Deep Vision is a subsea vision system for identifying and measuring fish under water. A subsea camera unit attached to the trawl makes it possible to identify and measure fish in the sea without bringing the catch onboard the vessel. Deep Vision is an invaluable tool for marine researchers and a great technological leap towards more sustainable fisheries. Deep Vision Research Version is currently for sale. Deep Vision Commercial Trawl Version will be available for sale in 2020.
Deep Vision is the result of cutting-edge computer vision technology and advanced image analysis techniques incorporated into robust and innovative subsea enclosures.
The system is currently available for sale for research purposes with the advantages of accurate sampling data from images made possible without bringing the fish onboard the vessel.
Deep Vision is being further developed for use by commercial trawl fisheries, where the system can be programmed for species and length of desired catch and automatically sort the catch in the trawl based on this.
Deep Vision Research Version –Accurate, efficient and sustainable sampling
The Deep Vision system consists of a frame and camera unit attached with a zipper to the trawl. During a haul, all organisms passing through the trawl are photographed by a stereo camera. The high definition images are further analysed in the Deep Vision software for registration of species and automatic length measurement.
All images are logged with time and depth information. Correlated with GPS data, this will show the exact position of the fish in the water column along the haul as seen in the figure below.

DEEP VISION OVERLAYED WITH ACOUSTIC DATA: Deep Vision images are logged with Information about time and depth. Combined with echosounder data the system shows the density of different species along the haul.
In addition, information from Deep Vision can be integrated with acoustic software to assist in the interpretation of echosounder data.
The sampling can be done with the cod-end open or closed. For release shortly is a sorting mechanism in the trawl that will make it possible to bring onboard a selection of fish for further biological sampling.
Benefits for research:
- SUSTAINABLE: No need to bring the fish onboard the vessel for sampling
- EFFICIENT: Sampling from images instead of manually onboard the vessel
- ACCURATE: Information about exact location of fish along the haul. Assists in interpretation of acoustic signals.
Deep Vision Commercial Trawl Version – Catch sorting in the trawl
Supported by Innovation Norway, Deep Vision is under further development for use in commercial trawl fisheries. The end goal is a system that can automatically measure and classify different species so that digital information about the length and species of the fish entering the trawl can be sent in real-time to the vessel.
Combined with a sorting mechanism, this will make it possible to program the system for desired species and size of catch and automatically sort the fish in the trawl. This will optimize the catch composition to the allowed quotas and dramatically reduce bycatch.
Maximized information about trawl and catch
Historical data about the catch rate along the haul can also be analysed to better plan for future hauls. Deep Vision will be integrated with Scantrol’s iSYM symmetry control for advanced trawl control. Information from the two systems will maximize the information the skipper has available about the catch and trawl.
After the haul, the skipper will be able to analyse the log from the two systems to determine when and where the catch was best, how the trawl was positioned and behaved, the vessel speed at this moment, and the distribution of catch rate and species along the haul.
Benefits for trawl fisheries:
- PROFITABLE: Catch sorting by species and size maximizes the value of the quotas
- EFFICIENT: Less time spent at sea filling the quotas and reduced fuel consumption
- SUSTAINABLE: Reduced bycatch and lower discard rates
- ACCURATE: Information about the species, size and location of the catch can be used for reports or to plan future hauls
Development and cooperation
Scantrol Deep Vision AS is a sister company of Scantrol AS. The Deep Vision system is developed with close access to Scantrol’s extensive experience and know-how in monitoring and control systems for the marine industry.
The system has been developed and tested in close cooperation with Institute for Marine Research (IMR) in Bergen and their Centre for Research-based Innovation in Sustainable fish capture and Pre-processing technology (CRISP). This cooperation resulted in the first deliveries of the Deep Vision system, one for IMR’s local research vessels and another for the new “Dr. Fridtjof Nansen” that the Institute operates in Africa and Asia.
World-leading in the field of underwater image analysis and, the newly established Girona Vision Research (GVR) works to further develop the Deep Vision analysis software. The goal is a fully automatic length measurement and species recognition.
Deep Vision Research Version is currently for sale. Deep Vision Commercial Trawl Version will be available for sale in 2020. Please contact us for availability and a quotation for your project.
Related:
- Read the latest news about Deep Vision
- Read what the press says about Deep Vision
- Contact us for more information or a quotation
- Learn more about Scantrol iSYM symmetry control
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Developed in cooperation with:
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