This page includes a snapshot of past and ongoing gear innovation for trawling. For general information on Department of Conservation-approved mitigation devices and methods, click here.
Video Series: Innovations in New Zealand's Commercial Fishing
Developed by: New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen
What: A video series exploring the “anatomy” of a modern New Zealand trawl net. A 3D representation of how a net actually looks underwater that breaks down the different parts of a net and some of our current and developing innovations.
Animated by Plato Creative and Orly Creative Media.
Learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Pkpea54DRo&list=PLNgD8LVMNeTzKZojOGeHaXwmngWcgATYG
Contact: [email protected]
Flomo
Developed by: Precision Seafood Harvesting
What: FloMo (previously called the Modular Harvesting System) is a patent-protected technology (WO/2014/140702) that attaches to the belly of the trawl and replaces the extension/lengthener and cod end sections.
FloMo is made up of different modules that work together to generate a low-turbulence, low-damage hydrodynamic environment that gently filters incoming catch and allows it to be hauled aboard without dewatering (although dewatering is an option). It includes the Cone Module, Retention Module and Liftbag Module.
The low-turbulence environment that FloMo delivers through the trawl, is designed to reduce the known causes of fish damage, such as abrasion, compression, fatigue, and stress. Not only does this result in better quality catch for harvest, but it maximises the amount of time fish are available for filtration by the hundreds of escapement holes, and the subsequent survival of fish that escape or are released from the FloMo after unloading. In addition, if fish aren’t dying or getting injured during the capture process, this decouples tow duration from fish quality, opening up new possibilities for more efficient fishing operations.
Learn more: https://www.flomo.co.nz/
Flume Tank
Developed by: Plant & Food Research (Suzy Black, Louise Kregting)
What: Opened in Nelson in 2024, this purpose-built flume generates uniform flow conditions of up to 1.5m/s to provide innovators with a range of speeds in which to trial their inventions before they’re launched in real life.
With a six-metre length test section and up to 190,000 litres of fresh water moving in a recirculating uniform flow, the flume tank enables the hydrodynamic testing of equipment, devices and systems.
Plant & Food use the flume tank to test its fishing and aquaculture technologies. Its applications are wide ranging – if it's designed for use in the water, it can be tested, observed and measured in the flume tank. It is available for hire.
Learn more: https://www.plantandfood.com/en-nz/flume-tank
Contact: https://www.plantandfood.com/en-nz/contact-us