Saving Seafood

‘Smart boats’, AI could revolutionise UK fishing, seafood industries

July 22, 2019 — UK environment secretary Michael Gove has today delivered a boost for innovation in the country’s seafood industry with the opening of a new £10 million research and development fund.

The move paves the way for the potential use of artificial intelligence by fishermen and providing a potential double return on investment for the UK economy, the government claimed.

With the UK fishing industry contributing around £1.4 billion to the economy and employing over 24,000 people, there is huge potential for innovation to improve the technology available across the sector.

Unlike existing funding programs, the Seafood Innovation Fund will focus on delivering longer-term, cutting edge innovation.

UK businesses are already developing satellite technology and virtual watch rooms to track vessel movements, and integrating lighting into fishing nets to reduce unwanted catch and improve efficiency. But with the global fishing industry worth nearly £300bn, the government hopes this fund will encourage further technological development and unlock export opportunities around the world for UK technology pioneers.

“This government is investing record amounts in research and development, with this £10m fund further driving UK innovation,” said Gove. “As the UK establishes itself as an independent coastal state, the Seafood Innovation Fund will bring together our world-leading fishing, seafood, and technology industries to deliver more sustainable and productive fisheries for the future.”

Read the full story at Undercurrent News

Royal Navy to help protect British fishing fleets after Brexit

October 18, 2018 — Speaking to the House of Lords EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee, the Environment Secretary said that 60 people, including members of the navy, will be needed to protect Britain’s fishing waters.

It comes months after Cornish fishermen and their French counterparts agreed a truce in the so-called ‘scallop wars‘ over prime fishing territory in the Baie de Seine, north of Normandy.

Mr Gove said: “We’ve presented a business case to the treasury, outlining the additional capacity that we need. Both ships and also aviation but also staff.

“We’ll need to recruit potentially another sixty people to work in fisheries protection work, we’re in the process of recruiting those people now.

“They’ll need three months training in order to get people to be ready and effective to do their job.

“We’ll get some of that capacity from the private sector, but it’s also the case we will need some capacity from the Royal Navy.”

He also said that people who want to be “absolutely certain” they can take their pets abroad in the Easter holidays after Brexit should see their vet in November.

Mr Gove said the UK becoming an “unlisted third country” after a no-deal Brexit would lead to onerous new measures for pet owners.

The scenario for what replaces the current pet travel scheme is the most unlikely, he told peers, as it is usually only applied to countries with a real risk of disease.

But he said: “If you want to be absolutely certain you can take your pet abroad and you’re worried about the worst case scenario and you’re taking your pet abroad for example during the Easter holidays then you should see your vet.

Read the full story at the Evening Standard