Both a chart plotter, smartphones and tablets have become the fisherman's source of much needed information. To make life easier, FHF - the Norwegian Seafood Research Fund and BarentsWatch launched the "FishInfo" service in January 2015. The service will provide the user with correct information from the public sector, at the right time and on the right channel.
Make information available
BarentsWatch has collaborated with the agencies responsible for the data, and made the following information available to fishermen (either via the online service or automatic and manual download to chart plotters):
- The Directorate of Fisheries: Fisheries regulations, J notices - temporarily closed fields
- The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, petroleum-based information: Underwater installations, and planned and ongoing seismic activity
- The Norwegian Meteorological Institute: Ice edge and ice concentration
- Coast Guard: Fixed gear
- The Norwegian Coastal Administration: AIS
- The Norwegian Mapping Authority: Maritime borders
- NGU - Norway’s national geological survey: Bottom types
- The Norwegian Maritime Authority: Shipping areas
This information has partly been available to chart plotters in the past, but through BarentsWatch a common portal has been created for downloading and email subscription of this information to chart plotters. The functionality is also available via a machine-readable interface (API - Application Programming Interface) so that suppliers of chart plotters and other system suppliers can retrieve the information directly into their systems if they wish.
In the further development of FishInfo, the individual information areas are to be expanded, so that for meteorology you can subscribe to wind, waves and current. Information exchange aimed at fishing activity can include fishing reports, open and closed fields, as well as reporting of gear positions.
This solution from BarentsWatch replaces an often-manual method of obtaining information from several different data providers. Here, central information sources are integrated and adapted to the most used chart plotter systems, offered through a common information portal.
The list of map layers that can be downloaded will be expanded based on input from users.
You can find an overview of how the service works here.
More relevant users
Through its mission, BarentsWatch will also ensure that the service will be useful for other vessel types, and other operations on and by the sea. Therefore, relevant users from the maritime and oil and gas industries will be involved in due course.
There will therefore be a need to try out different protocols for distributing information with the aim of being able to offer solutions that suit all end users, regardless of vessel type, vessel size and access to local infrastructure. In other words, the service can be expanded if necessary.
With the service, the oil industry and the fishing industry get a common information base where users will, for example, be able to get an overview of seismic exploration activity, and thereby uncover and avert possible conflicts of interest in the planning of - and during - fishing. In the same way, the petroleum industry can orient itself the other way. FishInfo can be expanded if necessary with services of real interest such as information on weather and wind, regulations relating to geographical areas, updating of adjusted quotas, open and closed fishing grounds, reporting and information on gear positions, and information on where fishing activity takes place.
Background
The project got underway following an initiative from the fishermen through the Fisheries and Aquaculture Industry Research Fund above BarentsWatch. SINTEF has contributed with project management from the pre-project stage, where they delivered the RedRap system to the Coast Guard Central. From January 2015, BarentsWatch is leading the further development of the technical system, and SINTEF will contribute with a research track to test possible new data layers.
SINTEF has also been responsible for the development of a demo app to demonstrate the possibilities for integration with the system interface. The source code of this app is available to any developer interested in connecting to the API.
Representatives from the fishing fleet have been very active with input through the steering group for the project. The system suppliers Olex, Furuno (MaxSea) and Dualog (eFangst) have also contributed important input to the development of the system. Dualog has created the first integration with the machine interface so that their users can see and retrieve the map layers directly in eFangst.
Useful value for the user
Establishing a holistic information solution for the distribution of information to the fishing fleet - and eventually other users at sea, builds on the authorities' work to renew, simplify and improve everyday working life - both for public administration and business. This gives actors at sea and coast increased implementation power. A simplification and improvement that will build up long-term sustainability, free up expertise, build up smarter work processes and reduce bureaucracy.
BarentsWatch promotes cooperation and streamlines the management of seas and coasts, and the FishInfo service (Map to chartplotter) contributes to, among other things:
- Development: BarentsWatch will contribute to development through information solutions that provide a better factual basis for decisions and strengthened information availability.
- Increased value and quality: BarentsWatch will contribute to increased value and quality of knowledge by compiling quality-assured information and data from partners.
- Conflict mitigation: BarentsWatch will contribute to conflict mitigation by highlighting several perspectives.
