RU2724961C2 - Self-contained software and hardware system for fixing and estimating spatial distribution of fish biomass - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: fishing and fish breeding.SUBSTANCE: invention relates to fish industry. Autonomous software and hardware system for recording and estimating spatial distribution of fish biomass, consisting of several floating measurement stations (MS), each of which is equipped with echo sounder, moored (anchored) on the monitored water area, and base station (BS) located on the shore, combined via a radio channel into a single network, through which the measurement results come from the MS, which have a relay function, to the BS, where stored in a local or remote database, based on data from which is automatically generated animated map, visually displaying space-time dynamics of distribution of fish biomass on the monitored water area. MSs can optionally be equipped with transmitters of automatic identification system AIS (for operation in zones of intensive navigation), solar panels for extension of autonomous operation period. Proposed invention makes it possible to monitor spatial distribution of fish biomass on the monitored water area, does not require surveys from the ship, has a long battery life, provides for remote access to data and control settings over the Internet.EFFECT: listed characteristics of the system make it possible to significantly reduce the cost of carrying out field survey, obtain more relevant and detailed information on the distribution of objects of the field, and consequently, to increase the efficiency of operation of the fleet.1 cl

Description

The invention relates to the fishing industry, and in particular to means for monitoring the spatial distribution of aquatic biological resources (field exploration), necessary for the rational organization of fishing.

Known devices for searching and evaluating the biomass of aquatic biological resources (objects of fishing) by the hydroacoustic method: echo sounders and sonars. These devices have onboard or towed, active or passive, single or multi-beam antennas and are mostly designed for use from a mobile platform (ship). Monitoring of the spatial distribution of fish biomass is carried out according to the results of sonar survey according to a planned or random section scheme. To observe the spatiotemporal dynamics of biomass in order to predict the fishing situation in a controlled area, it is necessary to conduct a series of sequential surveys, which requires time and money.

Known multi-beam scientific echo sounder for accounting aquatic bioresources (RU 178905 U1, G01S 15/96, 04/23/2018), which is designed to locate water areas, search and count the number of fish, determine the parameters of individual fish and fish assemblies. As a result of using a multi-beam antenna, the device has a significantly increased detection area compared to most echo sounders with single-beam hydroacoustic antennas. Analysis of the temporal dynamics of the spatial distribution of the biomass of fishing objects according to the data of the device in question requires an accounting survey in several repetitions.

Known sonar multi-beam system for determining the abundance and parameters of fish (RU 167164 U1, G01S 15/00, 12/27/2016), intended for use on vessels of the fishing and research fleet. The system allows you to get dynamically changing over time the values of the number of fish found, as well as the parameters of their movement and migration behavior.

Known towed passive sonar system for the detection and direction finding of hydrobionts (RU 138624 U1, G01S 15/96, 03/20/2014), designed for the rational organization of fishing and environmental monitoring. The system allows you to detect and locate accumulations of aquatic organisms in conditions of external noise from the towing vessel, due to the suppression of interfering signals of anthropogenic nature, and thereby increase the efficiency and operational capabilities of the system.

A device for searching for fish is known (RU 98087 U1, A01K 79/00, 10/10/2010), which includes several towed underwater echolocation sensors for vertical sensing in the direction of the bottom and surface of the water, thereby significantly increasing the detection zone of fish. The increase in the detection zone of fishing objects allows to reduce the number of examined sections and reduce the time and material costs of exploration.

The above devices require the use of the vessel as a mobile platform, which often leads to an underestimation of the biomass of FBG (aquatic biological resources), since the phenomenon of scaring of metering objects by a moving vessel is known, which has been studied by the representatives of salmon-like and herring-like squads [1, 2, 3]. The operation of the vessel and the recording equipment during the survey requires the participation of the crew (operator), which leads to additional costs.

Known devices for hydroacoustic recording of spawning valuable fish species, which are hydroacoustic emitters installed permanently on anchored bottom and floating platforms, and connected to a coastal computerized control and measuring system by wire (RU 52647 U1, G06M 3/00, 10.04 .2006) or a wireless (communication line RU 73747 U1, G06M 3/00, 05.27.2008; RU 82357 U1, G06M 3/00, 04.20.2009). Removal of platforms with emitters from the coast is limited by the length of the signal cable (in the case of using a wired communication line) or the range of reception of communication over the radio channel (in the case of using a wireless communication line). The autonomy of the device is limited by the capacity of the used batteries, as well as the storage volume of the recorded data.

The proposed autonomous software and hardware complex for recording and estimating the spatial distribution of fish biomass is intended for collecting and analyzing information on the spatial distribution and estimating the biomass of fish assemblages in a given water area. The complex consists of several floating measuring stations (IS) permanently located (anchored) in a controlled area, and a base station (BS) located on the shore. The hydroacoustic method determines the density of distribution of fish clusters at the points of their installation. Processing of the primary information coming from the hydroacoustic module (echo sounder of vertical sounding) is carried out directly by the microcontroller IC by the method of layer-by-layer echo integration. Via a radio channel, the measurement results come from the IS to the BS, where they are stored in a local database, or transmitted over the Internet to a database on a remote server. Based on the data from the database, an animated map is automatically generated that visually displays the spatiotemporal dynamics of the distribution of fish biomass in a controlled area.

The ICs are integrated into a common network and are capable of performing the functions of radio signal repeaters from other ICs that are significantly remote from the BS and do not have direct radio communication with it, due to which the area of the controlled water area can be significantly increased. Failure or loss of individual IS does not lead to the cessation of the entire complex. For operation in areas of heavy shipping, ISs are optionally equipped with a system for warning ships of their position through an AIS transmitter (automatic identification system). ICs have a system for self-testing and emergency handling, implemented on a separate microcontroller. The power supply system of the IC consists of a high-capacity battery, which, combined with the use of low-power electronic components and energy-saving functioning algorithms, allows you to work autonomously for up to several months. The power supply system of the IC and BS is optionally equipped with solar panels designed to recharge batteries. Equipping the IC with solar panels significantly extends its battery life, especially when used in long daylight hours.

The present invention allows monitoring the spatial distribution of fish biomass in a controlled area, does not require surveying from a vessel, has a long battery life, provides for remote access to data and control settings via the Internet. The listed characteristics of the complex can significantly reduce the cost of field exploration, obtain more relevant and detailed information about the distribution of fishing facilities, and, therefore, increase the efficiency of the fishing fleet by quickly sending vessels to the maximum concentration of FBG or stopping fishing when their biomass is lower than the minimum economically viable value.

Sources of information:

1. Olsen K. Fish behavior and acoustic sampling // Intern. symp. on fish. acoust., 1987, Seattle, USA, 28 p.

2. Nikolaev A.B., Kuznetsov M.Yu., Syrovatkin E.B. Hydroacoustic studies of Pacific salmon in the North Pacific. Vladivostok. 2007. Izv. TINRO, t. 150, p. 27-47.

3. Mitson R. B., Knudsen N. R. Causes and effects of underwater noise on fish abundance estimation // Aquatic Living Resources, 2003. Vol. 16. P. 255-263.

Claims (1)

An autonomous software and hardware complex for recording and assessing the spatial distribution of fish biomass, consisting of several floating measuring stations (IS), stationary (anchored) in a controlled area, each of which is equipped with a power source, a set of on-board electronics, a single-beam echo sounder of vertical sounding, or a multi-beam echo sounder, or a scanning echo sounder, an automatic identification system to notify ships of its location, solar panels for recharging a power source, and a base station (BS) located on the shore, connected to the Internet, forming a database on a remote server, connected via a radio channel into a single network, through which the measurement results come from ICs that have the function of repeaters, to the BS, where they are stored in a local database, based on the data from which an animated map is automatically generated that visually displays the spatio-temporal dynamics of the distribution of fish biomass in a controlled area.