Using Olrac Technology as a Real-Time Bycatch Avoidance Tool and Industry Database; U.S. Scallop Fishery Case Study

Olrac-SPS International has customized the Olrac electronic logbook (DDL) and dynamic data management system (DDM) for the U.S. limited access scallop fishery.  The system uses daily catch and bycatch data submitted by fishermen to a database accessible to the industry’s Fisheries Survival Fund, to automatically calculate fleet-wide bycatch hotspots.  These data are made immediately available to the fleet, displayed as charts on the Olrac DDL, to alert fishermen to areas of high, moderate, and low bycatch. By providing this data in real-time, the fleet can make informed decisions regarding where to fish. This is particularly important given the restrictive yellowtail flounder allowable catch limit (ACL) allocated to this fleet, which, if exceeded, could trigger premature closure of certain areas. Pilot testing is ongoing. The scope of the system is also broadening to include turtle avoidance, collection of research data, and added value features.

This system has broad applicability.  It is not only a real-time bycatch avoidance tool, but also serves as a means for industry to become more involved and vested in fisheries data collection.  The transition to fishermen being increasingly involved in fisheries data collection will require easy to use, comprehensive, electronic tools, such as Olrac.