Sea Pact funding support to the SafetyNet Technologies Pisces project to conduct experimental trials of light-technology devices to improve catch selectivity for a variety of commercially important species in Europe. Project aims are to 1) improve fishers ability to only catch targeted species, 2) reduce the capture of endangered and juvenile species, and 3) improve trawling operational efficiency and profitability.

SafetyNets primary goal is to design and build devices to increase the selectivity of commercial fishing practices, making the industry more sustainable. Light, of interest to the fishing gear technology community since the 1970s, can be used as a tool to achieve this. Technologies such as LEDs and cheap manufacturing of hardware and electronics are opening up new commercial opportunities for the wider application of these selectivity devices. SafetyNet Technologies has been building sophisticated LED systems to enable experimentation into how light can segregate between ages and species of fish, and is applying that knowledge to create simple sets of lights to help fishermen catch the right fish. We work across the sector with fishermen, scientists, suppliers and regulators to create user-centred solutions to issues currently faced by the industry.
We strongly believe that the solutions to humanitys greatest challenges must be backed by sustainable business cases in order to achieve real impact. To this end, all SafetyNet products aim to satisfy each element of the value chain of which they are a part.
Having spent the last 3 years developing our light-emitting technology in partnership with a range of fisheries research organisations, we are now ready to test our devices in new fisheries. We are currently putting the finishing touches to a mass-produceable device, Pisces, which we aim to take to market within a year.

SafetyNet Technologies wants to create positive impact at scale. We belive that light as a selectivity measure is a great way to do this, and will result in less bycatch in an industry that badly needs such devices to help it survive and catch sustainably. Ultimately, we want to help fishermen catch the right fish, and we believe Pisces devices are a great tool to aid in this. Finally, we recognise that the difference between great scientific work and a scalable solution is often a sustainable business model and design/manufacturing expertise, both of which we have within our organisation.

Fishermen are currently penalised for unselective capture of fish species, without necessarily having the tools to mitigate for this problem. Strict new rules like the EU's Discards Ban are very progressive in trying to ensure a more sustainable industry and food source, but do not suggest technical/gear measures to help fishermen comply. SafetyNet Technologies' devices are designed to meet this need through the cost-effective application of proven science, enabling fishermen to catch more selectively without going bankrupt in the process. Similarly, light has been scientifically proven to make gears more selective with certain species, but as yet there are no well designed products on the market to enable fishermen to exploit this knowledge.