The South African trawl fishery for hake is advancing its commitment to sustainability as it prepares for recertification under the updated Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Fisheries Standard. Certified since 2004 and successfully re-assessed three times, the fishery is now taking proactive steps to meet the Standard’s latest best-practice requirements.
To support this transition, the South African Deep-Sea Trawling Industry Association (SADSTIA) has secured a grant from the MSC’s Ocean Stewardship Fund for £25 000 (about R610 000). The grant will enable the implementation of three forward-looking project components in collaboration with Imvelo Blue Environment Consultancy, OCEAN Action Network in partnership with Ocean Plastic Technologies (OPT), and the University of Cape Town’s Department of Biological Sciences. Each component aims to improve the environmental performance of the trawl fishery for hake by enhancing monitoring systems and strengthening regulatory compliance. If successful, the SADSTIA-supported projects may lead to other fisheries across the region adopting similar measures.
The electronic tension sensor pioneered by Imvelo Blue Consultancy’s Sihle Ncongo has been installed on 10 hake vessels
Enhancing seabird protection with smart monitoring
One component of the MSC-funded project aims to verify compliance with Bird Scaring Line (BSL) deployment. BSL’s are a proven technique for preventing interactions between seabirds and fishing gear. They consist of a length of rope from which six to ten brightly coloured streamers are hung. The streamers flutter in the wind and scare birds away from the stern of a fishing vessel where they may be accidentally killed or injured by fishing gear. To be effective, BSLs must be used every time fishing gear is deployed.
Sihle Victor Ngcongo, founder of Imvelo Blue Environment Consultancy, has developed an innovative electronic tension sensor that attaches directly to BSLs. In development since 2020, the sensor works by continuously measuring the tension exerted by the BSL when it is dragged through the water, and then transmitting real-time and tension data wirelessly to onboard and remote systems. This enables shore-based observers to confirm the proper use of the BSLs during fishing activities. The electronic tension sensor, developed in partnership with BirdLife South Africa with technical assistance from Nelson Miranda of Argonaut Science, has received support from the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels.
To date, the electronic tension sensor has been has been installed on 10 hake vessels in South Africa.
Tackling the problem of ghost-fishing through recycling
Another component of the MSC-funded project focuses on addressing the growing problem of end-of-life fishing nets and nets that have been lost or abandoned at sea. In collaboration with OCEAN Action Network and Ocean Plastic Technologies (OPT), a pilot project will see the installation of a first self-contained micro-recycling pod at a site donated by the V&A Waterfront on the Collier landing wharf in Cape Town harbour. End-of-life trawl nets (typically made from synthetic polymers like nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene and polyester) will be delivered to the pod where they will be recycled into densified materials suitable for reuse in the production of high-value plastic goods.
OCEAN Action Network has partnered with OPT that has developed innovative micro-recycling systems housed within repurposed 20- or 40-foot shipping containers. These mobile units are specially retrofitted to serve as fully functional recycling facilities, offering a compact and scalable solution for sustainable waste management. Using OPT’s proprietary technology, the fishing nets are dismantled, cleaned, dried and densified, turning the recycled material into a valuable resource. Each unit is equipped with a compact system that includes shredding, washing, drying and densifying processes.
Recycling old fishing nets will prevent them from being discarded in landfill sites
To enhance transparency and traceability, OPT also uses a blockchain-based app that records the origin and movement of the material, ensuring a secure and verifiable track-and-trace system throughout the recycling process.
For more information and for updates on this project, go to oceanplastictechnologies.com
Cameras installed on vessels automatically record fish as they move over conveyor belts in the fish factory. The footage is then analysed using AI software trained to identify species based on thousands of annotated video frames
Leveraging AI to monitor bycatch and stock
The third project component involves a partnership with the University of Cape Town’s Department of Biological Sciences to develop artificial intelligence (AI) tools for onboard monitoring of fish catches. The AI software analyses footage taken by cameras installed in onboard fish factories. It automatically identifies and quantifies catches of hake and associated bycatch species, including endangered, threatened and protected species.
Trained using real-world fishing imagery, the AI software will boost accuracy in data collection, streamline bycatch reporting, and reduce the need for manual review, significantly improving the efficiency of fisheries monitoring.
Monitoring fish catches at sea has traditionally relied on three primary sources of data: offloaded catch records at harbours, onboard observations by human observers and government-led scientific surveys. While this combination offers a comprehensive overview, each method has its limitations, particularly the reliance on human observers.
To support and enhance the observer’s efforts, the new initiative is turning to technology – specifically onboard cameras and AI. The first step involves recording all fishing activity on video. However, reviewing video footage manually is as time-consuming as onboard observation. To overcome this, researchers are now developing AI tools that can automatically analyse the footage, identify species and count the number of fish caught.
The approach not only boosts data reliability but also frees observers to focus on tasks that require human judgement, ultimately enhancing fisheries management and sustainability efforts.
A model for sustainable fisheries
Dr Johann Augustyn, secretary of the South African Deep-Sea Trawling Industry Association (SADSTIA) has welcomed the MSC grant, noting its broad conservation impact.
“This grant is a great opportunity to bolster our work and is of huge conservation value. These pilot projects have the potential to benefit several more fisheries when more widely implemented by encouraging the use of technologies to minimise impacts on endangered, threatened or protected species, reduce the loss of gear and ghost gear impacts, and mitigate the impacts on marine ecosystems,” he said.
As the South African trawl fishery for hake moves toward recertification, these pioneering efforts underscore its leadership in sustainability and its potential to inspire broader change throughout the industry.
