Find Me

Purpose and goal:

The main goal of ‘Find Me’ project is to develop key enabling solutions for sustainable usage of fishing gear (FG) as abandoned/ lost FG significantly contribute to marine litter, ghost fishing nets and is of concern for Food & Agriculture organization of United Nations.

Under UDI-2 project, three versatile transponders prototypes were successfully developed and tested in the field for FG’s underwater traceability. These also form basis for FG circularity and a simplified FG recovery. Expected results and effects:

By building three types of transponders with various frequencies and detection methods, we showed their technological versatility for fishing gear traceability.

Cooperation with fishermen and agency gave insights into the real-life requirements, acceptance of new technologies, complexity of regulations, business models and difficulties with lack of infrastructure and policies. Thus, the need of interdisciplinary cooperation. As well as awareness on technical and commercial challenges.

Approach and implementation:

‘Find Me’ UDI-2 project has been carried out with regular consortium meetings (online and in-person), fast iterations (weekly exchange of input), and sea field testing allowing for close cooperation of the partners to achieve the goals. The project’s results show that these transponder technologies and/or in combination with air signal transmission have huge potential and impact in other applications as well.