Archipelago Marine Research Ltd., the Victoria based fishery monitoring company that works on the North Coast has received the accolades of its industry, for the way it uses technology in the fishery industry.
The Daily News featured details of their success in Tuesday’s paper.
CRAB TRAP COMPUTER SYSTEM WINS FIRM ACCLAIM
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Pages one and three
Archipelago Marine Research Ltd., a Victoria-based supplier of fishery monitoring and data reporting services, has won an award for its use of technology in the fishing industry.
The company, which has an office in Prince Rupert, won the “Innovative Excellence” category at the VIATeC (Vancouver Island Advanced Technology Centre) Technology Awards in late May.
The awards ceremony was held at the Victoria Conference Centre on May 31.
“For many years, Archipelago has been known as local experts and leading service providers in their field”, said Dan Gunn, executive director of the VIATeC.
“This company has taken almost 30 years of expertise and translated it into an innovative technology product that addresses an important environmental issue while streamlining processes and reducing costs for local commercial fisheries operators.
“Archipelago is an excellent example of why Victoria’s technology sector has surpassed tourism to become the leading non-government revenue provider.
Archipelago received the award for the electronic vessel monitoring system it developed to remotely collect fisheries data – known as the Electronic Vessel Information system or ELVIS.
In the Prince Rupert region, Archipelago has worked closely with the Area A Crab Association on the development and refinement of their electronic monitoring technology.
Shawn Stebbins, president of Archipelago Marine Research Ltd., said it was their work with the association that prompted the first version of the at-sea monitoring technology.
In the late 1990’s, Archipelago realized there were a growing need to collect data from smaller vessels at sea, vessels that may not necessarily be big enough for an at-sea observer, he said.
At that point, they were approached for the Area A Crab Association to develop a system to monitor trap limits as well as who was hauling what traps.
“That’s what motivated a lot of the first version of this technology that was produced.”
A computer video system on board is connected to sensors that know when a boat is fishing. Radio Frequency identification tags identify traps being hauled, allowing for the fishery to be monitored for conservation purposes and keeping track of lost or stolen gear.
It’s been in place every year since 200. It allows boats in the association to meet their reporting requirements to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans without having to bear the cost of an on0the grounds charter patrolman.
“It was a cost-effective solution for them,” said Stebbins.
With permanent offices employing staff in Victoria, Ucluelet, Port Hardy and Prince Rupert. Archipelago employs a province-wide corps of more than 50 at-sea observers. The company provides dockside and electronic monitoring and at-sea observer services to local ground fish trawl and hook and line, shrimp and geoduck fleets.
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