New technology has always been a key factor in the way that fishing has developed, although in the past the key changes were in areas such as the accessories used and the methods used to find fish. Currently, some interesting types of emerging technology are helping to change the way we think about fishing.
New Ways of Catching Fish
Finding innovative and effective new ways of catching fish has always been one of the top priorities for anyone interested in the future of this activity. This has led to smart rods, better nets and many other advances that have made fishing easier and more efficient. Because of this, many new fans have been attracted to fishing, with the latest figures suggesting that more fishing licenses are sold by the UK’s Environment Agency each passing year.
This has helped place the sport as a growing part of popular culture, as TV shows such as Deadliest Catch and movies like Salmon Fishing in the Yemen have brought the sport to a wider audience. Fishing-themed entertainment has expanded into online slots, as you can try the Big Bass Splash slot at Betfair, where you’ll see symbols such as fish and an angler who collects them, as well as other games with this theme. Features such as free spins and collector rounds are commonly used and this theme has proved so successful that the slot mentioned has inspired spin-offs including Big Bass Bonanza Megaways and Big Bass Mission Fishin’. It’s just one of the ways that real-life fishing is merging with online entertainment, giving us new ways to enjoy the sport.
In terms of real-world fishing technology, the FloMo invention from New Zealand won a competition sponsored by supermarket chain Tesco to find new solutions that can be implemented to improve the supply chain in UK stores. This creation uses a long and flexible tube instead of a net, allowing smaller fish to swim out before the catch is loaded into a tank of water where the crew can identify any smaller fish that need to be removed.
The Many Uses for AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the technologies currently cropping up in virtually every conversation about the major technological changes taking place in the world. Fishing is no exception, with many different ideas for using AI to improve the way we carry it out. One way it can be used is with AI models that analyse satellite data to let anglers understand where they’re most likely to find the species they’re interested in catching at any given time.
Another example comes from the recent collaboration between the salmon-farming company Mowi and the Scottish Association for Science. Together with Aberdeen University, they’ve discovered a faster way to detect the unwanted presence of sea lice on salmon in farms. This reduces the time needed for detection greatly, with a vast quantity of the tiny crustaceans used to train the AI model to spot them instantly.
The Way Ahead
Other examples of advances in this industry include the technology used to recycle fishing nets and the way that augmented reality is used to provide valuable real-time information. These and other innovations should continue to change the way we think about the fishing industry.
