Monitoring The SNA1 Fishery

Monitoring The SNA1 Fishery

MEDIA STATEMENT – 29 MAY 2016

Recent scrutiny of New Zealand’s fisheries information has noted the use of cameras to monitor fishing vessels.

Trident Systems is the research provider that is contracted by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to undertake video observation of the SNA1 trawl fleet.

Trials of the use of video observation in monitoring New Zealand fisheries began in 2003, but the current SNA1 programme is the first operational programme. It represents a maturing of the technology that allows reliable, continuous collection of video footage, and the secure management of this footage for review by shore based observers.

Trident’s FishEye system has been developed specifically for fisheries video observation using technology from Nelson-based Snap Information Technologies Ltd which has been recognised through a number of innovation awards. This is leading edge technology, and the deployment in SNA1 represents a world first in monitoring activities at sea on a continuous basis.

Trident Systems is a Limited Partnership of 14 companies that own NZ fisheries quota and have chosen to invest in R&D as part of their strategy to maintain the long term value of their quota assets. Trident develops innovative approaches to meeting fisheries management information needs and applies this R&D to deliver specific fisheries research services, such as the SNA1 programme.

Trident works in collaboration with other research providers and with seafood companies, to integrate research into their normal operations. This collaborative approach is central to the SNA1 programme.

MPI sought proposals for the delivery of the SNA1 programme via the Government tender system. Trident’s proposal was accepted and Trident is contracted to deliver a three year monitoring programme. The costs of the programme are recovered from SNA1 quota owners.

Adopting video observation as a fisheries monitoring tool is requiring the development of both new infrastructure and appropriate footage management that respects individual privacy. But advantages of the approach include the fact that the footage can be reviewed multiple times to verify observations.

Trident Systems is contracted to gather specific observational data from the footage, while MPI also has access to the footage. This, together with the fact that science information designed for fisheries management must be assessed via the peer review process defined by the Research and Science Information Standard for New Zealand Fisheries, provides assurance of the integrity and quality of the information derived from the programme.

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