The fishing fleet of Arguineguín, in southern Gran Canaria, has begun a technological transition crucial to its survival and legal security. Under the supervision of the Fishermen's Association and in collaboration with the Canary Islands Government, new GPS systems, mandatory by law, have been installed on local vessels. This measure aims to ensure that fishermen strictly comply with current regulations and operate under the safest possible conditions while fishing in the archipelago's waters.
This technical deployment coincides with the publication of research by the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC) that supports the use of electronic monitoring as a fundamental tool for 21st-century fisheries management. The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, demonstrates that the use of digital cameras and sensor systems can achieve up to 99% sampling coverage in gillnet fisheries, functioning as a high-precision complement to traditional human observers.
Implementing these technologies on vessels allows for the recording not only of commercial catches, but also critical data on biomass, faunal composition, and bycatch of protected species. Researchers from the "Sustainable Fishing and Technical Measures" (PESCASOST) team emphasize that the use of artificial intelligence for video analysis and improvements to nighttime lighting systems are key factors in enhancing the effectiveness of these controls. This technology thus offers an opportunity to obtain real-time scientific information without the economic and space costs associated with carrying additional personnel on board.
Within the framework of the TIPES project, funded by the European Union's Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Facility, it has been found that the camera system is capable of identifying 80% of the species caught in trawl fisheries and shows a high degree of agreement in counting key species such as sole and sardine. This data is essential for assessing the status of fish populations and the impact of human activity on vulnerable marine ecosystems.
With the mandatory use of new GPS devices and a commitment to smart monitoring, the Arguineguín Fishermen's Association is positioning itself at the forefront of data-driven fishing. The digitalization of the primary sector in southern Gran Canaria not only ensures the economic viability of families who depend on the sea, but also guarantees that the "Canary Tomato" on land and the local fish caught along the coast operate under the same traceability and quality standards required by Brussels.
