Innovative AI Technology Enhances Fishing Safety
Colonel Eric Collins recently found himself navigating through a thick fog near the Jones Beach inlet, where about six boats were also headed towards Southport. The conditions were, in his words, quite challenging.
“The fog was dense; it was terrifying,” said Collins, a fisherman and marina owner from Massapequa. “We call it a ‘pea soup’ fog—you can’t see more than 50 or 60 feet in front of the boat.”
To tackle these difficult conditions, Collins has turned to an advanced AI technology developed by VIAM, a startup based in New York. This system enables his equipment to communicate seamlessly, which he believes makes navigating these foggy days much safer.
“Today wasn’t exactly a walk in the park,” he remarked. “But this technology is bound to improve the experience for everyone on the water.”
VIAM’s cutting-edge features help determine the paths of the boats in the area. The technology is also set to revolutionize fishing by utilizing machine learning to spot fish more efficiently.
“When I’m out on the water, I can see images of green patches,” said VIAM CEO Elliot Horowitz. “It’s like saying, ‘Hey, there’s a 75% chance that’s a 300-pound fish to the right.'” Horowitz grew up fishing along Long Island and knows that expensive tech like radar and sonar often doesn’t live up to expectations.
He observed that many sailors grapple with using these technologies effectively. “Most mariners really struggle with them; they can be quite complicated to operate,” he added.
In response, VIAM’s AI simplifies data interpretation, making it more user-friendly.
The boat’s dashboard now provides clear insights into the predicted locations of fish, analyzing factors like water temperature and sonar readings. “There’s no GPS that guarantees a catch,” Collins noted. “But this certainly reduces a lot of guesswork.”
He also stressed that there’s nothing comparable in the boating industry when it comes to this technology. Horowitz mentioned that the system can significantly streamline repair predictions—transforming the timeframe from two weeks to just 20 minutes.
The Future of Marine Communication
Collins believes that VIAM’s innovations are just the tip of the iceberg. “I envision a system where vessels can share data with each other,” he suggested, which could be beneficial for entities like the Coast Guard and transportation services like the Staten Island Ferry.
This concept resonates with Horowitz, who refers to it as “waves for boats.” VIAM aims to connect various vessels to the same network, offering real-time updates on water conditions, similar to how traffic updates work.
Jones Inlet, where Collins recently navigated through fog, exemplifies the need for such a system. “Many inlets on Long Island face challenges with shifting sands during storms, making them precarious,” Horowitz explained.
Additionally, they are working on providing users with real-time seabed maps and improved technology for detecting fish in foggy conditions. Ultimately, VIAM envisions being able to identify a wide range of marine life, from sharks to fish and even whales.
“I believe we can achieve this,” Horowitz said. “My goal is to help more people enjoy the water.”
