California Squid Fishery Uses JW Fishers Underwater Camera

By Anonymous

JW Fishers’ (East Taunton, Massachusetts) DV-1 underwater camera is being used to quantify the number of eggs being produced by California squid fisheries. This drop video system has a high- resolution camera mounted on a 250-foot depth-rated housing equipped with two powerful 100-watt tungsten halogen lights. The DV-1 is lowered close to the bottom and observers can see the size and distribution of the gelatinous egg beds far below. This provides researchers with hard data on the health and sustainability of the squid population, said the company.

“The DV-1 has been very useful in squid egg research and for a variety of other projects,” said Ray Michalski of the Department of Fish and Game. “I have also been using the camera to monitor and test hoop nets that are permitted to catch lobster. I even fabricated an attachment that permits use of a grab to take bottom samples. The system really works well for us.”

With the DV-1 and many other new technologies providing information, California officials are making informed decisions about the best way to protect and sustain the state’s marine resources, said Fishers. New regulations have been established, setting quotas, limiting the number of permits and recommending new research and oversight.

In the early days of squid fishing, there were no catch limits, permits, seasons or boundaries. This created a growing fear that the California squid fishery would collapse, but thanks to research, recommendations and enforcement efforts by California’s Department of Fish and Game, the squid fishery seems to be stabilizing, said the company.

Copyright Compass Publications, Inc. May 2008

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