World Fisheries Day is celebrated to highlight the significant contributions fishing communities make around the globe. Private companies play a vital role in supporting our marine ecosystems.
Dahua and Kongsberg have demonstrated continued efforts by providing advanced monitoring and surveillance mechanisms aimed at preserving the marine ecosystem.
What is World Fisheries Day?
World Fisheries Day, celebrated annually on 21 November, serves to highlight the importance of maintaining sustainable fisheries while also emphasising the need to guarantee human rights to small-scale fishing communities across the globe. Fisheries contribute significantly to global food security and play a vital role in ensuring the maintenance of a balanced ecosystem.
On a global scale, fisheries and aquaculture sectors produce 178 million tonnes of aquatic foods. While fisheries and aquaculture both describe methods of fish production for human consumption, these methods differ in their sources. While fisheries involve the process of catching fish from the wild, aquaculture is the process of farming fish in controlled environments, a process that is often more sustainable.
Collectively, these methods generate $406 billion for the economy per year, $265 billion of which comes from aquaculture. These impressive numbers underline the significant impact of the sector, highlighting the need for responsible and sustainable management.
Kongsberg and Dahua Technology: The Importance of Corporate Responsibility
International organisations such as the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) have helped fisheries transition towards more responsible, sustainable practices. Through the launch of multistakeholder projects such as the Fishery Improvement Projects (FIP), WWF and its partners work to ensure the improvement of fishing practices and to guarantee that all species, habitats and communities can thrive by improving fishery management and reducing environmental impact.
Apart from these leading charities and NGOs, many large companies have increasingly promoted marine conservation in an impressive example of ‘corporate responsibility’. Investments are increasingly designed to protect ocean ecosystems and support sustainable fisheries.
As an illustrative example, Kongsberg, the Norwegian multinational company that supplies high-technology systems and solutions in energy and maritime sectors, has introduced an enhanced sensor mechanism for environmental monitoring. As part of this system, they have implemented advanced echo sounders to track fish distribution vertically and horizontally, characterising fish behaviour through advanced technology and surveillance mechanisms. This advancement enables the collection of vital data to support sustainable fishing and aquaculture.
Similarly, Dahua Technology, a global provider of video surveillance technologies, has demonstrated its commitment to protecting coastal ecosystems and optimising aquaculture operations. Known for innovation in the security industry, Dahua has successfully implemented its Solar-Powered Security Camera Project in Bodrum, Türkiye.
Through advanced surveillance mechanisms, such as the use of smart cameras to monitor aquaculture facilities, and the use of AI-based video analytics that help to identify illegal fishing, Dahua Technology has empowered aquaculture operations and environmental agencies to monitor water quality, track fish health and detect illegal fishing activities in real time. These developments contribute significantly to the long-term preservation of ocean ecosystems and marine biodiversity.
UN Sustainable Development Goals – Corporate Engagement in Eco-Friendly Mechanisms
Marine ecosystems are also the focus of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14. UN SCD 14 advocates the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources for development, underlining the importance of healthy oceans as vital components to human existence and life on Earth.
As the world prepares to celebrate World Fisheries Day on the 21st of November it is vital to consider the growing role of digital transformation to supporting the diversity of fishery industries. Leading companies from all sectors should consider how their technologies can contribute to the preservation of marine ecosystems, food safety and fish farming innovation.
World Fisheries Day as a Reminder of Corporate Responsibility
World Fisheries Day serves as a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to protect marine resources and support sustainable fisheries.
Bearing in mind that fisheries remain a key stakeholder in the marine environment, it is crucial to enhance measures to ensure wildlife and ocean life preservation through the increasing use of advanced monitoring technologies, such as those provided by Kongsberg and Dahua Technology.
By implementing new digital tools into fisheries, corporations are assisting in securing a future for the planet’s most important resource – the ocean.
