Precision fishing: Secure the world’s seafood demand more sustainably

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• March 21, 2022

Insight summary

The ever-growing global demand for seafood, coupled with overfishing and climate change, has put immense pressure on fish populations, leading to the need for more sustainable practices. Precision fishing technology, utilizing real-time feedback and advanced analytics, is emerging as a solution to reduce bycatch and waste, target healthy shoals, and provide crucial data for captains. While offering significant environmental benefits and potential profitability, the technology also poses challenges that require careful regulation, collaboration, and adaptation across governments, industry stakeholders, traditional fishing communities, and consumers.

Precision fishing context

For 17 percent of the world’s ever-growing population, seafood is the animal protein of choice, and demand is growing. Unfortunately, climate change and overfishing have depleted the populations of several fish species, which makes it impossible to meet demand with current fishing practices. However, the situation can be mitigated if trawler fleets adopt intelligent technologies that enable precision fishing so that depleted species can be left undisturbed while fishing fleets focus on harvesting healthy shoals.

Human population growth has led to an increasing demand for seafood, which has often led to periods of extreme overfishing and the rapid degradation of fish stocks worldwide. In 2020, it took five times the effort to catch the same amount of fish as it did in 1950. Most fish are caught by trawlers that use massive nets to bring in a standard catch. The problem is these nets indiscriminately trap everything in the water, regardless of their value to the trawler.

 

On average, one in every four fish caught in trawler nets is not for human consumption, with this type of catch known as bycatch. Bycatch accounts for 10 percent of the world’s total fishing catch, representing 16 billion pounds (7.3 billion kilograms) of waste per year. Bycatch is also a significant contributor to overfishing worldwide.

Several companies are developing precision fishing tools and traceability products to reduce waste and provide crucial data for fishing captains. Their solutions use clean technologies and advanced analytics to combat overfishing and save dwindling fish stocks. One such company is SmartCatch, which has developed a real-time HD video, lighting, and computerized sensor system called DigiCatch that gives captains immediate, granular feedback on what is happening in their net, along with data from other oceanographic sensors. 

Disruptive impact 

The use of precision fishing technology to reduce bycatch is a positive step towards environmental sustainability. It allows fishing companies to target specific species, minimizing the unintentional capture of non-target fish and other marine life. This trend can enhance the efficiency of commercial fishing operations, potentially leading to increased profitability for companies and more responsible use of marine resources. However, the same technology may need to be carefully regulated to prevent misuse that could harm the environment.

The potential misuse of this technology by some companies to maximize catches, or by illegal fishers to target endangered species, poses serious risks. Governments and international bodies may need to implement strict regulations and monitoring systems to ensure that the technology is used responsibly. Failure to do so could lead to the extinction of certain species. Collaboration between governments, industry stakeholders, and environmental organizations is essential to create a framework that balances the benefits of technology with the need to protect marine life.

Meanwhile, consumers who are conscious of their environmental impact may find it easier to make responsible choices in their seafood consumption. Education and transparent labeling will be key in empowering consumers to support sustainable fishing practices. This trend also opens up opportunities for technology developers and entrepreneurs to create tools that align with global sustainability goals, fostering a market that values both efficiency and environmental stewardship.

Implications of precision fishing

Wider implications of precision fishing may include:

• Limiting overfishing by letting captains see whether their nets are trapping the wrong types of fish and marine life, leading to captains being more selective about where they cast their nets while allowing fish populations to replenish.


• Reduced waste and helping the seafood industry feed the world's population more sustainably, with advanced analytics restoring the world's fish supply while also doubling the level of total fish biomass in the ocean.


• Assisting the global fishing industry as it transitions to aquaculture, with fishing fleets providing increased amounts of data to their companies, highlighting how world fish populations are in great stress.


• Helping fishers and trawler skippers comply with increasingly stringent regulations around fishing, enabling them to be more accountable for their stock and compliant with fishing regulations.


• Encouraging the development of new technologies for monitoring and enforcement, leading to more effective control over illegal fishing activities and protection of endangered species.


• Influencing consumer behavior by promoting transparency in sourcing and sustainability practices, leading to a shift in demand towards responsibly caught seafood.


• New job opportunities in technology, data analysis, and environmental monitoring within the fishing industry, leading to a more skilled and diversified workforce.


• Challenging traditional fishing communities by altering the skills required for fishing and potentially displacing workers who cannot adapt to new technologies, leading to social and economic shifts in coastal regions.


• Encouraging international collaboration and standardization in fishing practices and regulations, leading to more uniform enforcement and conservation efforts across different jurisdictions.


• Increased reliance on energy and technology infrastructure in fishing operations, leading to potential vulnerabilities in the face of technological failures or cyber threats, and requiring new measures for risk management and resilience.

Questions to consider

• Given the opposing viewpoints presented, do you think that precision fishing with help or hurt the sustainability of fishing and the overall fish biomass in the seas?


• Is precision fishing the answer to saving ocean creatures, or would it be more effective to stop all fishing for set periods?