In this second installment of Q&As with the Net Gains Advisory Panel we do a bit more of a deep dive with Lori Steele, Executive Director of the West Coast Seafood Processors Association. We’ll hear more from Lori, and others, in the coming weeks:
QUESTION 1: Since the COVID-19 crisis first emerged over six months ago, the debate about human observers onboard commercial fishing vessels has seemed to escalate - with questions about both crew and observer safety, and the myriad issues and consequences that arise, or potentially arise, should observer coverages be waived. Do you see this as an opportunity for better technology - including more EM/ER - to be implemented? Do you have any recommendations for how to achieve this? Are there any short term opportunities that might be easily implemented now that could potentially lead to longer-term positive impacts?
LORI: The debate about the health and safety of both observers/monitors and members of the fishing industry during the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted some benefits of electronic monitoring and electronic reporting (EM/ER). Obtaining and sustaining adequate funding is always a significant obstacle when developing EM/ER programs, but timing is certainly excellent right now to support EM/ER research/development and pilot programs (working with NMFS and regional Fishery Management Councils to utilize exempted fishery permits, for example). During the pandemic, fishery participants who use EM/ER experience the added benefits of removing health/safety concerns associated with having an observer/monitor work on the vessel, in close quarters for extended periods of time.
However, while there are some obvious benefits of supporting EM/ER programs, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, implementing EM/ER technologies across a fishery or fishery sector is not a quick or simple task and should not be taken on lightly. There are a number of complex issues that must be fully resolved before scaling up a pilot program to a fishery, a few of which include data ownership, data storage, confidentiality, data systems standards, and, of course, costs (government vs. industry). The West Coast groundfish trawl industry has been working for years to develop EM/ER, and significant challenges remain even in the final stages. Just recently in August 2020, NMFS delayed regulatory implementation of the (permanent) EM/ER program in the West Coast trawl fishery until January 2022.
QUESTION 2: We’ve all had our fair share of negative news these past few months. Is there a positive story or event that you’ve heard about or are familiar with (particularly about people becoming innovative and creative with technology) that you could share with us?
This Spring, we received great news from one of our member companies. Ocean Gold Seafoods, based in Westport, WA, was awarded a Saltonstall-Kennedy (S-K) grant on behalf of the West Coast Pelagic Conservation Group to continue a collaborative project to collect survey data to help inform sardine stock assessments and improve the understanding of other Pacific coastal pelagic species such as herring, anchovies and mackerel. The project, “Utilize an Industry-Seine Fishing Vessel to Enhance Data Collection and Improve Assessment of Pacific Coast Coastal Pelagic Species for the Benefit of the Fishing Industry and Fishing Communities,” builds on past proof-of-concept research projects in which the West Coast Pelagic group started to help assess the nearshore stocks. These shallower areas are habitat for large volumes of sardines and other pelagic fish.
The project builds on past proof-of-concept research projects in which the West Coast Pelagic group started to help assess the nearshore stocks. These shallower areas are habitat for large volumes of sardines and other pelagic fish. Industry investigators will use the F/V Lisa Marie, locally owned by Andy Blair. The vessel has a sophisticated echosounder (a type of sonar) to record schools of fish in the nearshore areas. Then, researchers will use the vessel’s purse seine net to capture a portion of the fish in the same area. Washington Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) biologists will sample species for length, age and sex data from a 20-pound selection of each seine set and release the rest of the fish unharmed. The Lisa Marie will survey established nearshore transects from the U.S./Canadian border to northern California throughout the summer and fall (2021) in conjunction with the NOAA research vessel Reuben Lasker doing similar work in deeper waters.
The improved science can help the industry by improving fleet and processor operational efficiencies through better planning, which builds and stabilizes markets. Incomes from the fish sales and vessel activities feed into coastal communities. The sardine fishery off Washington and Oregon has been closed in recent years; this collaborative research will help inform stock assessments by recording the biomass of fish in the shallow areas.
QUESTION 3: There is much opportunity to improve the efficiency and transparency of how fisheries data is gathered and used - in support of better management and in support of better economic performance for fishers and the fishing industry. In your opinion, what are three of the top technologies, innovations or ideas that you think could really help transform the industry - for the good of all - within the next few years?
LORI: A critical component of sustainability and environmental responsibility is efficiency. Technological advancements that improve the efficiency of the fishing fleet will produce significant and widespread benefits – not only for the fleet by reducing costs, but also for our fisheries resources and the environment – by reducing fishing time, bottom contact, and minimizing bycatch.
Integrated, centralized, electronic data-collection systems can greatly improve efficiency for fishermen and processors, as well as fisheries scientists and managers. We need to centralize and modernize our current data systems to reduce the burden on the industry and better utilize data for management.
There is a vast array of technology aimed at better sampling fish, the ocean, and our environment – enhanced camera systems are being designed to do identify, count, and measure fish; sensors and Saildrones are being deployed to survey the marine environment. These developments will continue to contribute to our knowledge base and improve fisheries stock assessments.
Fishing technologies to better identify fish before they are caught will continue to reduce bycatch. Sonars/echosounders help differentiate fish species and work for both fishermen and scientists in doing hydroacoustic sampling (West Coast cooperative sardine survey, for example).
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In this first installment we hear from Eric Brazer, Deputy Director, Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders' Alliance, John Henderschedt, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Phoenix Processor Limited Partnership, and Bill Karp, Affiliate Professor, University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences.
QUESTION 1: There is abundant opportunity to improve the efficiency and transparency of how fisheries data is gathered and used - in support of better management and in support of better economic performance for fishermen and the fishing industry.
In your opinion, what are three of the top technologies, innovations or ideas that you think could really help transform the industry - for the good of all - within the next few years?
ERIC: First, full transparency and traceability in the U.S. seafood supply chain. This will allow consumers the ability to truly know what seafood they’re eating, how it got there, and who caught it. The technology exists and is already being implemented with programs like Gulf WildTM in the Gulf of Mexico.
Second, comprehensive broadband access everywhere. Fishermen often have to deal with inconsistent satellite coverage at sea, yet we can communicate with astronauts in space and subs under water. Data can’t be used if data can’t be transmitted.
And third, we need centralized fishery data systems. Fishermen shouldn’t be required to repetitively enter information into multiple forms and report to multiple systems every time they leave and return to the dock. Enter it once and with one touch the data get where they need to go.
JOHN: I consider the stereo-camera systems designed to do the enumeration, measurement, and species identification of individual fish to be extremely promising as it gets closer to actual biological sampling than any other technology I am aware of. At the other end of the spectrum, and looking at the fisheries data issue more globally, I believe that small and inexpensive VMS - something like the Pelagic Data model - can be incredibly impactful in small scale fisheries where resources are limited and fleet sizes range in the hundreds and thousands.
QUESTION 2: While negative impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on our commercial fishing industry have been well covered and documented, are there opportunities, or silver linings, that have emerged as a consequence? If so, what are they?
BILL: The industry will be stressed for some years following the pandemic. Resources available for science and management will also likely be constrained for some time as we deal with the financial consequences. This creates a wonderful opportunity for cooperative research, using industry vessels for conducting surveys, and building effective collaborative scientific investigations which bring scientists and fishers together.
ERIC: Commercial fishermen are lifelong problem-solvers and the COVID-19 global health pandemic has spotlighted just how creative and resourceful these men and women can be. It’s not easy to revamp a business plan or to take on an added burden of selling your fish after you’ve spent all day (or the last 10 days) catching fish, but they’re doing it. It’s not easy to build retail markets or turn to Facebook to sell your catch, but they’re doing it. And it’s not easy to ask Senators and Congressmen for much needed relief funding, but they’re doing it.
Some fishing businesses won’t survive this crisis. But most will, and will emerge stronger to service a nation of seafood consumers that has turned out in droves to buy local seafood and help their neighbors. There’s an upswing in seafood consumption at a trajectory that exists no where else in the food world that we’re aware of, and we’re working hard to maintain this in whatever new normal we get to.
JOHN: As someone who manages two processing ships that carry a combined crew compliment of 260 people, I can point to the fact that efforts in social-distancing, use of PPE, engineering controls, etc. that have been used in response to COVID have resulted in generally healthier crews. Better hygiene results in less illness, even if we’re talking about the common cold.
More to come next week as we hear from these and other Net Gains Advisory Panel members on a few other topics.