An innovative project in the South African trawl fishery for hake, led by Imvelo Blue Environment Consultancy, aims to improve compliance with Bird Scaring Line (BSL) deployment – a key method for reducing seabird bycatch.
The project is one of three to be funded by a £25 000 (about R610 000) grant from the MSC’s Ocean Stewardship Fund. The grant was awarded to the South African Deep-Sea Trawling Industry Association (SADSTIA) for forward-looking research in sustainable fisheries management.
Imvelo Blue Environment Consultancy founder, Sihle Victor Ngcongo (pictured right), has developed an electronic tension sensor that attaches directly to BSLs on fishing vessels. The device continuously records and transmits real-time data on BSL use, enabling verification of compliance with international seabird protection measures. The patented technology has been installed on hake vessels and a total of 10 vessels will be covered at a given time to enhance monitoring efforts.
Developed with support from BirdLife South Africa and technical input from Nelson Miranda of Argonaut Science, the sensor has earned endorsement from the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) for its potential to improve oversight and reduce seabird mortality at sea.
“We partnered with SADSTIA to help the device gain international recognition, and it’s now part of the ACAP best-practice guidelines – the gold standard for seabird bycatch mitigation. I presented it at the ACAP Advisory Committee meeting in Chile in August last year, and it was officially adopted,” said Sihle.
Sihle Victor Ngcongo has developed an electronic tension sensor that attaches directly to BSLs on fishing vessels
Sihle said his focus is on non-visual technology – tools that collect data without relying on cameras or capturing people’s faces, preserving privacy while still ensuring effective monitoring. This interest, rooted in his background, is what led to the development of the electronic monitoring device.
“The idea is to complement human observers on board by taking over this compliance function to allow observers to focus on their scientific duties. The electronic monitoring also allows for remote data collection without the presence of an observer, which helps avoid conflicts that commonly arise when observers report non-compliance and the crew disagree.
“I’ve spent years as an observer myself, both locally and internationally, and later managed scientific observer programmes. That experience showed me how often disputes occur, especially around BSL compliance, which depends on precise deployment timing. This technology not only improves verification but also eases the burden on observers,” he explained.
The device is designed for simplicity. It answers a basic yes-or-no question: Were the BSLs deployed at the required times? Observers can easily compare the device data with the expected deployment schedule to confirm compliance.
“We’ll provide some devices to observers too, who can connect to them using any smartphone with WIFI, or even through the vessel’s bridge equipment. The captain can check on a screen whether the bird scaring lines are deployed. Once connected, the device transmits data to a cell phone, allowing users to instantly see if the BSLs are active or not. It’s a simple matter of linking the device and checking the status in real time,” Sihle explained.
Deployment of the BSLs is not always possible due to bad weather or if lines tangle with fishing gear. The device helps capture those realities by providing data that reflects actual usage, including times when deployment isn’t feasible. With this information, better understanding of the reasons for non-deployment can be achieved, improving reporting and exploring solutions to maintain compliance even under challenging conditions.
Sihle said that while the present focus is on South Africa, trials of the electronic monitoring sensor are underway in Argentina and will soon be conducted in Namibia. Discussions with several other countries are also in progress.
