A new and exciting technology was tested in relation to capelin measurements In the latest capelin survey of MFRI´s research vessel Árni Friðriksson. The device is called the FishScanner and is developed by StarOddi and the Marine Research Institute in collaboration with Hampiðjan, and funded by the Technology Development Fund of RannÍs. The device is at the final stages of design and has previously been tested on board trawlers, including in redfish research, but this is the first time it has been tested alongside echo sounder measurements.
Artificial intelligence to identify species
The FishScanner is designed as a plastic ring placed in front of the trawl codend, with two wide-angle stereo cameras inside the ring. Cameras of this type take 3D images of the subject, which makes it possible to measure the length of the capelin regardless of its distance from the lens. Additionally, the device is intended to train a neural network (artificial intelligence) to identify capelin from other species. In this test, red light was used, which has less impact on the behavior of the capelin.
Hampiðjan has designed a custom cable (DynIce Data) and designed solutions to place it in the fishing gear for connecting the device to the ship, allowing the image data to be streamed in real time for processing. With this real-time analysis, not only is it possible to save time in data collection, but also to train the neural network to automatically identify and measure the capelin. By using this device alongside echo sounder measurements, the accuracy of the analysis can be improved. The first results of the test are promising and suggest that the technology could lead to more accurate echo sounder measurements by seeing what is entering the trawl at each location and depth and what the composition of the catch in real-time is in terms of age or species.
Fruitful coooperation
The project demonstrates how cooperation between research institutions and high-tech companies can lead to innovations that improve both research and commercial fisheries. With further development, implementing this technology in commercial fishing is expected to be possible in the near future, which will further enhance our knowledge of the biological characteristics of the ocean while also improving the accuracy of fishing and saving time and energy.
The project manager for this development work is Haraldur A. Einarsson, and the expedition leader for this test was Teresa Sofia Giesta da Silva.
Below is a short video clip from the camera of the scanner in the ocean doing its job.
Text and images from the Marine and Freshwater Reasearch Institute.
