Electronics in the British Fishing Industry

Extract

This paper gives a general picture of the use of electronic aids in the British fishing industry and describes experimental and development projects now in hand. Some of the problems involved have so far defied solution because of technical or economic difficulties. Although much of this work is not directly concerned with navigation some navigational problems are involved, and these aspects of the fishing industry may be of general interest.

The Fishing Industry in Britain. The British fishing industry is divided into two main sections, the white fish industry and the herring industry. Between them they account for a total annual catch of approximately 800,000 metric tons which realizes at first sale, that is on the quayside, approximately £50 million. Of this total the herring industry accounts for about 15 to 20 per cent by weight. It is in the other section, the white fish industry, that I have been engaged for the last three years or so and this paper therefore deals mainly with electronic problems and developments in the white fish industry.