SafetyNet Technologies has announced the winner of its CatchCam giveaway
SafetyNet Technologies is pleased to announce Lachlan Fetterplace as the winner of its CatchCam giveaway, held back in November.
Lachlan, a marine ecologist and researcher from the Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua) at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, emerged as the lucky entrant. Based in the north of Sweden, Lachlan brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the field of fisheries research.
Expressing his excitement about winning the CatchCam, Lachlan said, “I’ve seen some of the underwater footage from the CatchCam camera, and I could tell it is fit for purpose.” As a marine ecologist, Lachlan has previously used camera technology for aquatic monitoring in Australia and Scandinavia. His work focuses on bycatch assessment and mitigation in small-scale Swedish commercial fisheries using gillnets, as well as various pot and trap types.
“We use various cobbled together camera systems already but have been wanting to try the CatchCam primarily because it looks like it would be much more efficient,” added Lachlan. He plans to integrate CatchCam into his ongoing projects assessing the feasibility of electronic monitoring of bycatch in small-scale fisheries in Sweden.
Designed by SafetyNet Technologies for commercial fisheries, CatchCam is an underwater camera that can monitor underwater activity in and around fishing gear, specifically gillnets. Tom Rossiter, Head of Precision Fishing at SafetyNet Technologies, highlighted the significance of such technology, stating, “With the camera, fishermen can now get clear answers, helping them fish better and more precisely.”
The CatchCam is expected to facilitate collaboration between fisheries scientists and commercial fishermen for the long-term benefit of the industry. “Footage from CatchCam has been used to redesign fishing gears quickly and effectively, as the fishermen and the researchers can see the same pictures and communicate their ideas without ambiguity,” added Tom.
Lachlan Fetterplace and the SLU Aqua team’s trials with CatchCam are scheduled to take place in the summer months when conditions improve. SafetyNet Technologies looks forward to catching up with Lachlan soon and encourages subscribers to their weekly newsletter for updates on the latest developments.
SafetyNet Technologies extends gratitude to all participants in the giveaway, whose invaluable feedback guides the ongoing development of Precision Fishing products. The current CatchCam Rental Scheme aims to make the underwater camera more accessible to all vessel types and sizes, contributing to a more efficient and sustainable fishing industry.