Robots and artificial intelligence for urchin fishing

Project Manager

This innovative project is led by the CSIC (Spanish National Research Council) in collaboration with the brotherhoods of A Guardia and fisherwomen of Galicia, the “ouriceiras”, which are dedicated to the traditional collection of sea urchins.

Project Description

The urchin fishing project with robots, called Perizia, arises in 2024 as a response to the need to modernise and improve efficiency in the collection of sea urchins on the Galician coasts. Traditionally, the “ouriceiras” have carried out this work manually, diving and collecting urchins by hand. However, with the introduction of robots and artificial intelligence tools, collection is being transformed towards a more technological and efficient model. The innovative elements of the project lie in:

The use of programmed underwater robots to perform the task of collecting urchins. These robots can identify the most suitable urchins for fishing, improve productivity and reduce the physical effort of fisherwomen, since the robots allow harvesting to be carried out in deeper areas and with greater precision than human divers.
The recording of the seabed using these robots with high-definition cameras, to train and develop artificial intelligence algorithms with the videos achieved to identify and count the densities of specimens.

Work is currently underway on one of the first phases, which will last 18 months, which consists of mapping the seabed in the estuaries of Vigo and Arousa and the creation of a census to know the real situation of this endangered species that will serve as a tool for the administrations to make a sustainable management of the resource.

Researchers from the CSIC of Vigo, together with the main brotherhoods of A Guarda, are working to create a visual tool similar to Google Maps that will show the areas of the urchin fishing grounds coded by colors (green, yellow and red) according to the density of the species. This tool aims to help fishermen identify the richest areas in urchins, which not only optimizes their extraction, but also contributes to the survival of the species.

With mapping technology and robots, not only is the efficiency of the fishing process improved, but the marine ecosystem is protected, contributing to the development of the blue economy.

Project objectives

The main objective of this project is to modernize and improve the urchin collection process through the incorporation of robots and artificial intelligence, which allows greater efficiency, reduces the physical wear and tear of fisherwomen and protects the marine environment, allowing sustainable management of the resource based on the information obtained.

In addition, it seeks to demonstrate how new technologies can be integrated into traditional sectors such as fishing, guaranteeing a more sustainable and competitive activity, promoting the blue economy.

The use of robots also aims to improve the harvesting capacity and quality of the product, in addition to reducing the impact on marine ecosystems, thus contributing to the sustainability of this key economic activity in the region of Galicia.