DSeine

Context

Understanding the operational dynamics of purse seine nets is essential to improve fishing efficiency, reduce the risk of net damage and enhance crew safety. However, despite their central role in the operations of frozen tuna seiner vessels, purse seine gear still presents major information gaps regarding its behaviour during manoeuvres.

At present, this gear is poorly instrumented, which limits control over setting and hauling operations and results in efficiency losses, gear degradation and high repair costs. While other sectors have adopted digital monitoring technologies (IoT), purse seine fishing has so far benefited very little from these advances. The integration of wireless underwater sensors into the gear itself therefore represents a key opportunity to improve manoeuvre control and move towards safer and more efficient fishing.

Objectives

The overall objective of the DSeine project is to improve control of purse seine gear during manoeuvres through the use of digital IoT (Internet of Things) technology, with the aim of increasing safety and operational efficiency while minimising the risk of damage.

More specifically, the project seeks to provide fisheries technicians and net technical departments with real-time information on the dynamics of the purse seine gear through the installation of a network of small wireless underwater sensors (USBL) integrated into the gear itself. These sensors will provide essential data such as:
• Depth
• Position

The information collected will be integrated in real time into a visualisation system, enabling skippers to monitor the behaviour of the gear during the different stages of the manoeuvre (setting, purse line hauling, skiff towing and net hauling) and make informed operational decisions, both in real time and through subsequent analysis.

The first trials will be carried out on the Ortze training vessel, equipped with a scaled purse seine net, with the aim of validating the solution and, depending on the results, scaling up the development.

Expected impact

The project will make it possible to move from the current very limited control of purse seine gear, based on one or two point depth references, to a broad network of wireless underwater sensors integrated into the gear itself, capable of describing its full spatial and temporal evolution through a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system with a temporal component (XYZ,T). This solution, for which there are no comparable precedents on the market, represents an innovative step forward in purse seine gear monitoring and in the integration of digital technologies into its operation.

The availability of objective, real-time information on gear behaviour will help optimise manoeuvres, reduce the risk of damage and contribute to extending the service life of the net, lowering repair costs and minimising the economic losses associated with downtime or unplanned returns to port. In addition, improved operational control will strengthen crew safety, ultimately supporting purse seine fishing that is more efficient, safer and more sustainable.

Funding