Taiwan has a thriving offshore fishing industry, boasting the second-largest fleet of fishing vessels in the world. However, the industry is a demanding one and the identification of fishing locations still heavily depends on conventional labor and experience. This reliance poses a significant challenge in terms of knowledge transfer. To address these challenges, industry players have merged AI and unmanned drones to introduce the world's first fish population assessment technology. This integration has transformed drones into the vigilant "eyes in the sky" for the offshore fishing sector.
In the forefront of Kaohsiung's top three fisheries—Win Far Fishery, LungSoon Ocean Group, and Fong Kuo Fishery—a strategic alliance has been formed with drone manufacturer GEOSAT Aerospace & Technology, along with research organizations such as ITRI and MIRDC. Together, they have unveiled the world's pioneering fleet of unmanned drones designed specifically for fish population assessment. This breakthrough technology was showcased at 2023 Meet Greater South.
It's reported that this technology has been successfully field-tested at the Marshall Islands. It can simultaneously deploy up to four drones to comprehensively survey fish populations. Through an integrated drone antenna system, it can facilitate long-range communication extending over 60 kilometers. Besides significantly amplifying catch rates, this approach also results in substantial cost savings.
The conventional approach of outfitting large offshore fishing vessels with helicopters to survey fish populations could incur expenses of up to US$400,000, while the combined cost of four drones is a mere US$40,000. This translates to a remarkable 10% of the helicopter's price, all the while delivering superior outcomes.
The offshore fishing sector in Taiwan generates an annual value of NT$32.6 billion. This unmanned drone fleet designed for offshore fishing is built upon the MIRDC's 2021 Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) drone and seamlessly integrated with the offshore fishing AIoT value-added system crafted by ITRI. This combination takes fish migration data from existing equipment on fishing vessels and merges it with extensive big data regarding fish aggregation hotspots. Envisioned to perform like the eyes of a seasoned fisherman, this cutting-edge technology is set to empower fishing vessels to seize opportune moments on the open sea.
Serving as an important hub for the distant water fishing industry, Kaohsiung harbors nearly all of Taiwan's offshore fishing commodities. However, offshore fishing voyages vary in duration, spanning from six months to as long as several years. The recruitment of skilled labor has become progressively more challenging. Furthermore, the identification of fishing grounds heavily relies on human visual acumen and experience. Consequently, the transfer of fishing expertise has emerged as a pronounced challenge.
Through this collaborative endeavor, the fusion of AI and drone technology has the potential to transmute human experience into digital assets, broadening the horizons of fishing ground exploration. This pioneering innovation is positioned to slash offshore work time by half, curtail expenses, heighten operational efficiency, amplify production value, and establish a technology-infused ecosystem for this industry.
Article translated by Vyra Wu
