New project seeks to reduce Scottish bycatch via LED lighting

Scottish fishing vessel The Virtuous FR253 has begun a 12-month trial in the Northeast Scottish mixed demersal fishery to assess whether new LED lighting can make fishing more precise and thereby reduce unwanted bycatch.

Conducted in cooperation with Associated Seafoods Ltd. (ASL), Marks & Spencer (M&S), Young’s Seafood, and fishing technology company SNTech, the project will also look to contribute to the sustainable accreditation of demersal fisheries, and products such as nephrops.

Scotland's inshore nephrops fishery is currently engaged in a fishery improvement project toward Marine Stewardship Council certification. 

Through to April 2022, skipper Sandy West and the crew of The Virtuous will deploy SNTech’s new artificial lighting device, called “Pisces,” in various positions and under pre-defined configurations aimed at reducing the vessel’s bycatch and increasing its overall operational performance. 

According to SNTech, Pisces will guide unwanted fish out of the vessel’s net or even prevent them from entering it in the first place.

The Northeast Scottish mixed demersal fishery sees vessels like The Virtuous catch a mixture of species. Although whitefish like cod and haddock make up to 62 percent of the catch volume, nephrops are the most-valuable stock – accounting for up to 30 percent of the value of landings.

Gaining MSC certification will give those working in the fishery access to new markets and secure their position in current ones, while the improved sustainability and precision fishing will bring it long-term biological, economic, and social sustainability, West said.

“We have no desire to be out at sea all day every day. If we can fish more precisely, everybody is a winner. The crew's job on deck becomes easier, the boat becomes more profitable as we will need to input less resources to catch the fish. The environment benefits from less CO2 being emitted, everybody stands to gain if we can fish more precisely,” West said. “This next year will be a real adventure for us, but it will not be without its risks. What if we scare away all the fish? We are taking a big risk here, but we believe it is worth it and having the support of SNTech and our customers, ASL, M&S, and Youngs, makes a big difference.”  

Photo courtesy of SNTech

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