Falklands Squid Fishery Implements Camera System
The Falkland Islands are home to one of the world’s most productive squid fisheries. Yet, what actually happens inside trawl gear has often remained unseen.
“We put the camera in the upper part of the rig,” shares the skipper of the trawler vessel Igueldo.
The 83-metre vessel, is one of many that fish these waters. To gain a clearer view, the Igueldo recently began monitoring catch behaviour by pairing CatchCam underwater cameras with their existing sensor system during fishing operations at sea.
As a result, the footage provided valuable insight into how the trawl gear behaves underwater and how squid responds to it.
Monitoring Catch Behaviour Inside the Trawl
Now back in Vigo after a fishing season in the Falkland Islands, the skipper shared the underwater footage with our team. Watch below how this footage helps reveal catch behaviour inside the net:
The footage reveals what’s happening inside the squid trawl during fishing operations. Recorded at depths of 200 – 600 metres underwater, it showcases a lot of movement: from how squid behaves and interacts with the trawl net to the small amount of bycatch caught.
By monitoring catch behaviour, the CatchCam camera empowers the skipper with valuable visual data.
This footage helps track trawl gear performance, reduce bycatch, and support better decision-making during fishing operations. Ultimately, it can improve both sustainability and efficiency at sea.
CatchCam’s 800m Trawl System
To capture this underwater footage, the skipper used the CatchCam system, designed to operate reliably at depths of up to 800 metres. The camera was fitted with a dedicated Trawl Attachment to withstand the rigours of trawl fishing gear.
If you’d like to explore how CatchCam can help improve your fishing operations, arrange a call with our team below.
