Commissioner Maria Damanaki Says New Technology Can Reduce Fish Discards

Maria Damanaki is suggesting that smart nets be installed in boats to prevent the discard of some fish. With the testing of spy CCTV cameras, the number of discarded cods has been reduced from 38% to 0.2%.

West Midlands, United Kingdom (prHWY.com) March 4, 2013 - designate for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki, suggested that fishermen should install smart nets on their boats to avoid discarding fish that were too small or in excess of the allowed quota.

The Commissioner said that the use of technology was the only way for the hoped-for reform of the Common Fisheries Policy to be a success. She also pushed for a drive to have more cameras on-board to ensure strict compliance of fishing rules by boat crews.

The use of spy-in-the-wheelhouse CCTV cameras was able to reduce the number of discarded cods to 0.2% from 38%.

If the European Union implements a zero-fish discard policy, installation of cameras will be vital.

The fishermen taking part in the UK's trial were given more days at sea and an increased number of fish they are allowed to catch.

Ms. Damanaki stressed that a significant part of the fisheries' reform was to apply technology on the fishing net design.

Meanwhile at Hirtshals' Danish Port, some fishery technologists carried out tests on some net designs to check if the drive is feasible.

Even fishing crews were looking into the new technology used on the nets at the centre.

One innovative design was a trawl net with a slanting grid made from plastic, strategically placed at the centre. This allowed the shrimps and small fish to pass though the openings, while the large fish go straight to the end of the net. The bendable grid was priced around £2,000, which some fishermen present at Hirtshals found too pricey.

On Damanaki's part, she said that she would try to have the price subsidised to 85% for small boats.

Another newly introduced net design is the rollerball that looks like a beach ball. The usage of this net was able to reduce the damage caused by beam trawlers between 11 and 16%.

Mike Montgomerie, from Seafish, said that fishermen crews were starting to adapt to these new technologies.

Damanaki added, "The crews I met appeared to be accepting change rather than actually embracing it". She emphasised that the use of selective gear is the most significant component of the policy.

With the on-spy cameras, a map that illustrated where the boat fished for the last two months and what it had caught was produced. Fred Normandale, a boat owner from Yorkshire, was not comfortable with the cameras and said that he only agreed because of the payment and the extra days they were allowed to fish. Expenses for the kit amount to £9,000 for the software and installation and an additional £300 yearly.

Although North America has been using the wheelhouse spy cameras for ten years, some European governments may still not adopt it.

Grant Course, head of the marine trials team, vouched the efficiency of the technology, saying that it still costs less than having to pay human observers. He added that more information would be gathered and stored in the computer hard-drives.

The conditions of fisheries were not the same and albeit the new net designs were effective, it may not apply to all.

Some sources of the commission expressed their concern that Spain and France may forward technical objections that may make the change ineffective.

For Commissioner Damanaki, these are signs that the EU is now discussing about the need for the reform to succeed rather than questioning if it is necessary or not.

About JMC Security

www.jmcsecurity.co.uk is a provider of security systems for both commercial establishment and home use. With a variety of products that include CCTV cameras, IP CCTV, Spy Cameras, and accessories. Customers can take advantage of free delivery in mainland UK for orders exceeding £149.99*. We are your security specialists whenever and wherever you need it.

###

Tag Words: cctv camera kits, security camera, cctv security systems

Categories: Technology

Press Release Contact
JMC Security
Unit 3 Planetary Business Park
Planetary Road
Willenhall
West Midlands
WV13 3SW

Email: info@jmcsecurity.co.uk.
Phone: 0208 144 9206

Link To This Press Release:

URL HTML Code