New Zealand fisheries could pull in over NZD 43 million (USD 28.2 million; EUR 25.5 million) per year by 2025 if a new sustainable trawling method pans out.
A brand of Precision Seafood Harvesting (PSH) technology, the emerging Modular Harvest System (MHS) employs a large, flexible PVC liner with specifically sized holes that allow undersized fish to vacate before they reach a ship’s deck. What’s more, the fish that make it on board will be less stressed and sustain less injury because they will be swimming through the liner, said Seafood New Zealand.
As of now, the PSH program is halfway through its six year commercialization trial period. The program is being funded by three New Zealand fishing companies – Aotearoa Fisheries, Sanford and Sealord – to the tune of NZD 24 million (USD 15.7 million; EUR 14.6 million). The Ministry for Primary Industries is also footing the project, and has matched the industry investment by way of a Primary Growth Partnership.
Six vessels in the hoki and snapper fisheries are currently testing the new trawling technology, which is being serviced and designed by scientists at Plant & Food Research in Nelson. Plans have been laid to test the technology with the squid fishery next year.
According to Dave Woods, , the Program Manager for PSH, the trial runs for the MHS technology have already yielded promising results regarding survival rates for juvenile snapper and have shown an increase in the quality of catch for both hoki and snapper. Woods noted during the 2015 New Zealand Seafood Industry Conference that snapper harvested with the MHS had 79 percent survival potential when fished from depths over 20 meters. These findings have greenlit the PSH program’s second phase, wherein improvements to on-board fish handling will be addressed.
“The significant opportunity for added value to our seafood products resulting from the use of PSH technology is rapidly becoming a reality,” Wood said during the conference, which has attracted more than 270 attendees to Wellington.
At the mid-point of the program, the technology is tracking well, Wood concluded.
Check out a video of the MHS tech here: http://www.precisionseafoodharvesting.co.nz/
