Vónin’s Flyer headline lifting device has provided an ideal skyhook for the CatchCam developed by SafetyNet Technologies.
Rigging a flyer with a CatchCam camera has turned out to be a great way to get an overview of how a trawl’s ground gear performs.
‘In the true spirit of fishing, we solved the problem with what we had on hand!’ said Tom Rossiter, head of precision fishing at SafetyNet Technologies.
‘This isn’t the first time the camera has been deployed for this same purpose. By now, CatchCam has managed to capture some fascinating insights of fishing gear interacting with the seabed.’
He commented that in most instances, attaching the camera to the headline has proved to be an efficient solution. But weather conditions can make filming underwater difficult – particularly when it comes to larger vessels with a higher headline.
Under ideal conditions, CatchCam has proved to be an efficient in underwater filming, even when rigged to a headline that’s four fathoms off the bottom.
In a collaboration with Vonin, the team at SafetyNet decided to pair the camera with the Flyer.
‘I count myself very fortunate to get the opportunity to do what I do. Getting to ‘play’ with the Vónin Flyer has been an ambition of mine for some time and combining already existing technologies to achieve an outcome is the best possible solution – no need to make something new,’ Tom Rossiter said, commenting that after some trial and error, a successful pairing of the CatchCam camera and Vónin Flyer was achieved, with the aim of overcoming the hurdles of visibility and lighting on larger vessels with higher headlines.
‘By integrating the CatchCam camera with Vónin’s technology, we’ve unlocked a new possibility for filming gear interaction with the seafloor,’ he said.
‘By pointing the camera downwards, larger vessels can now easily capture and document how their gear interacts with the seafloor. This innovative approach enhances the overall understanding of ground gear performance and contributes to more informed decision-making in fishing operations.’
