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I CATCH

Period: January 2021 till December 2022
Status: Completed
 Institute 

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Abstract
) In the I CATCH project, an innovative underwater sorting system for
beam trawling is developed, fish swimming through the net are scanned
and then sorted so that commercial fish are collected in the codend and
bycatch is released alive. To achieve this, the project intends to develop a
sorting system consisting of two scanning rings equipped with ultrasonic
(frequency > 20 kHz) sonar sensors and a mechanical valve (or possibly
another system). The size of the fish caught will be calculated from the
scanning results and a mechanical flap will change position to release
bycatch via an escape route through an opening in the net, or to guide
commercial fish through the catch route to the codend. In addition,
images will be generated from the captured ultrasonic sonar data to
monitor the catch on board and allow for adjustments (e.g. opening and
closing the mechanical flap) as required. The aim of this sorting system is
to eliminate the bycatch in beam trawling so that fishing becomes more
sustainable and fish quotas can be used to maximum effect.

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