CatchCam, an underwater video camera designed for commercial fishermen, was launched at Pacific Marine Expo in Seattle in November 2022.

Introduced with a catch phrase - Remove the guesswork from fishing - CatchCam is an underwater video camera designed for commercial fishing, designed by a UK-based fishing tech company, SafetyNet Technologies (SNTech). The solution was launched at Pacific Marine Expo in Seattle in November 2022, where attendees had a chance to see the device first-hand and learn more.

Industry tested in the North Sea, CatchCam allows mobile and static fishermen to easily record and review footage of their fishing gear in action. As a result, fishermen can gain insight into their fishing gear performance, such as catchability and the effectiveness of bycatch mitigation techniques. Therefore, they can make quick alterations as needed to improve catches and save time and costs.

Furthermore, fisherman and scientists can use CatchCam to monitor the effect of fishing on the marine environment. Habitat monitoring is becoming an ever-increasing feature of fisheries management. CatchCam provides fishermen with the capability to gather valuable, direct evidence on the true impact of fishing on marine habitats.

Designed with fishermen, for fishermen

The CatchCam kit includes a camera and LED lamp unit that attaches to the fishing gear. Both the camera and LED Lamp are controlled wirelessly via remote control. When retrieved the footage can be reviewed on the CatchCam app while the CatchCam is still on the fishing gear. 

The system allows users to record 24 hours of footage between charges, making it ideal for commercial fishing operations. It is also completely wireless and eradicates the need to swap out memory cards or batteries. Additionally, both the camera and LED lamp are charged in a lock-and-load wireless charging station.

The camera has configurable settings allowing it to be tuned to fishing conditions, including variable frame rate, a delay timer and gain settings for low light conditions. 

CatchCam’s features have been designed to provide fishermen with the capability to gather valuable, direct evidence on the impact of fishing on marine habitats. Ian Wightman, the skipper of FV Eilidh Anne, shared s his experience of using CatchCam “Now we have the opportunity to see how our nets are performing in the water. It means we can...catch as much as we’re allowed in a shorter period of time.”