Optimar to the final phase in a groundbreaking project initiated by the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries

The project is an innovation competition under the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries’ FangstID project. It challenges the industry to develop solutions for automatic catch registration and reporting on board the fishing vessels, as close to the fishing operation as possible. The project was launched in November 2022, and Optimar was announced as one of three companies advancing to the final phase.

Optimar's R&D Manager Johan Espelund explains that their work is evaluated at the end of each phase, and only the most promising solutions move forward.

The project's goal is to develop and implement technology that does not currently exist on the market.

– It has been and still is incredibly rewarding. We are proud to have made it to the final phase. It proves that we as a company can deliver outstanding technology, but is also proof of our commitment to the sustainable management of ocean resources. Making reporting more accurate and easier for the fishing industry is also an important part of the project, says Espelund.

From prototyping to reality.

Optimar will continue to improve the existing prototype in close collaboration with the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries in the final phase. Until the summer of 2025, Optimar and the two other remaining participants will test the prototypes on actual fishing vessels. Will someone manage to implement a solution that achieves nearly 100% accuracy in species recognition, in addition to automatic quota reconciliation and a traceable value chain?

– We are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in automated fishing operations, and being part of this final phase brings us one step closer to making this technology a reality. Now, our focus is on perfecting the solution, says Johan.