Drone Training
To improve our enforcement and survey technology and abilities N-E-I-F-C-A has invested into a drone to carry out offshore duties. The Splashdrone 3+ is a waterproof drone equipped with a 4k camera system and the ability to land and take off in water.
Nick and Dan from Swell pro UK came for a day of drone training exercises in February. We conducted onshore and offshore exercises and took our RIB alongside NEG III to simulate some real life scenarios.
Northern Ireland Visitors
To improve cross working and to learn from each other we had a visit from two members of the North Irish Fisheries Committee. Joe and John came out on NEGIII for a day to see the boat and how we run as an authority.
We had to the drone up to display it's capabilities and they observed how we log our enforcement work.
Next month Chief and Skipper will visit their boat to see how they operate.
Drone Operation & Video Receiver Fitting
Since purchasing the drone we have spent many days practicing and improving the knowledge of use both on and offshore. Although the drone has yet to be deployed in any enforcement use we have collected some great footage of NEGIII and the Yorkshire Coast.
To improve the abilities of the drone the Skipper had suggested it would be useful to see the live footage the drone transmits. As the drone transmits a 5.8 Ghz video stream it should of possible to receive the feed via an antenna which can plug into the vessels monitor matrix system and therefore can be viewed from all available screens.
I conducted some research and purchased two types of antenna and a video receiver unit. The two antennas, one which has a further range but is uni-directional and one with an inferior range but it omni-directional. As the video receiver will use the feed which has the strongest signal, we can boost our range while maintaining the flexibility of use.
Splicing Master Class / Preparing Potting Fleets
In May we will start our potting surveys again to assess the populations of crabs and lobsters within our district.
This year we will use 10 fleets of 15 pots. Two more than last year to increase of coverage of survey. All the fleets need to be organised and roped up before the survey work can be undertaken.
This entails; cleaning all the pots (done), attaching a leg to the tow rope and splicing fixings for the anchor. Enter Dylan Silverwood's Splicing Master Class. Dylan is the first mate on the boat and with over 30 years of commercial fishing experience it is safe to say he knows all there is when splicing a rope and organising fleets of pots.
I had learnt to splice a few years ago during my commercial diving course but without practice had quickly lost the skill.
Dylan gave me some great tips and refreshed my knowledge. Dylan and I prepared the fleets splicing on the legs for the pots and sorting the tow rope. All fleets now ready for some survey work... bring it on!
Scallop Dredge Survey
Within our district there are two defined boxes where three fishing boats have special permits to dredge for scallops between the months of October and May. Despite the small number of boats the massively destructive fishing method of dredging means a close monitoring systems of the fishing stock is conducted each year.
Not only do we conduct research on-board industry boats by collecting biometeric data of their catch, but we also perform our own scallop dredge surveys on-board NEGIII.
Over 10,000 scallops were surveyed off the industry boats and 35 scallop dredges conducted from our vessel. This should give us an adequate representation of the district and allow us to make informed management decisions.
The bycatch in the dredges although small brought up some interesting characters such as sun stars, monkfish and a beautiful cuckoo ray (see pics).
Scallop Ground Video Survey
To truth the dregde surveys and to increase our understanding of the scallop stocks in our district we conducted various video surveys within and outside the scallop boxes.
Despite testing the equipment multiple times before the survey day. As I was setting the camera sled up the camera firstly, didn't have power and secondly, wasn't displaying any video footage. Quick state of panic and confusion ensues.
Quickly I grabbed a new power cable and tested the camera connections. The new power cable sorted the first issue. Somehow one of the solders to the connector had become disconnected since we tested it two days before. A quick solder while heading to the test site sorted this and once the lights, lasers and go pros were fitted we were ready to film. all in a days work.. phew!
