Across the globe 1 in 5 fish caught is the "wrong fish" because most of the world's 6,4million commercial fishing vessels rely on traditional fishing methods which lack selectivity. Endangered species are at risk, as well as juvenile fish (and therefore the long term fish stock population size), with over 63% of fish species no longer within biologically sustainable fishing levels. Collectively, this costs >$1bn p.a. today. With over 1m people globally relying on fish as their primary source of protein, this poses a considerable threat to (future) food security. To address the problem of fish bycatch SafetyNet Technologies (SNT) designed and developed a novel lighting mechanisms - PISCES - which applies cutting edge research in fish physiology so fishing crews only catch the fish they want to catch. Having validated a prototype in North Sea field trials in 2015 (CEFAS provided independent verification of 60% reduction in bycatch), SNT now seek to commercialise their offering. Due to shared regulatory drivers (EU discards ban), shared market participants and similar fish species, SNT believe European markets make prime target for early exports. To support this objective SNT now seek a Phase 1 feasibility study to validate the hypothesis of PISCES' pan-European potentail, and to guide the foundational market knowledge from which a robust commercialisation/internationalisation strategy can be executed. Estimated to generate cumulative revenues of €16.8m by 2023, and create 24 new jobs, as well as allowing SNT to generate a project RoI >55%

The objective of SMARTFISH is to develop, test and promote a suite of high-tech systems for the EU fishing sector, to optimize resource efficiency, to improve automatic data collection for fish stock assessment, to provide evidence of compliance with fishery regulations and to reduce ecological impact. SMARTFISH exploits technological developments in machine vision, camera technology, data processing, machine learning, artificial intelligence, big data analysis, smartphones/tablets, LED technology, acoustics and ROV technology to build systems for monitoring, analyzing and improving processes for all facets of the fishing sector, from extraction, to assessment, to monitoring and control. The SMARTFISH systems will: - assist fishermen in making informed decisions during pre-catch, catching, and post-catch phases of the extraction process. This improves catch efficiencies and compositions in fisheries across the EU, leading to improved economic efficiency while reducing unintended fish mortality, unnecessary fishing pressure and ecosystem damage. - provide new data for stock assessment from commercial fishing and improve the quality and quantity of data that comes from traditional assessment surveys. This provides more accurate assessment of currently assessed stocks and allow the assessment of data-poor stocks. - permit the automatic collection of catch data to ensure compliance with fisheries management regulations. The SMARTFISH systems are tested and demonstrated in several EU fisheries. This contributes to promoting the uptake of the systems by extraction sector and fisheries agencies. An interdisciplinary consortium with technology developers and instrument suppliers, fishing companies, research and fisheries management institutes and universities will realize SMARTFISH. They are active at national and international levels and well placed to ensure the uptake of SMARTFISH systems by fishing industry and fisheries managers and stock assessment scientists.

The European Union has committed to the gradual elimination of discarding. DiscardLess will help provide the knowledge, tools and technologies as well as the involvement of the stakeholders to achieve this. These will be integrated into Discard Mitigation Strategies (DMS) proposing cost-effective solutions at all stages of the seafood supply chain. The first focus is on preventing the unwanted catches from ever being caught. This will promote changes in gear using existing and innovative selectivity technology, and changes in fishing tactics based on fishers’ and scientists’ knowledge. The second focus is on making best use of the unavoidable unwanted catch. We will detail technical and marketing innovations from the deck, through the supply chain to the final market, including monitoring, traceability and valorization components. DiscardLess will evaluate the impacts of discarding on the marine environment, on the economy, and across the wider society. We will evaluate these impacts before, during and after the implementation of the landing obligation, allowing comparison between intentions and outcomes. Eliminating discards is as much a societal challenge as a fishery management one, so we will also evaluate stakeholders’ perception of discards. DiscardLess will describe the changes in management and the associated governance structures needed to cement the process. We will propose approaches to managing discards in a range of case study fisheries across Europe, encompassing differences in specific discarding issues. All these innovations will be combined in integrated Internet based interactive programs (DMS toolbox) that will help fishers to evaluate the present and future situation and to take a more qualified decision of how to adjust to the new regime. Also, we will disseminate the outcome of the project and maximize knowledge transfer across Europe through an educational environment – teaching the next generation – as well as more conventional routes.