Today's Electronic Systems on Fishing Vessels

Abstract

The use of electronics in fishing dates back to 1948 when fishermen first used the echo sounder in Nagasaki, Japan. In those days fishermen used to fish by their experience and human sense. For example, they knew from experience that they could find a school of sardines where the sea surface was bubbling up. This fish-finding technique based on the experience and human sense could be called "human remote sensing." Such an intuitional method could be successful once in a while, by chance, but on a rainy day the fishermen could not discriminate any "bubbles" on the sea surface.
Then, the echo sounder (also called the "fish finder") appeared to replace the "human remote sensing." The authors believe the advent of the echo sounder that used ultrasonic waves marked the beginning of "electronic remote sensing." Since then, many fishing vessels adopted a wide range of electronic equipment. Today's typical fishing vessel is heavily equipped with the electronic equipment that would entitle her to be called an "electronic ship."
This paper describes the latest electronic systems installed on fishing vessels. It also introduces how the equipment is used by fishermen. We expect the electronics for fishing will ever develop in the future.