(Kaohsiung, Taiwan) March 27, 2023 – FCF Co., Ltd. (FCF) has announced a partnership with Satlink to improve fishery dependent data collection in the distant water fishery industry using its Electronic Monitoring System (EMS) and scientific data analysis. EMS has been installed on several vessels participating in FCF’s Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs). This project not only increases the at-sea monitoring of fishing activities to ensure that the vessels are fully cooperating with the management measures developed by the relevant regional fishery management organizations (RFMOs) and domestic regulations; it also aligns with FCF’s sustainable development goals in supporting sustainable fishery practices.
In recent years, stakeholders in the fishing industry have shown an increased interest in the application of EMS in distant water fisheries. EMS aims to improve the accuracy of data such as catch composition and disposition, target and non-target species and can assist in the assessment of fisheries resources through the monitoring of fishing activities using videos, image processing and AI automatic recognition systems. For example, when bycatch occurs, the EMS records and saves images of the incident and the subsequent on-board handling process. This valuable information is expected to contribute to the conservation and sustainable management, and improve biodiversity of our great oceans better allowing policy-makers or fisheries managers to implement better action plans when gaps are accurately identified.
“We are delighted to work with our supply chain partners to expand the installation of electronic monitoring systems which will augment our at-sea observers and will greatly improve the quality and quantity of fishery dependent data,” said Arthur Yeh, the Executive Vice President of FCF. “This project not only aligns with FCF’s sustainable development goals, but also uses innovative technologies to help fisheries adopt more effective monitoring.
Key Traceability (KT), FCF’s long-term partner in the FIPs, also highlighted the importance of EMS technology in improving the accuracy of fishing data and supporting sustainable fisheries development. Tom Evans, Key Traceability’s Science Manager, stated “EMS has become the most effective solution to addressing a lack of data in fisheries. Many fisheries have already proven the effectiveness of EMS, and the collected data can be vital information for achieving fisheries certification.”
The next phase of the project will focus on enhancing the application and deployment of electronic observer technology in the supply chain by installing more systems, reviewing and analyzing reports, and implementing related improvement actions. In the face of the challenges confronting the fisheries industry, FCF will continue to work with its partners and welcome stakeholders’ support to promote sustainable fisheries development and help address the challenges confronting the fisheries industry.
