Ocean data for sustainable & profitable fisheries: The Fishing Vessel Ocean Observing Network (FVON) – Part I

Join the upcoming webinar featuring one of the four Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) emerging networks – the Fishing Vessel Ocean Observing Network (FVON) – and co-hosted by Seafood and Fisheries Emerging Technologies (SAFET) and GOOS. The webinar will take place on 9 October 2025 from 4:00 to 5:00 pm UTC.

This is Part I of a two-part series. This series includes real-world examples that demonstrate how integrating cost-effective sensors into existing fishing operations is already producing measurable benefits for fishing communities.

Part I will focus on the Western Hemisphere and feature: 

• eMOLT (USA): Dr. George Maynard will present how lobster traps and trawlers equipped with sensors inform sustainable fisheries stock assessments and protect fishers at sea. 
• ODN (USA, Mexico, The Bahamas, Ghana, and more): Cooper Van Vranken will share how fishers use digital tools to improve fishing operations. 

The event will conclude with a moderated panel Q&A focused on how these approaches can scale globally and support inclusive, science-based fisheries governance. 

More information on Part II of the webinar will be shared soon. Keep an eye out if you are interested in learning more about fishing vessel-based ocean observing in New Zealand, Japan, and other parts of the Eastern Hemisphere, and more ways fishers are using ocean data to save on time, fuel, and money while fishing more sustainably.

Whether you’re a fisher, scientist, manager, or policymaker, this session offers practical, proven insights into how fishing-vessel-based observing systems are already transforming the way we manage and benefit from the ocean. 

Please visit the GOOS Ocean Data for Sustainable & Profitable Fisheries Webinar Series for more information.

Photo by geoff trodd on Unsplash