14 DAY TRIAL // Unfortunately, the activity of major fisheries goes hand in hand with water pollution and climate change to disrupt the balance of fish populations. Smart Gear Competition is being organized twice every year, with the main purpose of cutting human intervention off the list of threats. This year, the award goes to China.
Innovative, rewarded fishing devices are meant to reduce the amount of unintentional or unused catch. This year, the grand prize of $30,000 (€22,251) goes to Kazuhiro Yamazaki, the captain of a Japanese tuna vessel also rewarded with $7,500 (€5,562) by the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF), reports WWF Global.
His idea is simple yet innovative, and highly beneficial mostly for tuna fisheries. Representatives for the contest say his prototype can considerably reduce the bycatch, an idea that is supported with great enthusiasm by the WWF. The foundation is currently struggling to take the tuna population off the list of endangered species.
The winner proves his attitude is definitely eco-conscious by donating $10,000 (€7,417) from the amount he received, to provide financial support to environmentally-friendly activities.
Such operations are meant to highlight the potential of his findings, while launching the newly-elaborated product on a large commercial scale.
Therefore, all fishery owners will be able to make sure nothing fishy gets stuck in their nets, so to speak. Profit margins will increase as the companies operating on the market will display a greener attitude. Yamazaki impressed the audience with his double-weight branch line, a new concept up to 89% more efficient than its traditional competitor.
It might represent the last hope for albatrosses and petrels, two of the misfortunate victims of fishing operations. The device can reduce the number of unnecessary injuries and deaths, proving that companies can make their revenue grow, since it has no effect on the fish catch rates.
The winner thinks his concept will revolutionize the market of fishing gears, guiding the entire industry to a more sustainable path. The Chinese inventor isn't the only one who managed to take more than a few dollars home.
The contest also rewarded two other inventions, apparently worth $10,000 (€7,417) each. SeaQualizer from Florida is the first runner-up, awarded for its ingenious device, meant to improve the management of red snapper and rockfish in particular.
Turtles can also breathe at ease from now, thanks to Turtle Lights for Gillnets, an invention relying on fishing lights that will innovate gillnets, helping turtles swim for their lives. Without influencing the companies' profit margins, the device can save up to 60% of the turtle population, previously threatened by fisheries.
The WWF is working in partnership with several other non-profit organizations to host the popular contest since 2004. Due to their efforts, empowered by an appropriate financial support, fishing might become an overall sustainable activity, with no impact upon marine creatures other than fish.