(4.) Data Reduction Greatly improved computer 
facilities will be required to assimilate, store, and 
convert into usable form the vast quantities of 
data gathered by satellites. The fishery scientist 
will become increasingly involved with ocean, 
weather, and space scientists in developing pro- 
grams to provide data to fishermen. Initial collabo- 
ration is being developed by the U.S. Bureau of 
Commercial Fisheries with the National Aeronau- 
tical and Space Administration, the U.S. Navy, and 
other agencies working principally off California, 
in the Gulf of Mexico, and the tropical Atlantic. 
(5.) Satellites for Data Transmission The satel- 
lite system also can relay computer data to 
fishermen at sea—the link in the chain requiring 
least development. Facsimile charts already are 
being transmitted by Japan for fishermen at sea. 
Receiver costs are reasonable for oceangoing fish- 
ing vessels, and communication satellites could 
provide this service to vessels far from port. 
c. Fish Detection Systems Locating fish schools 
is very time consuming and costly. To reduce this 
time, methods to detect fish schools should be 
investigated, including acoustical systems, pulsed 
laser systems, chemical techniques to detect or- 
ganic residues left by fish, and devices to detect 
electromagnetic and temperature disturbances 
caused by fish. 
Active sonar for locating and passive acoustic 
devices for identifying marine life by characteristic 
noises are being used (the latter by the Russians). 
Underwater television might also be used for 
detection and identification. Except active sonar, 
such devices are not developed fully, and more 
importantly, are not in general use because of high 
costs. Successful application of current and 
improved technology will depend on mass produc- 
tion, volume purchases, and cost reductions. 
d. Harvesting Systems Efficient harvesting of 
pelagic fish populations will require the capability 
to control the movement of species, and to 
concentrate them for capture. Various mechanical, 
chemical, acoustical, optical and electrical tech- 
niques have been used with varied degrees of 
success to fence in desirable species, to fence out 
predators and to attract and immobilize species for 
harvest. Present methods have been devised 
VI-148 
through empirical trials; some are ancient con- 
cepts, including nets and traps; many are quite 
inefficient. 
The combined talents of biologists, economists, 
engineers, and physicists must be applied to 
increase harvest efficiency. Passive fishing systems 
utilizing large automated traps with electricity, 
sound, or light to herd fish are but one example. 
Large pens or traps can be attached to the seabed 
where ground fish migrate. Mechanical or electrical 
barriers can help herd fish into traps for pumping 
into vessels or to processing plants ashore. Figure 
14 illustrates this method. Floating traps can be 
used to harvest pelagic fish. Automated lift nets 
can discharge fish into holding pens. 
Figure 14. Artist’s concept showing fish being 
pumped into a vessel. (Bureau of Commercial 
Fisheries drawing) 
A brief review of possible future techniques 
follows. 
(1.) Chemicals Fish respond to chemical concen- 
trations of considerably less than one part per 
billion. Chemicals have been used to attract or 
repel fish. It is possible chemicals can be developed 
to concentrate commercial species selectively and 
repel predators during harvesting. 
(2.) Acoustics Little scientific effort has yet 
been exerted to develop acoustical devices to 
attract or repel fish. The Russians have repelled 
