Fishtek Marine

16/06/2026

The results of sea turtle conservation projects around the world deserve to be celebrated. This , we want to highlight the excellent work of the Society for the Protection of Turtles (SPOT Marine Life), a project working closely with local Cypriot fishermen to deliver an incredible conservation impact. 🐢

An estimated 40,000 sea turtles are caught as bycatch in Mediterranean fisheries every year, largely due to the prevalence of monofilament gillnets, one of the principal gear types used by small-scale fishermen.

We've been working with SPOT for years now, benefiting from a strong feedback loop that has helped refine and improve our gear. Over a four-year study spanning 130 fishing trips, the results were undeniable. By attaching flashing green to gillnets, turtle bycatch was reduced by nearly half, while target catches remained unchanged. 💡

👉42% fewer turtles, 50% fewer rays, and no loss of target catch.

Swipe to see how illumination is creating a wave of change for bycatch reduction. 🌊

Check out the paper here:https://cyprusturtles.org/uploads/home/file/Snape_et_al_2024_NetLights_bycatch_net_illumination.pdf

📷: SPOT Marine Life

08/06/2026

What does the future of sustainable fishing look like?

Productive fisheries and healthy oceans go hand in hand. At Fishtek Marine, we’re proud to be at the forefront of research and the industry, supporting sustainable seafood and food security worldwide. 💡

This , we’re celebrating the innovations and partnerships bringing together engineers, fishermen, scientists, conservationists and seafood producers to shape a better future for our oceans.

Plenty more to do, and some every exciting things to come! 💪🌊

Follow our journey: www.fishtekmarine.com

ExeterMarine Marine Biological Association SPOT Marine Life RSPB BirdLife International Schmidt Marine Technology Partners

05/06/2026

Environmental sustainability is built on collaboration. At Fishtek Marine, developing effective bycatch technology and low impact fishing methods requires engineering precision, fisher collaboration and research data that demonstrates impact. 🌊🤝

From prototyping and pioneering technology to extensive field trials and industry collaboration, our technology remains part of a much larger scientific effort – turning engineering into real-world conservation. We bring together academics, specialist engineers and experienced fishermen to develop, trial and implement our devices. 💡

As we mark , we recognise the scientists, engineers, and fishermen that work together to better understand and protect our blue planet. Together, we are proving that smart technology can create a more sustainable future for our shared environment. 🌏

ExeterMarine SPOT Marine Life BirdLife International RSPB Danmarks Tekniske Universitet - DTU WWF-Pakistan and many more...

03/06/2026

Global seafood markets continue to evolve, with sustainability and responsible fishing practise being increasingly important to maintain access to key export markets.

Under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act ( ) Import Provisions, exporting nations must show that marine mammal bycatch protections are comparable to domestic U.S. standards. While many fisheries have achieved compliance, denied findings for 240 fisheries from 46 nations highlighting the need to strengthen bycatch monitoring and mitigation measure implementation.

With market access to the U.S. at stake, the need for scalable solutions is now more prevalent than ever.

Incorporating established mitigation measures, such as acoustic deterrents, otherwise known as ‘ ’, have shown to offer a clear pathway for fisheries to protect marine mammals, supporting conservation goals, and safeguard access to valuable export markets. 🌊

Read more about the Import Regulations here SeafoodSource: https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/environment-sustainability/us-conservation-groups-challenge-mmpa-comparability-findings-for-several-foreign-fisheries

Three U.S. conservation groups have challenged NOAA Fisheries’ approval of seafood imports from eight nations

30/05/2026

The recently appointed Marine Mammal Protection Act ( ) Import Provisions regulation has impacted fisheries across 46 nations, requiring approved comparability findings for continued seafood exports to the U.S. market.

While the regulation introduces new compliance requirements, it also presents an opportunity for fisheries to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable and responsible practices. Fisheries using gear with a higher risk of marine mammal interactions are receiving increased scrutiny, making effective bycatch reduction more important than ever.

In response, many fisheries are already taking positive steps by adopting practical mitigation measures as part of their fishery improvement plans. Alongside enhanced monitoring and data collection, acoustic deterrent devices (aka “ ”) have proven to be one of the most effective tools for reducing mammal-gear interactions before they occur.

With modern, affordable pingers now available, bycatch reduction is no longer limited to larger fleets. Solutions such as our Banana Pingers are helping fisheries strengthen sustainability efforts, maintain access to key export markets, and support both marine wildlife protection and fishing livelihoods for the future. 🌊🐋🐬

Read more on Hook and Net Magazine: https://mag.hookandnet.com/2026/04/16/2026-04fishtekpingers/content.html

WWF-Pakistan Khmer Ocean Life

22/05/2026

The U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act isn’t just a national conservation law, it’s a powerful force that shapes global seafood trade. 🌊

The act was first passed as a protection measure for populations of marine mammals that were endangered as a result of human activities. Since January of this year, its influence has grown to reach far beyond U.S. waters. 🐋🐬

The act requires fisheries worldwide to improve monitoring, reduce risk to cetaceans, and document sustainable practices, by linking the U.S. market access to bycatch mitigation. With the U.S. importing around 80% of its seafood, these requirements shape global supply chains. 🐟

As a result, the MMPA functions not only as a conservation law, but also a key facet that pushes global fisheries towards sustainability. 🌎

More on the new Imports Regulation in the next post…

21/05/2026

Our low-impact fishery is now moving up north!

🌊 Check out our latest in The Skipper: https://theskipper.ie/scallop-potting-from-cornish-breakthrough-to-scottish-opportunity/

Special mention to Pete Haskins at Seafood for his insights on his experiences in the Southwest – thank you! 🩵

Explore scallop potting: from a breakthrough in Cornwall to new opportunities in Scotland's fishing industry.

15/05/2026

A huge thank you to everyone who came to see us at the Skipper Expos last week! It was great to put so many faces to names and have some fascinating conversations throughout the event.

Following on from the expo, we stayed up in Scotland with distributors and local fishermen, discussing what scallop potting could look like in different areas, and seeing the interest continue to grow.

Despite uncertainties in places, scallop potting is continuing to show real promise up north. Fishermen are adapting to different conditions compared to down south, including the longer daylight hours, and as the days get longer, many are seeing better results shifting their gear deep.

It’s not the easiest pot fishery to master, but when it comes together, the rewards are worth it!

We’re incredibly grateful to all the fishermen feeding information back to us, and to our distributors who are doing a fantastic job helping to push this method forward, putting scallop potting on the map.

If you’d like to find out more, give us a ring or get in touch with one of our distributors (Slide 4) – we’d be more than happy to chat!

Images: Blue Lobster Fishing Ltd and West Coast Creels

07/05/2026

Discoscallops have been a popular choice for scallop fishermen in the Southwest, with hundreds of pots currently in use. Now, scallop potting has been identified as an upcoming fishery in waters up North.

Scallop potting in Scottish waters shows great potential, but every coastline is different.

At Fishtek Marine, we believe the fishermen at the heart of finding out what works. 🌊

Curious? Find out more at www.fishtekmarine.com 👈

02/05/2026

World Tuna Day is a reminder of our shared responsibility to protect ocean health. 🌎

As global fisheries work to balance productivity with sustainability, proven bycatch‑reduction technologies like our SharkGuard are helping tuna fisheries reduce their environmental impact and support long‑term sustainability goals. 🦈

At Fishtek Marine, we remain committed to protecting our oceans through innovative, science‑driven solutions. 🌊