Pilot-Scale Operation of the Fleetlink Fishing Vessel Data Telemetry System

A system designed to collect, telemeter, analyze, assimilate, and distribute high-quality, synoptic environmental (hydrography, meteorology, biology) data from the coastal ocean using commercial fishing vessels as platforms has been developed. The system includes a variety of sensors, a computer for data acquisition and operator input, a telemetry link, and a shore-based data parsing and message routing capability. Operations of the system began in March 2000 and to date, three groundfish trawlers operating out of New England have been outfitted with the system.

This paper will report on the results of our development efforts supported by funds from the National Ocean Partnership Program (NOPP). Fleetlink data will be presented from the Fleetlink suite meteorological and sea-surface temperature instruments. Data from the gear-mounted sensor will also be presented showing temperature vs. depth associated with the deployment of the trawl during fishing operations. Manually entered data on fish catch and other fisheries-related observations made by the captain and crew enhance the utility of the Fleetlink system by providing catch data to a chosen dealer in advance of landing and pooled catch data to regulatory agencies to assist in monitoring fish abundance.

The goal of the NOPP Fleetlink project is to create shared, real-time data management systems that may be used by any individual, program, or agency for a wide variety of purposes: research, education, assessment, management, marketing, regulation, modeling, and/or prediction. Through the automation of basic reporting functions and the provision of data and reporting capabilities of immediate value to the fishermen, the Fleetlink system represents an attractive option for commercial fishermen interested in facilitating improved weather, climatic, and fisheries modeling and prediction.