For over a thousand years, fishing has been an intrinsic part of Iceland’s heritage. Ever since the country was first settled, Icelandic fishermen have braved the seas to bring home their catch.

Today the fishing industry remains one of the pillars of the Icelandic economy, with fish products continuing to be the country’s leading export commodity.

Consequently respect for the ocean and its bounty is deeply ingrained in the Icelandic DNA and responsible management of marine resources is recognised as being fundamental to the island nation’s ongoing economic wellbeing.

Longline fishing in Iceland is widespread and is a vital part of the fishing industry, targeting valuable species like cod, haddock, and saithe.

Longlining is considered more sustainable and selective compared to other fishing practices like trawling or drift net fishing, reducing bycatch and limiting habitat damage.

The Icelandic Government through its Directorate of Fisheries is responsible for the industry’s oversight and has implemented strict regulations to ensure the longevity of fish stocks and their habitat.

These regulations include, seasonal quotas, stringent rules on the line length and placement and the use of circle hooks, these initiatives were introduced to reduce the incidence of bycatch of non targeted species, other marine mammals and seabirds, abandoned or lost lines that continue to present a hazard to shipping and indiscriminately ghost fish.

Modern technology is also now playing an important part in these conservation efforts, particularly the use of AIS tracking beacons. Morenot, Onwa’s local dealer has been at the forefront of AIS tracking beacon integration in Iceland, with the Onwa KS-33NT now used extensively to ensure that long lines are deployed legally, monitored and retrieved to prevent any negative effects on marine ecosystems.

Whilst not mandatory, there are a number of key benefits in using Onwa KS-33NT AIS Trackers in the Long Line fishing industry

Location Tracking: AIS trackers attached to the line buoys help monitor the location of longlines in real-time, allowing fishermen to locate and retrieve them more efficiently thus reducing the risk of lost or “ghost” nets.

Operational Efficiency: By knowing the exact position of their lines, fishermen can manage their equipment more effectively, optimise their fishing efforts, and better manage fuel consumption.

Navigational Hazard Prevention: AIS trackers can make longlines visible to other vessels, preventing collisions and reducing entanglements.

Catch Reporting: AIS Trackers can be integrated with electronic reporting systems to provide accurate data on fishing activities and locations.

For additional information on Onwa’s AIS tracking systems please visit https://onwamarine.com/ks-33nt-ais-tracking-device/