September 10, 2023 — Keeping up with today’s technological advancements can be overwhelming on multiple levels. Many commercial fishing operations haven’t prioritized the adoption of new tools or technologies on account of the disconnect between the capabilities of certain innovations that represent how actual fishermen will be able to use them. Why would someone who has worked in the same industry for decades change their day-to-day process and utilize a tool that doesn’t seem like it was created for them?
Despite this discrepancy, utilizing new technology can help save money, time, and increase safety. While some parts of the industry have switched to cutting-edge technology to better assist sustainability and safety on and off the water, many vessels still operate with inefficient tech products. Due to the different fisheries and geography, it is almost impossible to have innovations be a one-size-fits-all situation across the country.
In 2021, the Seafood Harvesters of America, along with NOAA Fisheries scientists, Alaska Ocean Cluster, and a few other organizations, held a survey called Technological Advancement in Our Fisheries: Innovation Priorities and a Path Forward to target members of the fishing Industry to help identify and better understand technology priorities and needs. By using the survey data, they were able to look for common needs across all regions and gear types that technology could address at this survey’s scale in hopes of guiding technology investments and developments in the commercial fishing industry. Hopefully, that will also be providing business opportunities for developing products that many in fishing communities could use.