Croatian project wins innovation in fishing technology award 

© National Institute for Fisheries Research (INRH), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests, Morocco

MedFish4Ever Awards celebrate regional innovation in fisheries and aquaculture

A Croatian project from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture wins award for innovation in fishing technology

Malta, 5 October 2023 – The GFCM High-level conference on MedFish4Ever initiatives: Transformative actions to address new challenges offered a fitting occasion to recognize outstanding new work in the Mediterranean in the fields of fishing technology and aquaculture research and in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

An awards ceremony celebrated the innovation and creativity driving the region’s fishing and aquaculture sectors forwards, with initiatives from Croatia, Cyprus, Morocco, Spain, Tunisia and the non-governmental organization Global Fishing Watch winning the MedFish4Ever awards for innovative practices in fisheries and aquaculture.

Attendees gathered for the ceremony on the first evening of the conference, which joined high-level representatives from 20 Mediterranean fishing nations with fishers, fish farmers, scientists, managers, organizations and other experts in Malta to plan a collective course towards a sustainable future.

The Croatian project of The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture is one of the recognized and award-winning initiatives. 

The project’s impact lies in its decarbonization strategies for various vessel types and its successful collaboration between fishers and scientists. The goal is to reduce the carbon footprint of the fishing industry, contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable future. 

Findings include emission reduction measures, technical and operative enhancements, and the development of an emission index. The project’s location in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea has implications for the wider Mediterranean region, as it is highly replicable in other areas with similar fishing fleets.

Many of the conference discussions focused on how innovation and technology have a critical role to play in increasing efficiency, reducing environmental impacts, boosting the productivity of aquaculture and enabling monitoring and enforcement, and winning solutions in all these areas were showcased at the MedFish4Ever Awards.

Winner: 

Assessment of the carbon footprint of the fishing fleet and application of decarbonization measures, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture (Croatia)

Fishing vessels consume a significant amount of energy, and harmful emissions are released in the fisheries production chain – but that needs to change as the sector faces up to the realities of a changing climate. Decarbonization is an increasingly important theme for our regional fisheries, so a research group at the University of Zagreb is running several projects geared towards improving energy efficiency in fisheries and aquaculture. 

© University of Zagreb – Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, Croatia

From real-time monitoring of fleet fuel consumption to experimental work to develop hybrid and fully electric vessels, the team is focused on reducing fishing’s carbon footprint, and building a cleaner future. Their findings are important for the entire Mediterranean.

© University of Zagreb – Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, Croatia

© University of Zagreb – Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, Croatia

The winners will go on to present their projects at two key scientific events: the International Symposium on Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (SOFAS 2023) and the GFCM Forum on Fisheries Science in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea (Fish Forum 2024).

© University of Zagreb – Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, Croatia

“It was a real pleasure to be able to give these innovative ideas the public recognition they deserve,” said GFCM Executive Secretary Miguel Bernal, who opened the ceremony. “Fishers, fish farmers, scientists and companies are key elements to provide the solutions we need for the sector, and the spirit of collaborative innovation that is being celebrated here is what we need to secure a sustainable future for all.”