Snap Core, CatchCam Technologies and Precision Seafood Harvesting sign MOU to develop real-time catch sensing and release systems.
A Global Call to Action for Sustainable Fishing
As the world awaits the release of Ocean, the latest documentary by Sir David Attenborough, marine industries are being called to confront an uncomfortable truth: our current trajectory isn’t sustainable.
But while the challenges are well known, new technology collaborations like the one below offer a glimpse of the solutions that are already in motion.
This week, Snap Core, Precision Seafood Harvesting, and CatchCam Technologies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop a real-time catch sensing and release system for commercial fisheries.
The aim?
To combine the companies’ strengths in underwater monitoring, AI integration, and advanced harvesting systems to create a tool that can detect and respond to the accidental capture of protected species — all before the gear even surfaces.
“No single company can solve these challenges alone” says Tom Rossiter, CoFounder of CatchCam Technologies. “This agreement will put practical tools into the hands of skippers and scientists — gear that works with the ocean, not against it.”
Bycatch Management in Commercial Fisheries
The agreement focuses on the development of a catch sensing solution that can:
- Detect endangered, threatened, or protected (ETP) species, such as dolphins or seals.
- Analyse species composition, size and catch volume using on-board artificial intelligence.
- Transmit data in real-time to the vessel bridge.
- Trigger release-at-depth mechanism to free unwanted catch before hauling.
Trials will start in New Zealand’s inshore fishery, using the FloMo’s existing codend technology, developed by Precision Seafood Harvesting, as a starting point.
Smarter Decision-Making at Sea
This isn’t just about ethics — it’s about effectiveness. For commercial skippers, the benefits are clear:
- Better gear performance.
- Faster decisions and better catch management.
- Evidence-backed compliance with environmental regulations.
For fisheries scientists and managers, the technology will provide live, previously unseen ecological data from hard-to-monitor areas. For regulators and funding organisations, this collaboration represents a high-impact step toward scalable, measurable sustainability.
“Snap Core systems give us the agility we need to make this solution responsive in real-time,” says Chris Rodley, CEO of Snap Core. “We’re excited to see this collaboration extend and evolve.”
Actionable Solutions for Global Bycatch Challenges
With over 3 billion people relying on seafood as a main source of protein (WWF, 2021), the health of the ocean is a shared responsibility. When only a few nations act sustainably while others continue to overfish, the entire system suffers.
The Ocean documentary shines a spotlight on the state of the marine ecosystem and the responsibility of those who depend on it.
For skippers, scientists, and regulators who’ve long said ‘we need better data to do this right,’ this new collaboration highlights a shift. Not just toward better monitoring — but toward tools that are actionable.
“This partnership is about creating tools that help manage marine resources more effectively, now and into the future,” adds André Pinkert, General Manager Commercial of Precision Seafood Harvesting.
