The move paves the way for the potential use of artificial intelligence by fishermen and providing a potential double return on investment for the UK economy.
With the UK fishing industry contributing around £1.4bn to our economy, employing over 24,000 people, there is huge opportunity for innovation to improve the technology available across the sector.
Unlike existing funding programmes, the Seafood Innovation Fund will focus on delivering longer-term, cutting-edge innovation.
UK businesses are already developing satellite technology and virtual watch rooms to track vessel movements, and integrating lighting into fishing nets to reduce unwanted catch and improve efficiency. But with the global fishing industry worth nearly £300bn, this fund will encourage further technological development and unlock export opportunities around the world for UK technology pioneers.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove said: £This government is investing record amounts in research and development, with this £10m fund further driving UK innovation.
“As the UK establishes itself as an independent coastal state, the Seafood Innovation Fund will bring together our world-leading fishing, seafood, and technology industries to deliver more sustainable and productive fisheries for the future.”
Dr Joanna Cox, Head of Policy at the Institution of Engineering and Technology said: “This fund is a ‘call to action’ for fishermen and engineers to work together to bring forward sustainable and productive solutions at scale to the industry’s greatest challenges.
“Technology continues to deliver transformational change across the food sector, for instance, boosting the UK farming sector through AI and robotics. We welcome the Secretary of State’s announcement and urge the UK engineering community to apply the same pioneering zeal to positively impact the UK’s seafood industries through this £10m Seafood Innovation Fund.”
Full story courtesy of BusinessLeader.
