Detecting the presence-absence of bluefin tuna by automated analysis of medium-range sonars on fishing vessels.
This study presents a methodology for the automated analysis of commercial medium-range sonar signals for detecting presence/absence of bluefin tuna (Tunnus thynnus) in the Bay of Biscay. The approach uses image processing techniques to analyze sonar screenshots. For each sonar image we extracted measurable regions and analyzed their characteristics. Scientific data was used to classify each region into a class ("tuna" or "no-tuna") and build a dataset to train and evaluate classification models by using supervised learning. The methodology performed well when validated with commercial sonar screenshots, and has the potential to automatically analyze high volumes of data at a low cost. This represents a first milestone towards the development of acoustic, fishery-independent indices of abundance for bluefin tuna in the Bay of Biscay. Future research lines and additional alternatives to inform stock assessments are also discussed.
AZTI-Tecnalia, Marine Research Division, Pasaia, Spain.
Jon
J
Uranga
AZTI-Tecnalia, Marine Research Division, Pasaia, Spain.
Haritz
H
Arrizabalaga
AZTI-Tecnalia, Marine Research Division, Pasaia, Spain.
Guillermo
G
Boyra
Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Department, University of the Basque Country, Donostia, Spain.|Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.
Maria Carmen
MC
Hernandez
AZTI-Tecnalia, Marine Research Division, Pasaia, Spain.
Nicolas
N
Goñi
AZTI-Tecnalia, Marine Research Division, Pasaia, Spain.
Igor
I
Arregui
Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth, United Kingdom.
Jose A
JA
Fernandes
Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Department, University of the Basque Country, Donostia, Spain.
Yosu
Y
Yurramendi
AZTI-Tecnalia, Marine Research Division, Pasaia, Spain.
Josu
J
Santiago
D000818:Animals; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D005398:Fisheries; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D013016:Sound; D014413:Tuna