The loss of fishing gear plays a significant role in ocean pollution, leading to the deaths of millions of fish, birds and mammals each year. For fishermen, this results in lost catches (income), the devaluation of essential gear (investment) and higher operational costs due to increased fuel consumption.
In conditions with limited visibility – such as darkness, snow, fog, rain and rough seas – searching for lost gear can take several hours, leading to extra fuel costs and wasted time. Common causes for gear loss include entanglement with other equipment, drifting due to ocean currents and wind and damage from vessel propellers.
By utilising Smart Ocean GPS buoys and software, fishermen can swiftly locate their gear, saving both time and fuel. Fishermen can monitor incidents through a cloud-based app or sea map directly from their vessel.
Real-time GPS tracking technology through Smart Oceans Smart Buoys ensures that every piece of fishing gear can be found and retrieved before it turns into ghost gear. By equipping fishermen with tools to monitor their gear around the clock, Smart Ocean significantly reduces gear loss and prevents abandoned nets from polluting the ocean. Directly contributing to the global mission of restoring our oceans and waterways, the technology supports the objectives of the blue economy by offering a pathway for fisheries to decarbonise their operations.
