Cameras on pots to assess crustacean abundance

Cameras are put on the inside and outside of crab and lobster creel pots to count the abundance of wild populations in comparison to how many are caught, addressing data deficiencies in crustacean fisheries.

The Issue

  • Crustacean fisheries are classed as data poor fisheries, there is a lot of unknown information, such as whether what fishermen catch and land at the quayside is linked to population dynamics.
  • The Crab Management committee highlighted the lack of quality data on crustacean fisheries across the UK.
  • The lack of science impedes evidence-based stock assessment, management plans and subsequently the sustainability of the fisheries, the fishermen and communities who depend upon it for their livelihoods.

The Solution

  • The Holderness Fishing Industry Group was the industry partner leading a scientific research contract alongside Cefas, Bangor University, Heriot Watt University and Orkney Sustainable Fisheries.
  • They worked to address data deficiencies in crustacean fisheries with funding through the Fisheries Industry Science Partnership (FISP) scheme.
  • Cameras, put on the inside and outside of crab and lobster creel pots, counted the abundance of wild populations in comparison to how many are caught.
  • This can help advise for more suitable stock assessments in the future.

The Process

  • The project developed over several years working with lots of different collaborators who were doing similar research and developing similar technologies with different specifications to address data gaps in crustacean fisheries.
  • Mike Roach, of the Holderness Fishing Industry Group acted as the industry partner leading on the scientific research. Mike applied to FISP to fund the scientific research proposal to use novel camera technologies to address the data deficiencies in crustacean fisheries.
  • Participating vessels from three UK fisheries, Holderness, Orkney, and Isle of Man, deployed creel mounted camera systems to investigate population abundance indices (i.e., count the abundance) of wild populations and to calculate the catch dynamics for potting fisheries (i.e., how many animals are caught vs. remain).
  • The cameras used by the Holderness Fisheries Inshore Group were designed and constructed by Cefas under their “Lobstercam” project. The camera systems used were developed under the Seafood Innovation project.
  • The cameras record information from the seafloor, without the need for an onboard or underwater observer. This does not impact the financial output or safety of fishing vessels, offering a new way of assessing stocks with quality data
  • A full work package has been developed to integrate the data collected through the project into the improvement of stock assessments for the three fisheries. This will allow managers to assess the stocks whilst supporting the fishery more accurately.
  • The cameras were deployed by fishermen on their pots. The analysed data will directly feedback to the fishermen involved, translated into a format which will be useful to them.

Further Reading

  1. FISP projects: organisations that have been awarded grants and contracts in round 1 of the scheme – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
  2. Julie Bremner on Twitter: “Bridlington test images in from @CefasGovUK crustacean Fisheries Industry Science Partnership project with @ICITOrkney, Orkney Sustainable Fisheries & @sos_bangor_uni @MattColeman591, led by @HoldernessFIG.  https://t.co/SVQvMi2dw6” / Twitter

Learning Links

“We are delighted to be collaborating with HFIG and our other partners on the new FISP crustacean camera project. Our pot-mounted sensors will allow us to better understand the abundance and behaviour of crabs and lobsters around fishing gear, helping us to improve crustacean stock assessment. The project allows us to work directly with industry to answer key fisheries questions and brings three geographically distinct fisheries together to share expertise and look at the broader picture.”

Dr Julie Bremner, Cefas

“Orkney Sustainable Fisheries are pleased to announce we will be involved with the exciting new Holderness fishing industry group (HFIG) project “Use of new technology to address data deficiencies in assessment of static gear crustacean fisheries. We are looking forward to seeing how this project develops and working to trial new technologies in the Orkney creel fishery."

Claire Lambden, Orkney Sustainable Fisheries, Ltd

“Collaboration with industry is key to enhancing fisheries management. We are very pleased, through our work with Isle of Man fishers, to take part in this exciting project which will provide much needed data to improve our abilities in crab and lobster stock assessment.”

Prof Stuart Jenkins, School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University

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