Innovative Ropeless Fishing Technology Receives Major Funding

Teledyne Benthos,a leader in underwater communication solutions under Teledyne Marine,has secured a significant grant of $975,000 from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) aimed at enhancing on-demand,or ropeless,fishing technology.

Transforming Fishing Practices

This cutting-edge ropeless fishing approach offers lobster and crab fisheries a method to retrieve fishing gear remotely using subsea acoustic communication, effectively minimizing or eliminating the reliance on traditional ropes, lines, and surface buoys.

The funding will facilitate the progression of ropeless fishing technology, which is vital for fostering sustainable fishing practices and mitigating the risk of marine life entanglements.

Collaboration for Innovation

Since 2018,Teledyne Benthos,EdgeTech,Inc., and the Sea Mammal Education Learning Technology Society (SMELTS) have been pioneers in the development and testing of ropeless fishing equipment. The current project focuses on adapting commercial gear to enable thes organizations to work together on a unified user interface and an associated acoustic transducer suitable for both vessel and portable applications.

Key to this initiative is enhancing interoperability between the transponders and acoustic modems created by Teledyne Benthos and EdgeTech. Additionally, gear marking will be refined through directional measurements, allowing for a standardized interface with Teledyne Raymarine chart plotters, thereby improving usability and accessibility for end users.

Reliable Communication for Sustainable Fishing

The acoustic modems developed by Teledyne Benthos serve as the foundation of the ropeless fishing system. They enable dependable subsea communication, providing essential information for deploying and retrieving gear without the conventional ropes and lines that pose risks to marine species, including the endangered North Atlantic right whales and other cetaceans.

Enhancing Gear Marking and Retrieval

The creation of a universal deck box paired with a transponder will establish a robust system for gear marking and retrieval. These transponders send out acoustic signals that are captured by the vessel’s deck box, allowing for accurate location tracking and ensuring smooth operation between teledyne Benthos and other devices.

Incorporating a chart plotter will provide a user-kind interface tailored to meet the practical needs of users in real-world scenarios, making it efficient for daily operations.

Future Directions in Ropeless Fishing

Teledyne Benthos is committed to collaborating with deck box and transducer developers to test ropeless fishing gear, focusing on interoperability and enhancing gear marking technology to offer a sustainable alternative for the fishing sector.

This initiative is made possible through the generous grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and will be executed in partnership with EdgeTech and SMELTS.

Bob Melvin, Chief Engineer at Teledyne Marine, expressed enthusiasm about the project, stating, “We are thrilled to be making important strides in innovative fishing technology. Our commitment lies in equipping the fishing industry with reliable and efficient tools while safeguarding marine life and acting as responsible stewards of our ocean environment.”