TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Industrial Technology Research Institute and the Metal Industries Research and Development Centre developed a smart drone for fish detection with support from the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Taiwan Fishermen’s Association Chair Hsieh Lung-yin (謝龍隱) said the drone can reduce fishing costs, minimize the risk of injuries and property damage, and help crews reach catch targets more quickly, per CNA.
According to ITRI, the drone is a vertical takeoff and landing fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle with a flight time of up to 1.5 hours and a range of over 30 km. The agency added that the drone is also resistant to rain, dust, and corrosion.
Additionally, ITRI developed a system that can plan drone flight paths and deploy up to four drones for simultaneous patrols. While in flight, onboard cameras transmit real-time images back to the system, ITRI said. When a drone detects a fish school, the system will recall the drone and direct it back to the fishing vessel, guiding the crew to the fishing location.
MIRDC added that it plans to collaborate with domestic manufacturers, system integrators, and service providers to conduct drone testing this year.
ITRI said that to improve fish-finding efficiency, crews typically place sensor-equipped electronic buoys in areas where fish schools migrate. These buoys transmit precise location data to the captain. However, it noted the buoys are vulnerable to sabotage by competitors.
Hsieh said that in the past, most fishing vessels relied on radar and lookouts to locate fish schools, which limited their range. Since the introduction of helicopters for spotting fish, the aerial view has greatly expanded the search area, leading to a 30% increase in the annual catch.
However, maintaining a helicopter and hiring onboard crew costs around NT$20 million (US$620,000) annually, Hsieh said. He added that helicopters generate significant carbon emissions due to fuel consumption and pose high operational risks, including the possibility of crashing into the sea due to mechanical failure.
