We are thrilled to introduce Mare Nostrum’s latest initiative: Iluminar el Mar, a UNDP Ocean Innovation Challenge-winning project!
The problem we are addressing is something called “bycatch.” This happens when fishermen unintentionally catch animals they did not intend to catch, such as endangered sea turtles, sharks, or marine mammals. Bycatch of these species has resulted in drastic declines of marine populations and harms our oceans as well as the livelihood of fishermen.
The problem with bycatch is it results in the death of countless marine species, disrupting ecosystems and reducing biodiversity. It also poses economic challenges for fishermen, who face reduced profits due to discarded catch and damaged gear.
Iluminar El Mar addresses this issue and is working on a breakthrough solution. Previous studies have shown that using special colored LED lights on fishing nets can help decrease bycatch. These lights don’t scare away the fish fishermen want to catch, but they do reduce the number of accidental catches of endangered animals by a huge amount. For example, sea turtle bycatch can be reduced by 93%, and for other animals like sharks, it can be reduced by as much as 95%.
Through Iluminar el Mar, we are going to test these LED lights in Ecuador’s artisanal fishing fleet with the help and support of local fishermen, government agencies, and other nonprofit collaborations.
Our plan has three parts: First, we will talk to the fishing communities to get their input. Then, we will study how these lights affect fishing and the people who do it. Finally, we will run scientific trials with the lights on the nets for six months to see how well they work. We hope this will lead to a way for fishermen to make more money by selling their fish while helping protect endangered species threatened by bycatch resulting in overall increased ocean health.
We are on a mission to make Ecuador the first country to use these special LED lights within an entire fishery. With the support of the Ecuadorian government and its commitment to protecting nature, we believe this can happen. Iluminar el Mar could be a game-changer, reducing the accidental catching of endangered animals, making fishing more sustainable, and helping threatened species and ecosystems not just in Ecuador but all over the world.
We are thrilled to introduce Mare Nostrum’s latest initiative: Iluminar el Mar, a UNDP Ocean Innovation Challenge-winning project!
The problem we are addressing is something called “bycatch.” This happens when fishermen unintentionally catch animals they did not intend to catch, such as endangered sea turtles, sharks, or marine mammals. Bycatch of these species has resulted in drastic declines of marine populations and harms our oceans as well as the livelihood of fishermen.
The problem with bycatch is it results in the death of countless marine species, disrupting ecosystems and reducing biodiversity. It also poses economic challenges for fishermen, who face reduced profits due to discarded catch and damaged gear.
Iluminar El Mar addresses this issue and is working on a breakthrough solution. Previous studies have shown that using special colored LED lights on fishing nets can help decrease bycatch. These lights don’t scare away the fish fishermen want to catch, but they do reduce the number of accidental catches of endangered animals by a huge amount. For example, sea turtle bycatch can be reduced by 93%, and for other animals like sharks, it can be reduced by as much as 95%.
Through Iluminar el Mar, we are going to test these LED lights in Ecuador’s artisanal fishing fleet with the help and support of local fishermen, government agencies, and other nonprofit collaborations.
Our plan has three parts: First, we will talk to the fishing communities to get their input. Then, we will study how these lights affect fishing and the people who do it. Finally, we will run scientific trials with the lights on the nets for six months to see how well they work. We hope this will lead to a way for fishermen to make more money by selling their fish while helping protect endangered species threatened by bycatch resulting in overall increased ocean health.
We are on a mission to make Ecuador the first country to use these special LED lights within an entire fishery. With the support of the Ecuadorian government and its commitment to protecting nature, we believe this can happen. Iluminar el Mar could be a game-changer, reducing the accidental catching of endangered animals, making fishing more sustainable, and helping threatened species and ecosystems not just in Ecuador but all over the world.
