Center for Fisheries Electronic Monitoring at Mote (CFEMM)

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Center for Fisheries Electronic Monitoring at Mote (CFEMM)

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Fishing is a $200-billion industry in the United States, providing 1.7 million jobs. The economically important Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Fishery includes more than 890 commercial reef fish permitted vessels and comprises 31 species managed using Annual Catch Limits. Objective, scientific data are necessary to ensure the fishery’s health, but currently, the NOAA Fisheries Observer Program is only able to monitor about 2% of vessels' fishing effort in the fishery.

To complement this important program and fill monitoring gaps—a need emphasized by federal fisheries managers and the commercial industry—the independent, nonprofit Mote Marine Laboratory operates the Center for Fisheries Electronic Monitoring at Mote (CFEMM).

CFEMM is the only program dedicated to developing and assessing electronic monitoring (EM) technology as a tool in the Gulf of Mexico commercial reef fish fishery to better meet the demand by industry and management for accurate, independent data to ensure long-term fishery health.

(Left: camera installation; Middle: Capt. Kenny Daniels and vessel; Right: offloaded catch packaged for shipping)

What CFEMM does – “Eyes on the Gulf”

CFEMM is the lead in advancing electronic monitoring in the Gulf of Mexico’s commercial reef fish fishery through strategic partnerships with the fishing industry, management organizations, an EM equipment and software provider, and various other stakeholders.

Volunteer commercial bottom longline and vertical line fishing vessel owners and captains partner with CFEMM scientists and Saltwater Inc., an EM equipment and software provider based in Anchorage, Alaska, to have specialized cameras, a computer processor, and sensors installed on their fishing vessels. These systems record the trip length, speed, hydraulic pressure, location, and fishing events (sets, soaks and hauls) on a timeline. Video recordings (with no sound) are reviewed confidentially by the CFEMM Team to document fishing effort, total catch and bycatch of species per event and trip, species kept/discarded, species disposition at capture, including depredated (damage by predators) catch, and discards.

CFEMM scientists analyze the collected data to demonstrate and improve the available technology and data products—including much-needed bycatch and discard data—for improving management of the valuable Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Fishery.

(Left: Saltwater, Inc. EM monitor and processor; Right: C. Neidig and volunteer review vessel trip)

Data highlights & Vessel coverage

Data dissemination

Commercial Fishermen - We prioritize disseminating data to our vessel participants by offering statistical and spatial analysis products. Some of these include hotspot maps to show where targeted fish are caught, as well as areas where unintended catch (bycatch) and high discards occur. These maps also help identify areas where fish predators (depredators) have been active, aiding fishermen in adopting sustainable fishing practices. (Click here for an example of a NEW Interactive Tool). Grouped species-specific data products are also provided to fishing industry organizations.

Fisheries Management - We provide grouped species-specific data products for consideration by the SouthEast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR), a cooperative process by which stock assessments are conducted in NOAA Fisheries's southeast region (See, Working papers). Project updates and data summaries are also provided to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and other state, federal, and independent organization stakeholders (Below: Summary Data booklet).

Advancing EM and filling fishery data gaps through integration of innovative tools

First underwater camera and deployment device integrated with an EM system to identify the species of large sharks released while underwater near the vessel. This was also an asset for documenting shark sex, size range, and fate. (Below Left and Middle: sandbar shark; Right: Great hammerhead shark).

First discard chute applied on a Gulf commercial fishing vessel in partnership with the NOAA Alaska Fishery Science Center. The device captured video of undersized red grouper as they passed through the chute; and individual fish measurements were obtained by an automated software algorithm developed by the University of Washington. (Below Left: mounted discard chute; Middle to Right: algorithm obtaining measurements of red grouper discards as they pass through the chute)

First trials of a SWIM-Mobile portable EM system, developed by Saltwater Inc., Anchorage, AK, designed for easy transfer and use on multiple types of vessels. The system was successfully deployed on a Gulf charter for hire and a recreational fishing vessel to collect fish catch and discard information, and soon will be used on South Atlantic recreational anglers boats, with focus on providing data on red snapper bycatch. (Below: Left to Right: portable unit case with processor and monitor, GPS, cameras, marine battery, a SeaSucker vacuum camera mount)

Roof boom-mounted stern cameras on bottom longline vessels, was used as an innovative approach to expand views of the area behind vessels to improve documentation of the short-term survival of discarded fish, including observations of whether fish swam down, floated away, or became prey for predators. (Below Left: roof boom-mounted stern camera; Right: discarded red grouper and bottlenose dolphin interaction)

Thousands of electronic monitoring captured species images were provided to partner CVision AI, Boston, MA to use in developing cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) catch detection algorithms. These are designed to accurately identify catch events and shark discards, significantly reducing video review time and enhancing overall efficiency. (Below: example of an AI algorithm tracking [note the box] a yellowedge grouper as it is hauled onboard a bottom longline vessel)

Partner commercial fishermen collected, marked, and provided 262 fish from 24 data poor species for the CFEMM staff to obtain length measurements and extract otoliths ‘ear bones’ and fin clips. Samples were provided to NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Panama City, FL and Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi for age determination and genetic profiling. Each fish was also linked with its respective EM documentation, including capture location. Fishermens contributions will enhance our understanding of these species' populations and characteristics. (Video and photos: collecting otoliths "ear bones," from different reef fish species; example of otoliths collected from a wenchman snapper and a yellowedge grouper)

Addressed an industry gear specific question regarding the impacts of different hook sizes on fish selectivity, particularly focused at reducing bycatch and subsequent discards of non-targeted fish. Documentation through EM video enabled scientific evaluation of the fish species that were caught by the different hook sizes. Detailed analysis shed light on the effectiveness of different gear configurations in mitigating bycatch. (Below Right: painted leader clips to indicate hook size for video review; Left: two evaluated hook sizes,13/0 and 15/0)

Examining a management strategy called “Optimized Retention”, specifically targeting species with high discard mortality rates, like small red grouper. This strategy entails granting fishermen with an federally issued Exempted Fishing Permit the ability to retain these smaller size fish. Collaborations with Fish House managers will assess the marketability of selling these previously discarded fish. This innovative approach has potential to benefit both industry and fisheries management by reducing discard mortality rates and potentially generating additional revenue streams for industry through the sale of previously discarded fish. (Below Photo: undersized red grouper tagged at capture by the fishermen to link individual fish with their EM capture data)

Developed cutting-edge methods for automating the creation of hotspot fishing maps and fishermen's personalized trip data summary reports. These data product tools are provided to stakeholders including industry and management to improve decision-making processes. Through automation, we are significantly improving efficiency, accuracy, and timeliness of accessibility of crucial information for informed decision-making by stakeholders. (Below: Bycatch Hotspot Map of incidental sandbar shark captures)

To learn more, see these CFEMM links:

Spring 2024 Mote Magazine

2023 EM4FISH

2023 Sea Pact Project Summary

2023 SOA Leadership for Climate-Resilient Fisheries Fellowship

August 2022 Mote Online

Winter 2019 Mote Magazine

2020 EM4FISH

2020 Net Gains Alliance

Spring 2017 Mote Magazine

Opportunities to work with CFEMM

We welcome colleagues from resource management agencies, Fishery Management, scientific institutions, and the fishing industry to reach out to CFEMM. We are enthusiastic about exploring collaborative opportunities and exchanging knowledge to drive forward advancements in sustainable fisheries management and conservation practices. We invite you to reach out to us to initiate discussions on potential collaborations and share valuable insights that can benefit our shared goals.

As part of the independent, nonprofit Mote Marine Laboratory, CFEMM depends on competitive grants and philanthropic support, along with a team of dedicated, trained community citizen scientists volunteers.

Contact CFEMM

Carole L. Neidig, M.S.
Staff Scientist, CFEMM Director
cneidig@mote.org
941-704-7663

Project(s) to commence soon:

Portable Electronic Monitoring Systems - Innovative Technology Data Collection Approach in the South Atlantic Recreational Snapper - Grouper Fishery
- NOAA Southeast Regional Office

Projects in progress:

The success of all our projects is greatly reliant on the active involvement and invaluable contributions of Gulf of Mexico commercial reef fish industry vessel owners, captains, crew, and Fish House management. Their dedication and expertise are pivotal in achieving project goals and improving fisheries sustainability. Equally crucial is our partnership with Saltwater Inc., the provider of EM equipment and software and vessel EM system maintenance. Their dedication is integral to the success of our initiatives.

Independent Contractor: Data Specialist for the Communications Networks and Mapping Tools to Reduce Bycatch Project.
- National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Bycatch Hotspots Initiative Program
- Collaborators: NOAA; LGL
Develop, Test and Deploy Machine Learning to Reduce Video Archival Storage for Electronic Monitoring of Fisheries
- The Nature Conservancy (TNC) (Project Lead), through National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Electronic Monitoring and Recording Program (EMR)
- Collaborator: CVision AI
Artificial Intelligence Supported Management: Optimized Retention in the Gulf of Mexico.
- National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Electronic Monitoring and Recording Program (EMR)
- Collaborators: CVision AI; Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance
Streamlining Electronic Monitoring Data Acquisition in the GoM Reef Fish Fishery Using Artificial Intelligence
- National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Electronic Monitoring and Recording (EMR) Program
- Collaborators: CVision AI; NOAA Southeast Fishery Science Center, Galveston, TX; University of Washington

(Lef: Golden tilefish catch packed for shipping; Right: Golden tilefish marked by fishermen for collection of biological data, including length measurements, otoliths, and genetic material)

Completed projects:

Leveraging Electronic Monitoring in the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Fishery for an Innovative Minimal Human-Contact Collection of Biological Samples from Data-Poor Species
NOAA Cooperative Research Program (CRP)
Collaborators: NOAA Southeast Fishery Science Center, Panama City, FL; Texas A&M University

Impacts of Hook Size Modifications on Catch and Bycatch Rates in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) Bottom Longline (BLL) Reef Fish Fishery
NOAA Bycatch Reduction and Engineering Program (BREP)

Sustainable Gulf of Mexico Multispecies Fisheries
Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Leadership for Climate-Resilient Fisheries Fellowship

Electronic Monitoring for Sustainability in a Gulf of Mexico Multispecies Fishery
Sea Pact

Application and Advancement of Innovative Technologies for Electronic Monitoring (EM) in Support of Best Fishing Practices for the Commercial Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Snapper-Grouper Fishery - Phase II
NOAA NMFS Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP)
Collaborators: NOAA Southeast Fishery Science Center, Galveston, TX, NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center; SeaSucker LLC.; SubAqua Imaging Systems Inc.

Electronic Monitoring Applications and Data Solutions for Sustainability in a Gulf of Mexico Multispecies Fishery, Phase II
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Electronic Monitoring and Recording (EMR) Program
Collaborator: WaterInterface, LLC.

Functional Electronic Monitoring of the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Fishery, Phase II: Tactical Assessment of Bycatch, Discards, and Community Structure including Highly Migratory and Data Limited Species
Grant from NOAA’s Cooperative Research Program (CRP)
Collaborator: WaterInterface, LLC.

Building Linkages for Use of Electronic and Human Observer Data in the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Fishery
Net Gains Alliance (NGA)
Collaborator: WaterInterface LLC.

Gulf-Wide Electronic Monitoring for a Sustainable Commercial Reef Fish Fishery
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Electronic Monitoring and Recording (EMR) Program
Collaborator: WaterInterface, LLC.

Best Fishing Practices for Bycatch Reduction in the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Fishery: Employing Innovation Underwater Cameras and the Refined Modeling to Further the Use of Electronic Monitoring
NOAA Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP)
Collaborators: SeaSucker; Sub Aqua Imaging Systems Inc.; WaterInterface, LLC.

Reducing Bycatch and Optimizing Efficiency in the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Fishery, Phase I: Accurately Assessing the Bycatch Problem Using Electronic Monitoring in Cooperative Research
NOAA NMFS Cooperative Research Project (CRP)
Collaborator: WaterInterface LLC.

Accurately Assessing Catch and Bycatch with Electronic Monitoring (EM): The Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Fishery as a Model for EM Application and Improvement
Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)

Regional Capacity Building for Gulf Electronic Monitoring
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Innovation Fund
Collaborators: Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Foundation; Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance; WaterInterface LLC; and Archipelago Marine Research Ltd.

Pilot study of the use of electronic monitoring systems in the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fishery
Ocean Conservancy (Project Lead), through National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Innovation Fund
Collaborators: Archipelago Marine Research Ltd.; Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance; East West Technical Services; and Mote Marine Laboratory

Manuscripts

Neidig, C., M. Lee, G. Patrick, R. Schloesser. 2024. Employing an innovative underwater camera to improve electronic monitoring in the commercial Gulf of Mexico reef fish fishery. PLoS ONE 19(3): e0298588. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0298588

Neidig, C., M. Lee, D. Roberts, R. Schloesser. 2024. Characterization of the U.S. Eastern Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Bottom Longline Fishery based on Electronic Monitoring Data. Marine Fisheries Review. In Press

Working papers

Lee, M., K. Harrington, C. Neidig, R. Schloesser. 2024. Electronic Monitoring Documentation of Red Grouper (Epinephelus morio) in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Bottom Longline Fishery. SEDAR88-DW. SEDAR, North Charleston, SC. pp.12. (accepted)

Lee, M., K. Harrington, C. Neidig, R. Schloesser. 2023. Electronic Monitoring Documentation of Mutton Snapper (Lutjanus analis) in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Bottom Longline Fishery. SEDAR79-DW-05. SEDAR, North Charleston, SC. 9 pp. https://sedarweb.org/documents/sedar-79-dw-05-electronic-monitoring-documentation-of-mutton-snapper-lutjanus-analis-in-the-eastern-gulf-of-mexico-bottom-longline-fishery/

Lee, M., C. Neidig, K. Harrington. 2022. Electronic Monitoring Documentation of Gray Snapper (Lutjanus griseus) Catches in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Commercial Reef Fish Bottom Longline Fishery. SEDAR75-WP-04. SEDAR, North Charleston, SC. 6 pp. http://sedarweb.org/docs/wpapers/S75_WP_04_CFEMM_Gray%20Snapper.pdf

Lee, M., C. Neidig, D. Roberts. 2022. Electronic Monitoring Documentation of Red Snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) Catches in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Commercial Reef Fish Bottom Longline Fishery. SEDAR74-DW-08. SEDAR, North Charleston, SC. 10 pp. https://sedarweb.org/documents/sedar-74-dw-08-electronic-monitoring-documentation-of-red-snapper-lutjanus-campechanus-catches-in-the-eastern-gulf-of-mexico-commercial-reef-fish-bottom-longline-fishery/

Lee, M., G. Patrick, C. Neidig, and R. Schloesser. 2021. Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna spp.) Electronic Monitoring Data Review from the Gulf of Mexico Bottom Longline Reef Fish Fishery. SEDAR77-DW05. SEDAR, North Charleston, SC. 9 pp. https://sedarweb.org/documents/sedar-77-dw05-hammerhead-shark-sphyrna-spp-electronic-monitoring-data-review-from-the-gulf-of-mexico-bottom-longline-reef-fish-fishery/

Neidig, C., M. Lee, R. Schloesser, D. Roberts. 2020. Bottom Longline Discard Summary for Greater Amberjack, Seriola dumerili, with Focus on the West Florida Shelf: Application of Electronic Monitoring. SEDAR70-WP-08. SEDAR, North Charleston, SC. 6 pp. https://sedarweb.org/documents/sedar-70-wp-08-bottom-longline-discard-summary-for-greater-amberjack-seriola-dumerili-with-focus-on-the-west-florida-shelf-application-of-electronic-monitoring/

Neidig, C., D. Roberts, M. Lee, R. Schloesser. 2020. Preliminary Non-Technical Fishery Profile and Limited Data Summary for Scamp, Mycteroperca phenax with Focus on the West Florida Shelf: Application of Electronic Monitoring on Commercial Snapper Grouper Bottom Longline Vessels. SEDAR68-DW-22. 8 pp. https://sedarweb.org/docs/wpapers/S68_DW_22_electronic_monitoring.pdf

Presentations 2017-2024 [* indicates presenter(s)]

Neidig*, C., M. Lee, K. Harrington, R. Schloesser. 7 March 2024. Electronic Monitoring and Innovative Approaches for Improving Fishery Sustainability. World Fisheries Congress. Seattle, WA.

Schloesser*, R., C. Neidig, K. Harrington*. 4 March 2024. Hotspot Mapping Initiative Workshop: Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Industry. NFWF Bycatch Hotspots Initiative. Baton Rouge, LA.

Neidig*, C., R. Schloesser*, K. Harrington, M. Lee. 12 February 2024. Hotspot Mapping Initiative Workshop: Gulf of Mexico Charter-for-Hire Fleet. NFWF Bycatch Hotspots Initiative. Destin, FL.

Lee*, M., K. Harrington, C. Neidig, R. Schloesser. 21 August 2023. Electronic Monitoring Documentation of Mutton Snapper (Lutjanus analis) in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Bottom Longline Fishery. SEDAR 79. St. Petersburg, FL.

Neidig*, C. and M. Lee*. 21 June 2023. Overview: Center for Fisheries Electronic Monitoring at Mote. Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Meeting. Mobile, AL.

Neidig*, C., M. Lee, K. Harrington, R.Schloesser. 13 February 2023. Eye on the Gulf - Electronic Monitoring: An Effective Tool for Improving Fishery Sustainability. Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Data Collection Advisory Panel. Tampa, FL.

Neidig*, C., M. Lee, K. Harrington*. 21 -24 June 2022. Center for Fisheries Electronic Monitoring at Mote. Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Meeting. Fort Myers, FL. In person. (invited - table display)

Lee*, M., G. Patrick, C. Neidig, R. Schloesser. 15 April 2022. Electronic Monitoring Cooperative Research in the Gulf of Mexico Commercial Reef Fish Fishery - Hammerhead Shark Catch and Mortality. SEDAR 77.

Schloesser*, R., M. Lee, C. Neidig. 20 March 2022. Hotspot Analysis using Electronic Monitoring. The Hotspots Mapping Initiative Workshop. New Orleans, LA.

Neidig*, C., M. Lee, R. Schloesser. 2 February 2022. Electronic Monitoring of Fisheries. Poster. Oceans Day, Mote Presentations to State Representatives. Tallahassee, FL.

Neidig*, C., M. Lee. 17 November 2021. Building Linkages for Use of Electronic Monitoring and Human Observer Data in the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Fishery. Net Gains Alliance (NGA).

Neidig*, C. 12 October 2021. CFEMM Overview of EM Gulf Progress. University of Florida Center for Coastal Solutions Workshop.

Neidig*, C. 5 October 2021. Mote Marine Laboratory and Bank of America Online Presentation Series - C. Neidig was recognized as a “Women of Mote - Trailblazer”, in segment two of a three part series. Presentation included EM work, and recognition of NOAA and NFWF support.

Neidig*, C., M. Lee, D. Roberts, R. Schloesser, T. King. 15 September 2021. Electronic Monitoring (EM) Cooperative Research in the Gulf of Mexico Commercial Reef Fish Fishery - Bycatch, Discards, and Community Structure. NOAA Cooperative Research Program (CRP) National Workshop.

Neidig*, C., M. Lee, and D. Roberts. 21 March 2021. Introduction to Electronic Monitoring-Center for Fisheries Electronic Monitoring. Global Seafood Alliance's Workshop.

Neidig*, C., D. Roberts, M. Lee, R. Schloesser. 6 October 2020. EM - Gulf of Mexico Commercial Reef Fish Fishery. International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) Technology Integration for Fisheries Dependent Data (WGTIFD) Workshop.

Neidig* and M. Lee. September 2020. Electronic Monitoring - Gulf of Mexico Commercial Reef Fish Fishery. Global Seafood Alliance.

Neidig*, C., D. Roberts, M. Lee. 18 August 2020. Eyes on the Gulf of Mexico Snapper-Grouper Fishery - Linking EM Trip Data to Other Commercial Fisheries Data. Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistical Program (ACCSP). Commercial Technical Working Group.

Roberts*, D. and C. Neidig. 2019. Exploratory Use of Electronic Fishery Monitoring to Spatially Characterize Distribution and Catch of Targeted Reef Fish and Bycatch along the West Florida Shelf. AFS FL Chapter Apr. 3-5.

Neidig*, C., D. Roberts, M. Lee, et al. 2019. Electronic Monitoring-Emerging Technology and Platform for Science in the Gulf of Mexico Commercial Reef Fish Fishery. AFS FL Chapter, Apr. 3-5.

Neidig*, C., M. Lee, J. Gill, et. al. 2019. Electronic Monitoring – Emerging Technology and Platform for Science in the Gulf of Mexico Commercial Reef Fish Fishery: Pilot Investigations - Underwater Camera and Digital Ruler. AFS FL Chapter Apr. 3-5.

Neidig*, C., T. King, B. Hueter, K. Leber. Electronic Monitoring in the Gulf of Mexico Snapper Grouper Fishery. AFS, EM Technologies Special Session, Tampa, FL, Aug. 2017.