A Towed Underwater Vehicle for Fisheries Research

Fishing gear research and the development of a better understanding of the fish behavior during capture has been hindered by the difficulty in observing the gear during the fishing operation. This paper will explain the operational requirements of a system suitable for observing harvesting gear in-situ, and describe a new underwater vehicle system designed to meet those requirements. Called the Towed Underwater Gear Observation System, or TUGOS, it is the first low-cost system available to meet the needs of gear researchers and fisheries biologists. The development of the prototype TUGOS vehicle will be described. Tank tests, sea trials, and trawler applications of the TUGOS will be reported. Other non-fishery applications of the system will also be included.