New technology is giving researchers a sharper view of what happens when fishing boats bring in their catch. At the heart of this effort is the TEFIMO project, led by DTU Aqua in Denmark together with international partners.
Their goal: to make fishing more sustainable by using artificial intelligence (AI) and environmental DNA (eDNA).
From nets to knowledge
Today, much of the monitoring of fish stocks depends on manual work. Observers count fish or review video recordings frame by frame. This is slow, costly, and cannot keep up with the pace of change in the oceans.
TEFIMO wants to change that. By combining smart cameras with AI and DNA samples from the water, scientists can identify which species are caught—faster, cheaper, and with fewer errors.
Project leader Valentina Melli from DTU Aqua explains: “We are building methods that match the real needs of fisheries managers. The idea is to deliver data that can help reduce unwanted bycatch and protect fragile habitats.”
More than just commercial fish
Traditional monitoring systems focus on species that end up on our plates. But ecosystems are much richer than that. TEFIMO also looks at creatures like starfish, shellfish, and corals—animals that reveal the health of the seabed.
Knowing what else is caught in the nets gives a fuller picture of how fishing affects biodiversity. This helps authorities act in line with the EU’s marine strategy, which calls for ecosystem-based management.
Building bridges between science and industry
A key strength of the project is its partnership. Alongside researchers, industry groups like the Danish Fishermen’s Association (DFPO) and the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) are deeply involved.
This ensures that results are not just academic but directly functional for those who depend on them.
In June 2025, TEFIMO joined forces with the EU project OptiFish, expanding its reach with partners in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Together, they collected “gold-standard datasets” where every fish and crustacean was measured and logged. These will serve as a foundation for testing AI models for years to come.
Facing the challenges of climate change
The oceans are under pressure. Species disappear, habitats shrink, and climate change speeds everything up. Reliable monitoring is vital if fisheries are to stay sustainable. TEFIMO shows that technology can help bridge the gap between knowledge and action.
As Melli puts it, “We need better data to make better decisions. That’s what this project is about.”