Research and innovation challenges: 1) Modelling the interaction between fish and harvesting equipment. 2) Cost-effective monitoring of harvest species while trawling. 3) Species and size selection during fishing. 4) Fractionation of the catch before onboard handling. 5) Cost- and energy-effective onboard preservation of mesopelagic species. 6) Cost-effective removal of plastics in the open ocean.
Capture of Calanus and mesopelagic fish species is in its infancy, with a severe lack of methods and equipment for both harvesting and onboard processing.
New trawls for harvesting mesopelagic species are currently being developed, but their energy efficiency needs improvement. Other emerging methods include bubble-driven upwelling with the potential of concentrating zooplankton at the sea surface.
Mesopelagic fish and Calanus are perishable commodities which enter a series of degradation processes upon death. The speed of these processes depends on species composition and fish properties, handling, storage conditions and processing. The catches are today preserved mainly by cooling, but new methods are needed to delay the breakdown and increase the value of the biomass.
RA-leader: Dr. Eduardo Grimaldo (SINTEF Ocean)