Onboard Feedback: How a Shetland Fishing Vessel Uses CatchCam
“We have door spread sensors but no exact way of knowing what our nets are doing”, shares the skipper of the Shetland fishing vessel, Brighter Hope (LK 98).
As a member of the Shetland fishing fleet, Tom works closely with the Shetland Fish Producers’ Organisation (SFPO). Together, they’re testing new ways to monitor trawl gear and develop a more precise way of fishing.
Now with a CatchCam underwater camera on hand, he adds:
“Once we got the CatchCam mounted in the correct place, we achieved good results on seeing exactly what our trawl gear was doing”.
Using Underwater Cameras to Monitor Trawl Gear Setup
Underwater footage recorded by the CatchCam camera while mounted to the trawl vessel Brighter Hope (LK 98) in Shetland.
The CatchCam camera was mounted all over the twin rig trawl to observe various aspects of its performance.
However, Tom’s main interest lay in a specific goal: ensuring that trawl doors were towing squarely and consistently along the seabed. “To enable optimum fishing results, we need our gear to be towing square and also firmly on the bottom,” shares Tom.
The underwater footage ensured the vessel was fishing correctly as it towed. He adds: “Well, the video put my mind at ease”.
Tom Robertson, his brother Ross, and friend George Jamieson took ownership of the Shetland fishing vessel Brighter Hope, back in 2022.
SFPO Trials CatchCam to Improve Shetland Fishing Fleet Efficiency
Tom is not the only one with a positive experience. In fact, the Shetland Fish Producers’ Organisation (SFPO) has also reported similar results after trialling two CatchCam cameras. These were deployed to improve the Shetland fishing fleet’s catching technique and to save on fuel.
“Our fishing crews in Shetland are committed to sustainable and efficient fishing methods, and our investment in this technology will support them in understanding and adapting their fishing gear with even greater confidence than was previously possible”
Brian shared his views in an article published in Shetland Fishermen last month.
Looking to Improve Your Own Fishing Operations?
The CatchCam system helps vessels like Brighter Hope monitor trawl gear, reduce trial and error, and enhance catch results, all while supporting responsible fishing practices.
Contact our team to see how the camera can be easily integrated into your operations.
