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group11_vlog_ep.1.mp4Ask
Ask is the first step in the engineering design process. In this step you define the issue.
Proposal
Submitted by: Veera Kalsi, Emmy Nah, Amrutha Kosuri
Main Category: Environment
UN Sustainable Goal Covered:
UN sustainable development goal 14, life below water, aims to conserve earth's oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development. Goal 14.4’s intent is to create a more sustainable way of fishing by preventing overfishing and other related destructive practices. Combatting overfishing is an extremely important step we must take in order for us to continue moving towards achieving the UN sustainable development goals.
Our Idea:
Bycatch is the term used to describe the accidental capture of non-target species while fishing. These animals often suffer substantial injuries or even death. One of the most common animals that is caught as bycatch is sharks. With sharks currently endangered, and bycatch being one of the primary causes, it is evident that a solution is vital.
Our solution is "bye-catch", a specialized fishing net that reduces the amount of sharks that are caught as bycatch. These nets will consist of various carefully crafted features specifically designed and developed to help guide sharks away from the nets.
One of the ways we plan to do this is by strategically placing magnets throughout its exterior. Sharks, like humans, have the name five senses as us (touch, taste, sight, smell, and hearing) with the exception of an extra, a sense that detects electromagnetism.
They are able to detect this due to hundreds of sensory organs surrounding their head called ampullea. Ampullea are mucous filled pores that detect change in temperature, pressure, and electrical magnetic fields. They do this by calculating the potential difference between the voltage at the base of the ampullea and the voltage at the pore where the ampullea end.
The magnets in our nets will help to repel sharks away so that they aren’t in the area where fishers cast their nets. The magnets, when they come in contact with the salt water, result in a miniscule electric field being produced, which is then detected by the shark and causes them to swim away. This is also used in surfboard leashes to prevent interactions with sharks and humans.
Another feature we will add into our nets is specialized LEDs. Sharks are extremely sensitive to light - up to 10x more sensitive than humans! This leads most sharks to stay clear of any lights, especially if any of their other senses also sense danger or repulsion and the lighting is still and consistent, removing any thoughts that it is possible prey.
Unlike sharks, most species of fish are attracted to light. Although many are correct in assuming that it can spook them, keeping consistent lighting will actually encourage the arrival of fish. Most species including commonly fished ones such as salmon, tuna, and cod do rely on sight in order to hunt. Light is a great opportunity for food so especially at night or in lower light conditions, any lights will work to attract many fish.
One of the brightest wavelengths underwater are blue ones. They show extremely well even under deeper conditions. Because of this, fish are attracted to them more than other wavelengths. Sharks have a limited number of colours they can see because they only have visual pigment for colour detection. This one pigment however, allows them to see colors that fall into the green and blue spectrum. Because the blue light blends in with their usual surroundings and there are no bright colors of possible prey, sharks are more likely to be repelled rather than attracted to these lights.
We plan to use small LEDs placed at specific points all over the exterior of our nets, approximately five feet apart each. These lights will produce consistent blue wavelengths at about 800 lumens.
The net will be made of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) which is a biodegradable material which is also durable enough to be used for fishing. This will increase the sustainability of our nets to make sure that we avoid disturbing natural ecosystems further.
By implementing these nets with the goal of reducing the amount of bycatch of sharks, we believe shark populations can be brought to a stable level.
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