishermen face rising consumer expectations for sustainability in their business practices. Consumers increasingly demand sustainable seafood that can be tracked back to its source while being health conscious as well.
New technology could revolutionise how we fish by equipping fleets of “smart boats” with sensors connected to satellite and cellular networks for real-time monitoring, tracking catches and reducing bycatch.
Other sensors could assist us in exploring ocean dynamics like currents, temperature and pH levels in ecosystems yet unexplored by humans; we could even attach non-toxic silicon-based sensors directly to fish to track them over long distances and thus gain unprecedented data for making better decisions regarding fisheries and the ocean in general. It might also allow us to address evolving IUU fishing issues due to climate-induced shifts in stocks and distribution.
Data
Seafood is widely considered one of the world’s most nutritious foods, yet is one of the least sustainable. EDF’s aim is to elevate seafood’s role in combatting food insecurity in tropical developing nations while supporting resilient marine ecosystems and the communities that depend upon them.
Seafood businesses are employing new tools to collect data on fisheries performance, trace food from harvest to table and build consumer trust. A mobile app developed in Indonesia enables fishers to document their catches while helping managers set sustainable limits on the catch; similarly a similar tool helps Chilean fishermen communicate market changes from shore-side operations out onto boats at sea.
These technologies will enable us to achieve the seafood potential that exists if global fisheries were managed at maximum sustainable yield, leading to more fish, better nutrition, and employment for millions of people around the globe. But in order to do so, large-scale changes must occur within fishery management practices – shifting away from short-term profits towards more scientific approaches.
Communication
As ocean observing systems continue to improve, their capacity for collecting and sharing data will expand, allowing fisheries to be managed based on science more sustainably and profitably.
Supply chain transparency is also essential in combatting illegal and unreported fishing (IUU). Each year, billions in illegal catch are caught above legal quotas and sold unknowingly to consumers.
Consumer demand for foods that are good for both body and planet has seen the proliferation of farmers markets, CSA programs, local sourcing from restaurants and grocery stores, and products from fishermen grow steadily over time. We must move away from incentives that drive overfishing towards ones that promote sustainable management with higher profits; this could make fisheries more resilient to changing environmental conditions while protecting marine biodiversity renewal capabilities – the future of fish is in our hands – we must make it bright.https://www.youtube.com/embed/eG_s_xjkbzI