Canada’s Ocean Supercluster has announced five new projects with a total value of nearly $29 million, including the Precision Fish Harvesting Project. Katchi, a rural Nova Scotian company, will lead the project and is developing a SmartNet using herding and deterring technology and seeks to deploy uncrewed service vessels (USVs) to improve the efficiency of conventional trawl fishing.
‘This innovative Precision Fish Harvesting solution will help reduce impacts on aquatic species and serves as an excellent example of how Ocean Supercluster members are collaborating to deliver ocean solutions that address ocean health while also creating new economic opportunities for communities,’ said Kendra MacDonald, CEO of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster.
The fully integrated concept uses hydrodynamic blocks on the top and bottom of the net to ensure the net remains open, replacing existing trawl doors and reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The catching vessel’s sounders map the seabed in advance of the net and communicates with the winches to automatically adjust warp payout. This enables the net to move up and down the water column to the desired depth specified by the fishers. The system also ensures that the net does not come in contact with the seabed and instead remains close by hugging bottom contours features and avoiding obstacles.
Canadian designed and manufactured USVs, with innovative energy optimisation technology, will scout for fish using hydroacoustic equipment that delivers information to vessels to reduce vessel search time.
Lights and bioacoustics will be used to ensure efficient capture of targeted species while simultaneously reducing by-catch.
‘This project is proof that we do not need to sacrifice economic growth for environmental sustainability. We are thankful for the opportunity that the OSC has given us and are extremely proud of our team and the partners that we have worked with over the last two years. We could not have re-imagined fish harvesting without everyone’s collaboration,’ commented Katchi founder and CEO Marc d’Entremont.
The system will be tested on the Lery Charles, owned and operated by Scotia Harvest Inc.
With a total project value of nearly $3.3 million, the Ocean Supercluster will provide close to $1.6 million towards the project with the balance coming from project partners. Yarmouth-based Katchi has partnered with Scotia Harvest Inc, ABCO Industries, Rimot, Clearwater, DSA Ocean, Rising Tide Bioacoustics, SafetyNet, and MITACS.
‘Watching our local fishing industry feel the pressure of trying to catch a very select amount of certain species, while managing large repair and fuel bills, has highlighted the need to put more tools at their disposal,’ said Katchi CPA CA, CFO Angie Greene.
‘Our goal is to create a product that is worthy of the talent and experience they already have, to help them continue to deliver the best wild protein source in the world while ensuring its sustainability.’
