Aerial drone technology can assist compliance of trap fisheries

Illegal fishing is a global issue that threatens the viability of fishing industries and biodiversity conservation. Management agencies typically use on‐ground surveillance to monitor and minimise illegal fishing practices, the efficacy of which may be enhanced by integrating emerging remote sensing...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Fisheries management and ecology 2020-08, Vol.27 (4), p.381-388
Main Authors: Provost, Euan J., Butcher, Paul A., Coleman, Melinda A., Bloom, Daniel, Kelaher, Brendan P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biodiversity
Brackishwater environment
Cameras
Colour
compliance
Detection
Drifters
Drone aircraft
Drones
Estuaries
Estuarine dynamics
Estuarine fisheries
Fisheries
fisheries management
Fishing
Flight altitude
Floats
Illegal fishing
Industry
infrared
Infrared cameras
Marine crustaceans
Remote sensing
Screens
Surveying
Technology
Traps
UAV
Wildlife conservation
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Summary:Illegal fishing is a global issue that threatens the viability of fishing industries and biodiversity conservation. Management agencies typically use on‐ground surveillance to monitor and minimise illegal fishing practices, the efficacy of which may be enhanced by integrating emerging remote sensing technology. Affordable drones may contribute to cost‐effective detection of illegal fishing activity and associated gear, although their application has yet to be evaluated in many types of fisheries. Here, the utility of drones for the detection of crab traps and floats set in a shallow estuary was quantitatively tested, and the effects of survey altitudes, cameras and monitor screens on detection rates were determined. It was found that drone flight altitude and float colour influenced the detection rates of common crab trap floats, with infrared cameras improving the detection of floats camouflaged by black paint. However, the type of monitor screen used by the drone operator had no influence on the detection of crab traps. Overall, it appears drones can contribute to cost‐effective compliance in estuarine trap fisheries, and the approach can contribute to evidence‐based standard operating procedures.
ISSN:0969-997X
1365-2400
DOI:10.1111/fme.12420