Smart Buoys Aim to Improve Fishing Selectivity

With the aim of increasing selectivity and improving sustainable fishing of target species, Project ‘SelecTuna’ is set to deploy of more than 1,500 Satlink smart buoys.

The Spanish tuna fleet, one of the most technologically advanced in the world, continues to pave the way in enhancing the sustainability of its activity. This time it does so by launching project ‘SelecTuna’, a worldwide pioneering initiative that will allow the deployment of more than 1,500 smart buoys from tech company Satlink.

The buoys will be deployed in three oceans where tropical tuna is caught (Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Ocean), with the aim of increasing fishing selectivity. This will favor the catching of species whose exploitation is sustainable, while avoiding catching more vulnerable ones.

This collaboration agreement, signed between the Organization of Associated Producers of Large-scale Freezer Tuna Vessels (OPAGAC) and Satlink, is embedded within the activities and initiatives of OPAGAC’s 2024 Production and Commercialization Plan. It also aims to enhance innovation and improve technology to fine-tune discrimination between tropical tuna species, adapting it to different oceanographic contexts.

The Selective smart buoy, a pioneering development by Satlink, features a unique dual echo-sounder and acoustic technology system, that enables it to differentiate between tropical tuna species: skipjack tuna on the one hand, and yellowfin and bigeye tuna on the other. Project ‘SelecTuna’ will be key in improving the identification of the latter two, yellowfin and bigeye tuna, thanks to enhanced algorithms, contrasted with intensive sampling. 

This information will allow the Spanish fleet to focus on their target species, promoting the conservation of sensitive species stocks, and increasing its efficiency by reducing fishing effort and generating significant savings in time, resources, fuel and carbon footprint.

In addition, thanks to the collaboration of the fleet and their fieldwork, the project will increase the collection of information and data on the ground to assess the performance of the buoys in different oceanographic contexts and real operational conditions. 

Adaptability to Oceanographic and Operational Conditions

With project ‘SelecTuna’, Satlink will enhance its technology for discriminating between tropical tuna species by collecting and analyzing the echosounder estimates obtained by the buoys. 

It will also analyze the data reported by the fleet in real time and, when necessary, report on the oceanographic and operational conditions of each region. The data collected will also allow the tech company to contemplate other potential technological developments.  

‘SelecTuna’ will also increase knowledge about the biology, behavior, and distribution of tropical tuna populations, as well as provide reliable and quality data for the development of abundance indices produced by different scientific institutions, and implemented by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs), fostering data-driven decision-making. 

Faustino Velasco, president of Satlink, commented; “It is a pleasure to once again collaborate with the Spanish fleet, a world reference in the application of new technologies in the fishing sector to ensure ethical and sustainable practices in regard to resources, the ecosystem and its workers. 

“‘SelecTuna’ is a perfect example of our commitment to developing technology solutions that contribute to the sustainability of the oceans and fisheries management, by promoting resource protection, improving scientific knowledge, and optimizing fleet operations.”

Julio Morón, managing director of OPAGAC, added; “The commitment to improving our fishery, whose origins date back to the 1960s, has sought to have the most cutting-edge mechanisms available to optimize and control our activity and ensure that our catches result from transparent, sustainable and responsible fishing. 

“This project is a step further in the same direction, integrating the most advanced solutions for the sustainability of our fishing activity.”