Abstract

eCatch - Technology for Collaborative Fishing
Track: Conservation
Authors: Matt Merrifield

The Nature Conservancy is working with commercial fishermen to help track the location of traditionally overharvested species. Due to being highly regulated (fishermen cannot catch more than a certain amount in a year) knowing their locations of these fish in near real time is critical to minimizing the risk of catching them. This is good for both the environment and business. To do this TNC has developed an application called eCatch. eCatch allows fishermen to record these locations using tablet computers equipped with GPS. The data are transmitted via cellular or wireless to a GIS server that renderes this information on a map. Fishermen then have access to this information to make good decisions about future fishing efforts and thus more sustainable management of the resource.