POLYBIUS2020, a cost-effective underwater autonomous video system to record fishing gear selectivity performance catching fish and marine litter

Abstract

Underwater video cameras are a highly versatile survey solution for marine fsheries research. The POLYBIUS2020 is a system specially designed to be used as a tool for video recording inside towed fshing gears. Its design allows for rapid installation onboard commercial fshing vessels as well as for quick reconfguration and battery replacement. The system is based on simple commercial components to ensure low costs and the opportunity of future studies using house technology. The feld experiments carried out have shown the fexibility and ability of the system to obtain key information about fshing selectivity, fora and fauna characterization and marine litter presence.