Mapping the Deep: Insights from the SIFIDS Work Package 8B Report
Of great relvance to Newlyn, a beacon of data-driven insight has emerged from the north. The Scottish Inshore Fisheries Integrated Data System (SIFIDS) has released its final report —a document that attempts to bridge the gap between the unseen movements of the inshore fleet and the regulatory frameworks that govern them.
The report, titled "Identifying fishing activities and their associated drivers," marks a significant step forward in how the industry might navigate the "spatial squeeze" of the 21st century. For a region likethe Suth West, which has long relied on the intuition and hard-won knowledge of its skippers, the findings offer a glimpse into a future where technology and tradition are increasingly intertwined.
Mapping the Unseen
"Fishing activity isn't just a matter of where the fish are; it is a complex dance driven by a multitude of factors."
Breaking the Disconnect
Looking Ahead
The report focuses on a perennial challenge for the inshore sector: the lack of high-resolution data. While larger offshore vessels are tracked with precision, the activities of smaller inshore craft have often remained in the shadows of official datasets. The SIFIDS team utilized Automatic Identification System (AIS) data to track vessel movements, but they went a step further—investigating whether these digital footprints could be used to accurately infer specific fishing patterns.
The report identifies that the "drivers" behind every haul are manifold, ranging from weather patterns and seasonal biological cycles to the economic pressures of market prices and fuel costs. By analysing these drivers, the study provides a more granular understanding of how the fleet operates within the marine environment.
A central theme of Through the Gaps! is breaking the disconnect between the work performed at sea and the policy decisions made on land. The SIFIDS report serves this mission by providing a robust, objective evidence base. In an era where offshore renewable energy projects and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are competing for the same stretches of water, having "digital proof" of fishing grounds is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity for the industry's defense.
The study emphasises that involving the industry in data collection is paramount. Over 130 vessel skippers participated in the wider SIFIDS project, proving that when fishermen are treated as partners in research, the results are both more accurate and more respected. This collaborative approach mirrors the spirit of the Newlyn community, where the digital lighthouse and physical labor must work in tandem.
As the industry moves toward a "Digitalisation Roadmap," reports like this one from the SIFIDS project provide the coordinates. They remind us that while the sea remains a volatile and four-dimensional workplace, the tools we use to understand it are becoming sharper.
For the readers of Through the Gaps!, the SIFIDS report is a reminder that the future of fishing lies in the data. Whether it’s documenting the arrival of the morning market or mapping the high-value grounds of the inshore fleet, the goal remains the same: ensuring that the vital work of the fishing community is recognized, respected, and protected for the generations to come.
Watch: Introduction to the SIFIDS Project