Skip to main content
SLU publication database (SLUpub)

Abstract

Electronic monitoring (EM) using video cameras is valuable for documenting fisheries catch and bycatch, but it remains challenging to implement in small-scale fisheries. Current barriers include high costs, technical installation needs and limited power supply on small vessels. In addition, as most EM systems on the market are difficult to quickly move between vessels, they do not allow for random data collection, which may be required to obtain reliable estimates of bycatch across a fleet. Basic EM systems available, designed for use in small-scale fisheries, are image-based, have low frame rates and are not always capable of recording in high enough video quality to identify species with high precision.The Swedish small-scale fishery consists of over 700 boats (under 12 m length), with key target species including cod, herring, sprat and flatfish. To meet monitoring requirements and to gather sufficient data for machine-learning applications, we created the HafsAuga MobileEM: a low-cost mobile multi-camera, GPS and remote data offload system for recording data on fisheries catch, bycatch and effort. It records video (up to 60 fps), is compact (~ 2 kg) and deployable in under 30 minutes. Designed to be simple to operate and install, it is modifiable and allows users to connect to a vessel's 12v power or to an internal battery to record high-quality video footage continuously for over a week. This system is ideal for use in small-scale fisheries and also well-suited to situations where fleets need to be randomly sampled by quickly moving EM systems between vessels.Here, we describe the HafsAuga MobileEM system and outline its use in Sweden, where it has been in use since 2020. To date, twenty Swedish vessels have had mobile systems mounted on them and over 1000 fishing days have been successfully recorded. The HafsAuga MobileEM provides an innovative new EM tool with potential applications in fisheries in other regions.

Keywords

protected species; fisheries monitoring; small-scale fisheries

Published in

Research Ideas and Outcomes
2025, volume: 11, article number: e146649

SLU Authors

Associated SLU-program

Coastal and sea areas

UKÄ Subject classification

Marine Engineering
Agricultural Science
Fish and Aquacultural Science

Publication identifier

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/rio.11.e146649

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/141677