Fish Selector - sorting fish by size and specie

Fish Selector

Fish sorting

Overview

The Fish Selector gives the following advantages:

• The equipment is pre-programmed to automatically sort fish underwater by certain size and specie
• Unwanted fish are automatically bypassed and swim away
• No more discarding of fish
• Counting of caught fish and bypassed fish
• Helps skipper with decision making of selecting fishing area
• Increased value of the catch

Description

The Fish Selector helps sorting the fish while still in the trawl. The equipment is pre-programmed to select fish by specific size and specie.  The unwanted fish, either too small or not the right specie, are automatically sorted out and released through a door into the open ocean.  When Fish Selector is brought on the ship deck, collected information can be wirelessly retrieved on quantity of fish caught as well as quantity bypassed.  Other data can be collected such as depth, temperature and inclination. 

The aims of using Fish Selector is to increase the value of the catch, avoid discard of fish and increase fishing efficiency by helping with decision making for the skipper of selecting a fishing area. In addition to benefitting the commercial fisheries companies the marine research institutes may find scientific value in using the equipment in their studies. 

In the Fish Selector there are video cameras and computer equipment that scan the fish, measure the length and determine the species. The desired fish approved by the equipment goes straight into the cod end of the trawl.  Fish Selector is mounted in front of the cod end of the trawl. The Star-Oddi motor system and electronic container is powered by a battery pack that typically lasts 4 hours, depending on the activity of the bypass gate. Battery pack is rechargeable.

See a news video clip on the Fish Selector on YouTube.
Read an article about Fish Selector in the Feb. 2011 issue of Irish magazine The Skipper.