“With all these changes it’s important that the fishing industry is able to access this data so that they are aware of the hazards to avoid.”
As well as being available to download online, the KIS-ORCA and FishSAFE data is also being supplied on a USB card to allow fishermen to easily install it on their plotters. These are being issued now by the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) and National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO).
Ian Rowe, NFFO Services Manager, said: “Fishermen appreciate just how congested the marine environment has become. Having the latest KIS-ORCA and FishSAFE plotter data means that they are equipped with the best available information, allowing them to steer clear of hazardous structures and continue to fish safely.
“The USB cards that we are sending out with the data updates will make it easy for fishermen to update the information they hold.”
The data sets can be downloaded from www.kis-orca.eu/downloads and www.fishsafe.eu/downloads. Fishermen looking to receive a USB card with data should contact their relevant fishing federation.
For further information contact Matthew Frow, Kingfisher Information Manager at Seafish, on Matthew.Frow@seafish.co.uk or 01472 252336.