What is the name of your organization?
Aquarius Fishing Technologies inc.
What is the name of your solution?
Aquafoil
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
Aquarius revolutionizes bottom trawling with adjustable foils that reduces negative environmental impact and increases fishing efficiency.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
Canada
What type of organization is your solution team?
For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
Bottom trawling is one of the most damaging fishing practices, destroying marine habitats, releasing massive CO₂ emissions, and leading to high bycatch rates. As trawls drag along the seafloor, they disrupt sediments, releasing around 400 million tons of CO2 annually, which corresponds to half of all the aviation industry emissions. This practice also threatens biodiversity, including coral reefs and seagrass beds, which are essential for marine ecosystems. Additionally, high fuel consumption combined with frequent equipment breakdown makes bottom trawling economically unsustainable. Finally, this is a practice being banned more and more around the world, putting the fishing industry in danger. Without intervention, these environmental and economic issues will worsen, accelerating climate change and depleting marine resources critical for global food security and coastal economies.
What is your solution?
Aquarius, in collaboration with fishermen and experts, has developed an innovative system of adjustable hydrofoils, named aquafoils, attached to fishing nets, allowing them to be lifted off the seafloor. Our system integrates hydrodynamic engineering, mechatronics, and software engineering, making it a multifaceted technological innovation. It is designed for seamless integration with existing fishing equipment, ensuring easy adoption without costly modifications or operational disruptions. By leveraging advanced materials and real-time control mechanisms, the system dynamically adjusts to the oceanfloor relief, maintaining optimal positioning of the nets. This ensures efficient and precise operation, adapting to various trawling environments and fishing techniques.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Lifting the trawl net from the seafloor prevents habitat destruction, reduces sediment disturbance, thus minimizing CO₂ emissions, cuts fuel consumption by 25%, decreases equipment breakdown frequency and allow fishers to access restricted areas, making bottom trawling more sustainable and cost-effective.
Our solution primarily serves commercial fishers who bottom trawls species that are not hiding in the sand, providing them with a more efficient and sustainable way to operate. By integrating seamlessly with existing fishing equipment, it allows fishers to adopt the technology without costly modifications. One of the key benefits is the 25% reduction in fuel consumption, leading to significant financial savings (75 000$ per season for an average fishing boat) in an industry where fuel costs represent a major expense (50% of their yearly expenses). Additionally, as environmental regulations become stricter, fishers need solutions that help them comply with sustainability requirements without compromising productivity. By minimizing environmental impact, our technology contributes to the long-term viability of fisheries, ensuring that marine ecosystems remain healthy and abundant for future generations while supporting the economic stability of coastal fishing communities.
