How it started
The Portuguese authorities reported in 2019 that a major limitation of the current fishing monitoring system is the lack of tracking of small vessels.
The Continuous Monitoring of Fishing Activities (MONICAP) system (piloted in Portugal), and which operates based on satellite communications and Global Positioning System (GPS) is an expensive system to implement and run and, for several technical reasons (including energy consumption and size), it is not practical on small vessels and not applicable to buoys.
This implies that an important segment of the fishing fleet is not tracked at all.
According to Relatório Anual Frota de Pesca Portuguesa – 2019 there where 7768 fishing vessels registered and of those (representing the national gross tonnage):
87%
Small vessels
13%
Vessels total length > 12m
Check out our Sea Test Results:
This project starts with the need for a tracking system to be used in smaller vessels since existing systems are not technically compatible with these.
We provide a tracking system that is usable for small open vessels, allowing monitoring of fishing gear and its retrieval while facilitating the obligatory process of notifying lost gear to the authorities.
With Custodian, fishermen have access to the data about their own assets.
Areas of Intervention
The project, Custodian, aims at the development and pre-commercialization of three devices and a web platform from TRL 4 to 9, which effectively are a marine sensory network, thus directly addressing the following areas of intervention of the program:
● Development of innovative products/technologies and their application to the fishing ecosystem;
● Foster user-driven research-based innovation (TRL 4-9);
● Promote maritime digitalization;
● Deliver an environmental monitoring system;
● Promote cooperation between enterprises (4 SME) and research institutions;
● Enhance the collaboration between Portuguese and Donor State research institutions.
Direct Outcomes
Direct outcomes of the project are, in alignment with the program:
● A reduction in gear losses (a success rate of 50% would drive net income up by 5%);
● A reduction in the time/fuel spent looking for gear at sea;
● An increase in income through the informed choice of port based on real-time market information received on board (mostly applicable in islands);
● Custodian-Beacon;
● Custodian-Point;
● Custodian-Mesh;
● Custodian;
● One patent application submitted (system as a whole);
● One trademark request submitted for the name of the system;
● Software code for Custodian’s open web platform;
● Scientific publications;
● Services created on top of the web platform contribute to the open-source community in public repositories;
● The work proposed entails the creation of three new jobs.
Who we are
A newly formed international consortium of companies leading innovation in their fields.
Funded by:
Working together for a green, competitive and inclusive Europe
Through the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are partners in the internal market with the Member States of the European Union.
As a means of promoting a continued and balanced strengthening of economic and trade relations, the parties to the EEA Agreement have established a multi-annual financial mechanism, known as EEA Grants.
EEA Grants are aimed at reducing social and economic disparities in Europe and strengthening bilateral relations between these three countries and the beneficiary countries.
For the period 2014-2021, a total contribution of €2.8 billion has been agreed upon for 15 beneficiary countries. Portugal will benefit from a sum of €102.7 million.
Operated by:
Promoter:
Participants:
What the media says about us
September 30, 2024
Azorean company develops sensors to prevent loss of buoys with fishing gear in the Azores
An Azorean company based at TERINOV (Terceira Island Science and Technology Park) is leading an international project that will allow fishing boats in the Azores, at a low cost, to...
September 30, 2024
ISEL attended the public presentation of the Custodian project
On 16 November, SOLVIT publicly presented the Custodian project. This is the result of an international consortium led by SOLVIT, in partnership with the AIR Centre, TERINOV, Lotaçor, Docapesca, ISEL, UAVISION...
September 30, 2024
Custodian project presented in Terceira on 15 November
The Custodian project, approved under the EEA Grants funding mechanism, will result in a platform to support the fisheries sector, making it possible not only to protect marine resources from...
September 30, 2024
ISEL joins project to combat plastic in the sea
ISEL is part of the consortium for the CUSTODIAN project, which aims to help fishermen locate fishing nets and other devices using a mobile phone, thus enabling them to be...
September 30, 2024
Project to combat plastic in the sea was introduced (Video)
TERINOV will have a new project to reduce waste in the fisheries sector and the amount of plastic in the oceans. Custodian is led by SOLVIT and has international funding....
September 30, 2024
Start of sea trials
The first sea trials of the system that SOLVIT is developing as part of the Custodian Project took place at the beginning of July. The tests were a success, not...
September 30, 2024
Technology developed in the Azores makes it possible to track fishing gear with a mobile phone
As part of this project, an innovative system was developed that allows fishing vessels to receive the location of their fishing gear at all times, as well as receiving personalised...
October 4, 2023
Project Custodian part of the II edition of the SBEIF
SOLVIT – Innovation on Telecommunications will be proudly participating in the II edition of the Sustainable Blue Economy Investment Forum (SBEIF). 👉 Blue Investor will explore concepts, ideas, challenges, and opportunities regarding...