Fishing Protector with Gliding Stopper for Whale Predation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Long-line fishing operations face significant losses due to sperm whales and other sea mammals preying on caught fish, leading to decreased catch yields and economic challenges, as existing methods like shielding technology and fish pots have been ineffective.
Innovation Solution
A fishing protector device comprising a tank with an opening mechanism and line guiding system that hooks fish inside the tank, preventing whales from accessing the catch by collecting fish before hauling them onboard, allowing for preliminary sorting by size and easy operation with existing fishing gear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If fish are left hanging unprotected on hooks during hauling, then whales can easily access and eat the catch, but using protective devices like fish pots increases device complexity and reduces fishing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The fishing line is divided into sections with fishing protectors placed at intervals. Each protector is a separate modular unit that can be independently attached and removed, allowing the system to protect fish while maintaining flexibility and reducing overall complexity compared to protecting the entire line.
Solution Approach 2:
The fishing protector acts as an intermediary device between the hook and the whale. It provides a physical barrier that prevents whale access to the fish while allowing the fishing operation to proceed normally. The protector is designed with openings that permit fish passage but block whale access.
2Productivity
If fishing protectors are used to shield catch from whales, then catch loss decreases, but the device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Fishing protectors are pre-attached to the fishing line before deployment. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex operations during active fishing, allowing fishermen to simply set the line and retrieve it without additional manipulation of protective devices during the critical fishing period.
Solution Approach 2:
The fishing protector design allows it to automatically perform its protective function without requiring active management during fishing. The structure itself provides the shielding capability, and the device can be easily attached and detached without specialized skills or complex procedures.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional shielding technology with electronic sound units is used, then whale deterrence is attempted, but the effectiveness is minimal and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces complex electronic sound-generating devices with a simple mechanical physical barrier. Instead of using electronic units that generate sound to deter whales, the fishing protector uses a straightforward physical structure that blocks whale access to fish, eliminating the need for electronics, power sources, and complex control systems.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If fish pots are used to protect catch, then some protection is provided, but they are not sufficiently effective and reduce fishing profitability
Solution Approach 1:
The fishing protector is designed with specific local qualities that address whale predation at critical points. The protective structure includes strategically placed openings and barriers that are optimized to block whale access while permitting fish to remain accessible to hooks. This localized protection approach is more effective than generic fish pots while maintaining fishing efficiency.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a fishing protector (2) and a method for use of the fishing protector at or near the sea bed by long-line fishing to avoid that the catch is eaten by sea mammal when the line (3) with the catch is hauled into a fishing boat. A gliding stopper (6) is fastened at the termination of the line (3) and thereafter the fishing protector (2) is hooked on the line during the setting out of the line such that the line (3) passes through the fishing protector (2). By hauling of the line (3) the line is passing through the fishing protector (2) and the catch is hooked off inside the fishing protector (2). An opening and closing mechanism (11) at a first termination (12) of the fishing protector closes the opening (9) through which the fish passed, avoiding fish to escape. Finally, the opening (9) for receiving fish in the fishing protector (2) is closed by a gliding stopper (6) before the fishing protector (2) is hauled towards the surface.