An innovative interactive large-screen video display at the Fishing 2011 Expo in Glasgow that will beam live images into the exhibition hall from one of the few remaining flume tanks in the world.
An innovative interactive large-screen video display at the Fishing 2011 Expo in Glasgow that will beam live images into the exhibition hall from one of the few remaining flume tanks in the world looks set to become one of the star attractions at the show.The live video link between the flume tank at the North Sea Science Park in Hirtshals, Denmark, and the Fishing Expo will enable fishermen to troubleshoot and see at first hand their fishing gear in operation.
The demise of the Seafish flume tank in Hull several years ago has denied UK and Irish fishermen the first hand experience of using such a facility on their doorstep. But now this new video display at the Fishing 2011 Expo will give skippers a convenient opportunity to test different types of fishing gear and configurations in real-life simulated underwater conditions.
Respected and well-known gear technologist, Mike Montgomerie of Seafish, will host the interactive display that will provide fishermen with the opportunity to request the testing of various trawl set-ups – for example how the net performs using different types of trawl doors or when alterations are made to the centre wire in a twin-rig set-up.
The flume in Hirtshals, which is managed by SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture, is a massive circulating water tank where scale models of trawls used by fishermen are trialled underwater in a variety of different conditions that closely mirror situations commonly encountered in the marine environment. Seafish uses the flume tank for fishermen’s training courses with over 200 fishermen from all corners of the UK have visited Hirtshals in the last three years.
Mike Montgomerie said: “This is an exciting innovation for the Fishing 2011 Exhibition that will interest many fishermen. Essentially, we will be offering a series of fishing gear workshops throughout the show.
“We are still working on the detail on how it will be organised but the displays will probably be split into a number of sessions with each one focusing on different gear types such as twin-rig, pelagic trawls and so on.
“Fishermen will be able to pre-request the type of gear or alteration they would like to see incorporated and then this will be viewed live in simulated real-life underwater conditions on the large video screen in the hall.
“As the trials are viewed on the screen, skippers will be able to ask questions or request possible further alterations to see how the gear performs.”
Former north-east skipper, David Moir of QD Events, who has been handed a key role in organising Fishing 2011, said: “Securing this link with the flume tank is a major coup for the exhibition and we are confident it will attract many fishermen.
“It will give skippers the opportunity to troubleshoot an ask question about the performance of their fishing gear and how its responds to alterations.”
Fishing 2011 will be staged from 24-26 March at the SECC in Glasgow.
