Line of action:

Status:

Execution date:

General Objective:

The main objective of the project is to understand purse seine dynamics targeting tropical tuna in order to refine the effort deployed by one of the most important fleets on the planet.

Specific objectives:

• Coordination for the efficient development and continuity of the DOMINO project
• Contrast AIS vs. VMS coverage of tropical purse seiners (AIS-VMS)
• Segregate the fishing effort, taking into account the fishing strategy deployed by tropical purse seiners: FADs vs. free bank (FADs-Libre).
• Understanding the dynamics of support vessels (supplies)
• Communicate and disseminate the objectives of the project and its results

1. Coordination for the efficient development and continuity of the DOMINO project: initial and final project meeting.
2. Estimation of the effort deployed by the purse seine fleet based on VMS and AIS data for the subsequent analysis of spatio-temporal contrast between both fishing activity monitoring tools.
3. Segregation of fishing strategies (FADs vs. free shoal) based on the direction and speed of the purse seiner’s trajectory. Validation of model estimates through the use of logbooks.
4. Association between support vessels and purse seiners based on their AIS trajectories.
5. Communicate and disseminate the objectives of the project and its results.

• The DOMINO project has developed innovative and state-of-the-art tools to understand the dynamics of the purse seine fleet for tropical tuna capture. On the one hand, he clarified that AIS (Automatic Identification System) technology does not allow an estimate of the fleet’s effort as it presents significant information gaps that reduce its coverage. However, AIS is a promising technology when it comes to understanding complex behaviors that require data with higher temporal resolution.
• The combination of VMS (Vessel Monitoring System) and AIS data has made it possible to segregate fishing strategies with a 92% success rate. In addition, the work carried out at DOMINO has made it possible to understand the complex association between purse seiners and support boats, thus opening a promising and exciting line of research with which to translate this aid into fishing effort. In this way, key information is provided with which to more efficiently estimate the effort deployed by the fleet and, consequently, to be able to sustainably manage one of the most important fisheries on the planet.
• This project has also made it possible to strengthen and consolidate the ties of collaboration between members of the IRD (France) and the IEO (Spain), institutions and research groups that focus their efforts on a common premise, the advice and sustainable management of one of the resources that feed the planet. It is worth mentioning the collaboration with Global Fishing Watch, with a promising future in research with the use of AIS technology in the field of understanding the dynamics of fishing fleets.