Sustainable fishing is becoming more affordable and environmentally friendly thanks to innovative technology. Fishermen like Ian Wightman are using devices from SafetyNet Technologies to reduce bycatch, which occurs when non-targeted sea life gets caught in fishing gear. By using LED lights, cameras, and sensors attached to the fishing net, fishermen can attract certain species of fish while repelling unwanted mammals like dolphins, ultimately improving catches and efficiency.

Research has shown that illuminated lights can reduce bycatch by 63% and help fishermen retrieve and untangle nets more quickly. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has been collaborating with fishermen to trial the use of colored LED lights to minimize the chance of sea life getting caught up in catches. The use of green lights has been found to be the most effective at preventing turtles from being entangled.

Despite the success of this technology, some question whether the fishing industry will embrace it due to its price. Akbar Digdo, the chief executive of a non-profit organization in Indonesia, suggests coupling the technology with a financing mechanism to make it more accessible for local fishermen. Additionally, the use of the CatchCam, a camera that attaches to the fishing net, and Enki, a data collection system, has helped fishermen like Wightman improve efficiency and reduce waste.

Overall, the use of technology in sustainable fishing has proven to be a win-win solution for the ocean ecosystem and the fishing industry. It has reduced bycatch, increased fishermen’s earnings, and made fishing more efficient. Despite some challenges, the potential benefits of this technology for the environment and the fishing industry are promising.

Original news source: Sustainable fishing: The tech making it cheaper and greener (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Reporter Role-play
Instructions: Students pair up and one takes on the role of a news reporter while the other is a fisherman using the new technology. The reporter interviews the fisherman about the impact of the technology on sustainable fishing, asking questions about how it works, its benefits, and the challenges faced. After a few minutes, they switch roles.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key terms from the article (e.g., bycatch, LED lights, sensors, sustainable fishing, etc.) on slips of paper. Divide the class into teams and have students take turns drawing the terms on the board without speaking or writing any words. Their team has to guess the term based on the drawing within a set time limit.

– Opinion Spectrum
Instructions: Read statements regarding sustainable fishing and the new technology to the class, such as “The new technology will revolutionize the fishing industry,” or “The cost of the technology is too high for widespread adoption.” Students line up according to their opinion on the spectrum from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree.” Then, they discuss their positions with the class or within small groups.

– Synonym Challenge
Instructions: Provide students with a list of key vocabulary words from the article (e.g., innovative, affordable, environmentally friendly, efficiency, collaboration, mechanism, accessible). Students work in pairs or small groups to come up with as many synonyms as they can for each word within a set time limit. Then, share and discuss the synonyms as a class.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Have students imagine the future of fishing with the integration of technology as described in the article. In groups, they discuss and write down their predictions about the environmental impact, economic consequences, and potential changes to the industry. Each group then presents their predictions to the class, followed by a class discussion on the feasibility and desirability of these predictions.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What innovative technology is being used by fishermen to reduce bycatch according to the article?
2. How does the technology described in the article help in attracting certain species of fish while repelling others?
3. By what percentage can illuminated lights reduce bycatch, and what additional benefit do they provide to fishermen?
4. With which organization are fishermen collaborating to trial the use of colored LED lights, and what is the purpose of these trials?
5. Which color of LED lights has been found to be most effective at preventing turtles from getting entangled?
6. What concerns are raised about the widespread adoption of this sustainable fishing technology in the fishing industry?
7. What is the name of the camera that attaches to the fishing net, and what is its purpose?
8. How has the use of the CatchCam and Enki data collection system benefitted fishermen like Ian Wightman?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Sustainable (1)______ is becoming more affordable and environmentally friendly thanks to innovative (2)______. (3)______ like Ian Wightman are using devices from SafetyNet Technologies to reduce (4)______, which occurs when non-targeted sea life gets caught in fishing gear. By using LED lights, cameras, and sensors attached to the fishing net, fishermen can attract certain species of fish while repelling unwanted mammals like dolphins, ultimately (5)______ catches and efficiency.

Research has (6)______ that illuminated lights can reduce bycatch by 63% and help (7)______ retrieve and untangle nets more quickly. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has been collaborating with fishermen to trial the use of colored LED lights to minimize the chance of sea life getting caught up in catches. The use of (8)______ lights has been found to be the most effective at preventing turtles from being entangled.

Despite the (9)______ of this technology, some question whether the fishing industry will (10)______ it due to its price. Akbar Digdo, the chief executive of a non-profit organization in Indonesia, suggests coupling the technology with a financing mechanism to make it more accessible for local fishermen. Additionally, the use of the CatchCam, a (11)______ that (12)______ to the fishing net, and Enki, a data collection system, has helped fishermen like Wightman (13)______ efficiency and reduce (14)______.

Overall, the use of technology in sustainable fishing has proven to be a win-win solution for the ocean ecosystem and the fishing industry. It has reduced bycatch, increased fishermen’s (15)______, and made fishing more efficient. Despite some challenges, the potential (16)______ of this technology for the environment and the fishing industry are promising.
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Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your understanding of sustainable fishing, and why do you think it’s important?
2. How would you feel if your local fishermen started using technology like LED lights to reduce bycatch?
3. Do you like the idea of using technology to solve environmental problems? Why or why not?
4. Do you think the fishing industry should prioritize sustainability over profitability? Why?
5. Can you think of any other industries that could benefit from similar technological innovations?
6. How do you think the adoption of such technology could impact the livelihood of small-scale fishermen?
7. What is your opinion on the role of non-profit organizations in promoting sustainable practices in industries like fishing?
8. Have you ever participated in or supported any sustainable fishing initiatives? What was your experience like?
9. How do you think consumers can influence the fishing industry to adopt more sustainable practices?
10. Do you think there should be more government incentives to encourage fishermen to use sustainable technology? Why or why not?
11. What are some potential drawbacks of introducing new technology into traditional industries?
12. How would you propose to balance the cost of new technology with the benefits it brings to the environment?
13. Do you think sustainable fishing practices can coexist with the cultural traditions of fishing communities?
14. In what ways do you think technology could potentially harm the fishing industry or the environment?
15. Do you think it’s realistic to expect significant changes in the fishing industry’s practices due to technological advancements? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. sustainable
2. technology
3. fishermen
4. efficiency
5. illuminated
6. collaboration
7. financing
8. ecosystem

Meanings:
(a) People who catch fish for a living
(b) The state of being efficient, or able to accomplish something with the least waste of time and effort
(c) Able to be maintained at a certain rate or level
(d) Made brighter or clearer with light
(e) A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment
(f) The provision of funds for a project
(g) The action of working with someone to produce something
(h) The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is one of the main purposes of using LED lights, cameras, and sensors in fishing nets?
(a) Increase bycatch
(b) Attract more dolphins
(c) Reduce bycatch
(d) Improve fishing gear durability

2. According to the article, how much can illuminated lights reduce bycatch by?
(a) 63%
(b) 50%
(c) 75%
(d) 40%

3. Which organization has been collaborating with fishermen to trial the use of colored LED lights to minimize bycatch?
(a) Greenpeace
(b) International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
(c) The Nature Conservancy
(d) World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

4. What has been found to be the most effective at preventing turtles from being entangled in fishing gear?
(a) Red lights
(b) Green lights
(c) Blue lights
(d) White lights

5. What does Akbar Digdo suggest to make the technology more accessible for local fishermen?
(a) Increasing the price of the technology
(b) Making the technology exclusive to large fishing companies
(c) Coupling the technology with a financing mechanism
(d) Not making any changes to the accessibility of the technology

6. What is the name of the camera that attaches to the fishing net to help improve efficiency and reduce waste?
(a) CatchCam
(b) FishEye
(c) NetVision
(d) SeaSight

7. What has the use of technology in sustainable fishing proven to be for the ocean ecosystem and the fishing industry?
(a) A lose-lose situation
(b) A win-win solution
(c) Beneficial only for the fishing industry
(d) Detrimental to the ocean ecosystem

8. What are some of the benefits of using technology in sustainable fishing mentioned in the article?
(a) Increased bycatch, reduced earnings, and decreased efficiency
(b) No impact on bycatch, earnings, or efficiency
(c) Negative impact on the ocean ecosystem
(d) Reduced bycatch, increased earnings, and improved efficiency

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. The use of technology in sustainable fishing has proven to be a win-win solution for the ocean ecosystem and the fishing industry.
2. The use of LED lights, cameras, and sensors attached to fishing nets has not been shown to reduce bycatch by 63%.
3. Some in the fishing industry believe that the cost of the technology will not prevent its widespread adoption.
4. SafetyNet Technologies is providing devices to fishermen to reduce bycatch and make fishing more sustainable.
5. Akbar Digdo suggests coupling the technology with a financing mechanism to make it more accessible for local fishermen.
6. Green lights have not been found to be the most effective at preventing turtles from being entangled in fishing nets.
7. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has not been collaborating with fishermen to trial the use of colored LED lights to minimize the chance of sea life getting caught up in catches.
8. The use of the CatchCam, a camera that attaches to the fishing net, has helped fishermen improve efficiency and reduce waste.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What innovative technology is being used by fishermen like Ian Wightman to make sustainable fishing more affordable and environmentally friendly?
2. How effective has the use of illuminated lights been in reducing bycatch, according to the research mentioned in the article?
3. What specific color of LED lights has been found to be most effective at preventing turtles from getting entangled, and who has been collaborating with fishermen to trial this?
4. What are the concerns regarding the fishing industry’s adoption of this new technology, and what solution has Akbar Digdo proposed?
5. Besides reducing bycatch, what other benefits have fishermen experienced from using the CatchCam and Enki data collection system?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What innovative technology is being used by fishermen to reduce bycatch according to the article?
Fishermen are using devices from SafetyNet Technologies that include LED lights, cameras, and sensors attached to their fishing nets to reduce bycatch.

2. How does the technology described in the article help in attracting certain species of fish while repelling others?
The technology uses illuminated LED lights to attract certain species of fish while repelling unwanted mammals like dolphins, which helps improve the selectivity of the fishing gear.

3. By what percentage can illuminated lights reduce bycatch, and what additional benefit do they provide to fishermen?
Illuminated lights can reduce bycatch by 63% and also help fishermen retrieve and untangle nets more quickly.

4. With which organization are fishermen collaborating to trial the use of colored LED lights, and what is the purpose of these trials?
Fishermen are collaborating with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to trial the use of colored LED lights, with the purpose of minimizing the chance of sea life getting caught up in catches.

5. Which color of LED lights has been found to be most effective at preventing turtles from getting entangled?
Green LED lights have been found to be the most effective at preventing turtles from getting entangled.

6. What concerns are raised about the widespread adoption of this sustainable fishing technology in the fishing industry?
Concerns are raised about whether the fishing industry will embrace the technology due to its price.

7. What is the name of the camera that attaches to the fishing net, and what is its purpose?
The camera that attaches to the fishing net is called the CatchCam, and its purpose is to help fishermen monitor their fishing nets.

8. How has the use of the CatchCam and Enki data collection system benefitted fishermen like Ian Wightman?
The use of the CatchCam and Enki data collection system has helped fishermen like Ian Wightman improve efficiency and reduce waste by providing information that can be used to adjust fishing practices.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) fishing
(2) technology
(3) Fishermen
(4) bycatch
(5) improving
(6) shown
(7) fishermen
(8) green
(9) success
(10) embrace
(11) camera
(12) attaches
(13) improve
(14) waste
(15) earnings
(16) benefits
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. sustainable
Answer: (c) Able to be maintained at a certain rate or level

2. technology
Answer: (h) The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes

3. fishermen
Answer: (a) People who catch fish for a living

4. efficiency
Answer: (b) The state of being efficient, or able to accomplish something with the least waste of time and effort

5. illuminated
Answer: (d) Made brighter or clearer with light

6. collaboration
Answer: (g) The action of working with someone to produce something

7. financing
Answer: (f) The provision of funds for a project

8. ecosystem
Answer: (e) A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is one of the main purposes of using LED lights, cameras, and sensors in fishing nets?
Answer: (c) Reduce bycatch

2. According to the article, how much can illuminated lights reduce bycatch by?
Answer: (a) 63%

3. Which organization has been collaborating with fishermen to trial the use of colored LED lights to minimize bycatch?
Answer: (d) World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

4. What has been found to be the most effective at preventing turtles from being entangled in fishing gear?
Answer: (b) Green lights

5. What does Akbar Digdo suggest to make the technology more accessible for local fishermen?
Answer: (c) Coupling the technology with a financing mechanism

6. What is the name of the camera that attaches to the fishing net to help improve efficiency and reduce waste?
Answer: (a) CatchCam

7. What has the use of technology in sustainable fishing proven to be for the ocean ecosystem and the fishing industry?
Answer: (b) A win-win solution

8. What are some of the benefits of using technology in sustainable fishing mentioned in the article?
Answer: (d) Reduced bycatch, increased earnings, and improved efficiency
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. The use of technology in sustainable fishing has proven to be a win-win solution for the ocean ecosystem and the fishing industry. (Answer: True)
2. The use of LED lights, cameras, and sensors attached to fishing nets has not been shown to reduce bycatch by 63%. (Answer: False)
3. Some in the fishing industry believe that the cost of the technology will not prevent its widespread adoption. (Answer: False)
4. SafetyNet Technologies is providing devices to fishermen to reduce bycatch and make fishing more sustainable. (Answer: True)
5. Akbar Digdo suggests coupling the technology with a financing mechanism to make it more accessible for local fishermen. (Answer: True)
6. Green lights have not been found to be the most effective at preventing turtles from being entangled in fishing nets. (Answer: False)
7. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has not been collaborating with fishermen to trial the use of colored LED lights to minimize the chance of sea life getting caught up in catches. (Answer: False)
8. The use of the CatchCam, a camera that attaches to the fishing net, has helped fishermen improve efficiency and reduce waste. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧