Periodic Reporting for period 3 - SUSTUNTECH (Sustainable tuna fisheries through advanced earth observation technologies)
Reporting period: 2023-05-01 to 2024-04-30
The EU requires fishing to be environmentally friendly, economically viable and socially sustainable to provide long-term European food security. As the catches of tropical tuna has reached its limit, the costs and carbon footprint need to be reduced to achieve such objectives. Fuel consumption may represent 50% of the total operational costs of the tuna vessels, which has been one of the main concerns of the fishing companies (Basurko et al.,2013; Suuronen et al., 2012). Moreover, world fishing industry emissions per landed tonne of fish have increased by 21% recently (Parker et al., 2018). A total amount of 3 billion litres of fuel have been consumed in a year by these fleets (Tyedmers and Parker, 2012). But as large pelagic fish, such as tuna species, are highly migratory, vessels targeting tuna species tend to have higher and more variable fuel consumption costs than other fishing of coastal species (Parker and Tyedmers, 2014). This involves 7.7 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions per year eq. into the atmosphere by the tuna purse seine fleet in fishing operations.
It is worthwhile to highlight that this sector provides 25,000 direct jobs and 54,000 indirect jobs in the EU. Fish distribution and human behaviour modulate fuel consumption, which in turn influence both the profitability and sustainability of the fisheries industry, as well as the ecosystem, through greenhouse emissions.
SusTunTech proposes to apply big data and machine learning approaches to improve day by day operations of tuna fishing vessels and its emissions reduction, by generating added value to the environmental data services provided by Copernicus. The project resulted in Key Enabling Technologies (KETs) that will help to reduce emissions per catch landed, and to enhance the fishing industry profit and improve species selectivity.
The overall objective of SusTunTech was to support the tuna fishing industry to reduce by at least 20% fuel consumption through KETs based on a more effective use of Copernicus data. This benefits to i) the industry by reducing costs, ii) the society by reducing its environmental footprint, and iii) species/stocks, by them being exploited with more knowledge and responsibility.
It is worthwhile to highlight that this sector provides 25,000 direct jobs and 54,000 indirect jobs in the EU. Fish distribution and human behaviour modulate fuel consumption, which in turn influence both the profitability and sustainability of the fisheries industry, as well as the ecosystem, through greenhouse emissions.
SusTunTech proposes to apply big data and machine learning approaches to improve day by day operations of tuna fishing vessels and its emissions reduction, by generating added value to the environmental data services provided by Copernicus. The project resulted in Key Enabling Technologies (KETs) that will help to reduce emissions per catch landed, and to enhance the fishing industry profit and improve species selectivity.
The overall objective of SusTunTech was to support the tuna fishing industry to reduce by at least 20% fuel consumption through KETs based on a more effective use of Copernicus data. This benefits to i) the industry by reducing costs, ii) the society by reducing its environmental footprint, and iii) species/stocks, by them being exploited with more knowledge and responsibility.
The project consisted of four phases:
1. Design of data monitoring systems and installation in the vessels.
The aim of the SusTunTech project was to provide the tuna fishing industry with a suitable data acquisition system to support the exploitation of the project results. This system enables fishing vessels to contribute to publicly available ocean data and to support the development of short and long-term decision support services for fisheries. The devised system was based on Ratatosk, an in-house data acquisition system developed by SINTEF Ocean. To demonstrate and validate our system, an onshore testing facility and two tuna fishing vessels were equipped with all the sensors required to monitor and record engine parameters, fuel consumption and environmental variables. The two vessels that took part in this project provided valuable data as well as useful advice for further development of the system.
2. Model development and statistical validation.
SusTunTech developed algorithms using data collected from vessels and Earth Observation (EO) data obtained from Copernicus, and which have been tested in real world operations. These algorithms provide tuna distribution, route optimization and fuel efficiency models, which are combined to produce a set of tools that help skippers find the desired catch in a more efficient manner.
Moreover, the potential of the datasets compiled from fishing vessels used as data acquisition and harvesting platforms and as inputs for the services of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) was assessed. To advance towards this project objective, an evaluation of the variables from the three main data sources available (vessel, radar, and buoys) that could be most useful for the global effort of ocean monitoring was performed. Afterwards, to ensure the quality of the data and to make these datasets available to the marine community, an assessment of the datasets for pursuing the FAIR principles, together with a validation with independent data sources of the same variables, was carried out.
3. Integration of results into commercial products and testing.
The modules developed were integrated in the software which provides the users with the necessary information from their ships’ surroundings, to locate where the most productive fishing areas around them are, and to show the most efficient route to follow during normal operation, with the aim of spending less time at sea, saving fuel, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
4. Improvement, dissemination and commercialization of the developed products.
The Dissemination and Communication plan has promoted the project through online activities (website, social, video etc), traditional media, events, scientific communication, and many other tools, such as articles in EU magazines.
In terms of scientific outputs: 1) ten papers have been published, SusTunTech has also contributed to a book; 3) invited talks or discussions in international forums such as the e-shape clustering initiative, several ICES working groups and talks in universities and scientific conferences.
The project webpage has been regularly updated with articles promoted through the project’s social media accounts and promotional videos about the project and the three main products have been released.
At the end of the project, it can be stated that the listed phases have been completed. The consortium is however aware that there is still room for improvement in some aspects of the commercial products (Ratatosk 2.0 MarPrime Plus and SmartMarineView).
From now on, the dissemination of the project results and the commercialisation of the products should continue.
1. Design of data monitoring systems and installation in the vessels.
The aim of the SusTunTech project was to provide the tuna fishing industry with a suitable data acquisition system to support the exploitation of the project results. This system enables fishing vessels to contribute to publicly available ocean data and to support the development of short and long-term decision support services for fisheries. The devised system was based on Ratatosk, an in-house data acquisition system developed by SINTEF Ocean. To demonstrate and validate our system, an onshore testing facility and two tuna fishing vessels were equipped with all the sensors required to monitor and record engine parameters, fuel consumption and environmental variables. The two vessels that took part in this project provided valuable data as well as useful advice for further development of the system.
2. Model development and statistical validation.
SusTunTech developed algorithms using data collected from vessels and Earth Observation (EO) data obtained from Copernicus, and which have been tested in real world operations. These algorithms provide tuna distribution, route optimization and fuel efficiency models, which are combined to produce a set of tools that help skippers find the desired catch in a more efficient manner.
Moreover, the potential of the datasets compiled from fishing vessels used as data acquisition and harvesting platforms and as inputs for the services of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) was assessed. To advance towards this project objective, an evaluation of the variables from the three main data sources available (vessel, radar, and buoys) that could be most useful for the global effort of ocean monitoring was performed. Afterwards, to ensure the quality of the data and to make these datasets available to the marine community, an assessment of the datasets for pursuing the FAIR principles, together with a validation with independent data sources of the same variables, was carried out.
3. Integration of results into commercial products and testing.
The modules developed were integrated in the software which provides the users with the necessary information from their ships’ surroundings, to locate where the most productive fishing areas around them are, and to show the most efficient route to follow during normal operation, with the aim of spending less time at sea, saving fuel, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
4. Improvement, dissemination and commercialization of the developed products.
The Dissemination and Communication plan has promoted the project through online activities (website, social, video etc), traditional media, events, scientific communication, and many other tools, such as articles in EU magazines.
In terms of scientific outputs: 1) ten papers have been published, SusTunTech has also contributed to a book; 3) invited talks or discussions in international forums such as the e-shape clustering initiative, several ICES working groups and talks in universities and scientific conferences.
The project webpage has been regularly updated with articles promoted through the project’s social media accounts and promotional videos about the project and the three main products have been released.
At the end of the project, it can be stated that the listed phases have been completed. The consortium is however aware that there is still room for improvement in some aspects of the commercial products (Ratatosk 2.0 MarPrime Plus and SmartMarineView).
From now on, the dissemination of the project results and the commercialisation of the products should continue.
SusTunTech can be evaluated with the help of the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that allow to monitor the objectives and expected outcomes and impact.
The three main types of KPIs are technological, scientific and dissemination.
The technological KPIs focus on testing existing devices for new uses (e.g. oceanography) or new integrations for vessel monitoring, algorithm development and product development. As the overall concept of the project was to develop a complete set of new commercial solutions (Ratatosk 2.0 MarPrimePlus and SmartMarineView) based on a scientific non-commercialized product (Ratatosk) and two already commercialized products (MarPrime and Marine View™), the official market launch (full usability) of MarPrime Plus that is planned for August 2024, can be considered the main technological impact of SusTunTech. Regarding the other two products, Ratatosk 2.0 and SmartMarineView are at TRL-7 stage (System prototype demonstration in operational environment) since there is still room for improvement.
The 10 scientific publications ensure quality of the technological developments and the science behind them, as well as their long-term legacy. Regarding the dissemination aspect of the results, the project has been to the Fish-X High-level event at the EU Parliament celebrated on June 29th, 2023, invited by WWF European Policy Office to give a talk and be panellist on the topic of “Digital transition in EU Fisheries, how to better implement the Common Fisheries Policy?” and to different ICEs conferences.
The three main types of KPIs are technological, scientific and dissemination.
The technological KPIs focus on testing existing devices for new uses (e.g. oceanography) or new integrations for vessel monitoring, algorithm development and product development. As the overall concept of the project was to develop a complete set of new commercial solutions (Ratatosk 2.0 MarPrimePlus and SmartMarineView) based on a scientific non-commercialized product (Ratatosk) and two already commercialized products (MarPrime and Marine View™), the official market launch (full usability) of MarPrime Plus that is planned for August 2024, can be considered the main technological impact of SusTunTech. Regarding the other two products, Ratatosk 2.0 and SmartMarineView are at TRL-7 stage (System prototype demonstration in operational environment) since there is still room for improvement.
The 10 scientific publications ensure quality of the technological developments and the science behind them, as well as their long-term legacy. Regarding the dissemination aspect of the results, the project has been to the Fish-X High-level event at the EU Parliament celebrated on June 29th, 2023, invited by WWF European Policy Office to give a talk and be panellist on the topic of “Digital transition in EU Fisheries, how to better implement the Common Fisheries Policy?” and to different ICEs conferences.