Electronic Monitoring for Fisheries: Autonmated Fish Measurement System

APL-UW researchers developed an automated system to determine fish size quickly, in situ, and without human intervention, using an off-the-shelf security camera and custom machine vision software. Mounted on a fishing vessel's discard chute, the system measures the size of every halibut that is inadvertently caught moments before it is returned to the sea. The system speeds the required measurements, reduces the time halibut are out of the water, and thereby reduces mortality.