The NAUTILOS H2020 project was pleased to present a poster at the 2024 Fisheries Science Seminar, held on September 25, 2024. The seminar, organized by the Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), focused on the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in promoting sustainability in fisheries.
The NAUTILOS poster explained the importance of Nephrops norvegicus (Norway lobster), a pivotal species in European fisheries. With annual landings nearly reaching 60,000 tonnes, the species has played a crucial role, especially in the Mediterranean Sea, where an average of 3,700 tonnes has been landed each year over the past 20 years. However, the last decade has seen a notable decline in landings.
As a benthic burrowing decapod crustacean, N. norvegicus is typically found at depths between 50 and 800 meters. Evaluating its stock is challenging, as traditional methods rely on fishery-dependent data or underwater video camera surveys to assess burrow densities. These densities, measured in burrows per square meter, are critical for determining stock abundance. Currently, stock assessments are conducted by manually analyzing hours of underwater footage, a time-consuming process prone to human error and subjectivity.
The NAUTILOS project is addressing this challenge by developing advanced computer science methods and refining machine learning tools. These AI-based tools are designed to detect and recognize the burrows automatically, estimate their density, and significantly reduce the human subjectivity and error involved in analyzing UWTV data.
This year’s seminar showcased such innovations, with experts in the field presenting on the advancements of AI in fisheries management, followed by engaging discussions with participants. The seminar also featured a poster exhibition highlighting successful projects integrating AI, including NAUTILOS. Attendees had the opportunity to explore these cutting-edge contributions throughout the event.