Innovative techniques and methods delivering sustainable development in the fisheries sector - Instrumentation and technology
ITIS is, on the one hand, developing new equipment for fish stocks monitoring and characterisation and, on the other, new fishing gear better able to guarantee the quality of the catch. ITIS and SIAD are complementary projects, with ITIS also dovetailing with Optipêche, another project with official Maritime Cluster recognition. ITIS uses acoustically sourced data on fish quality and environmental parameters gathered at the point of trawling in order to guide nets (Optipêche) and automatically enhance the overall information available. In this way it ensures a more structured approach to managing marine resources.
The project comprises two elements

- ACSYS (as in “ACoustic SYStem”) aims to apply acoustic technology to the detection, identification and characterisation of biological resources in order to optimise catch selection.
- SQUAL (as in “Selectivity, catch QUALity and Alternative techniques”) is working on innovative fishing equipment, most notably trawling gear which imposes fewer mechanical constraints in order to improve quality and enhance the value of the catch. The project also involves plans to improve fish and lobster pots. The work will be carried out in association with the fishermen of the Gulf of Gascony who are already working with IFREMER on this topic.

ITIS PROJECT PARTNERS

Companies

• IPSIS in Cesson-Sévigné (35) is a small business, employing 60 people with strong scientific and technical skills, designs and produces embedded software, test benches, electronic systems and communication, modelling and simulation systems. It works for major maritime sector companies such as Thalès and DCN, and the research body GESMA. 
• IXTrawl in Pont l’Abbé (29) is co-ordinating the project jointly with IFREMER. IXTrawl is a leading French manufacturer of fishing equipment based on mobile electronic, acoustic undersea technology. Its aim is to develop new applications to provide skippers with greater control over their equipment and to increase crew safety when fishing. 
• Le Drezen in Lechiagat (29) is a family business founded in 1929 operating both in France and abroad. It specialises in the manufacture of nets. Attuned to developments in fishing and fishing techniques, the company stays ahead of the market by adapting its products accordingly. It works particularly in collaboration with IFREMER. 
• Resi Concept in Pleyben (29) is a small business specialising in techniques for moulding, modelling, injecting and working polyurethane resins. It is applying its expertise to the creation of alternative forms of fishing gear.

Research centres 

• ENST Bretagne in Brest is devoting two teams from its TAMCIC lab, researching algorithmic processing and equipment for communication, information and knowledge, to work on marine environment information processing, acoustic imaging, undersea acoustic signal processing and decision-making tools.
• IFREMER in Brest is co-ordinating the project along with iXTrawl and is offering a range of skills in science and technology applied to the fishing sector. Its involvement focuses in particular on its departments of Ships and On-board Systems (NSE), Fishery Science and Technology (STH) and Instrument Systems Technology (TSI). 
• IMP, based in Lorient, is the Maritime Institute for the Prevention of Accidents whose involvement in the project focuses on protecting the health and safety of people in a maritime environment. It has made a major contribution to implementing new equipment and developing new systems for on-board organisation of work. 
• IRD, the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (Institute for Research into Economic Development), is orientating its research towards tropical environments. At its base in Brest, it is developing particular expertise in hydro-acoustics applied to fishing.

Fishing industry representatives

CRPMEM is the Comité régional des pêches maritimes et des élevages marins (Regional Committee for Sea Fishing and Fish Farming) in Brittany which is playing a consultative role in the TEMIS-IT project. It is also liaising with fishermen for the product test phase and dissemination of project outcomes among professionals in the fishing industry.

Contacts

jean.boucher@pole-mer-bretagne.com
rachel.sellin@pole-mer-bretagne.com