SUstainable fiSHeries wIth DROnes data Processing
Within SUSHI-DROP, a customized unmanned underwater vehicles will be developed and equipped with acoustical and optical technologies in order to implement a non-invasive mean to assess environmental status of habitats, fish stocks population and, in general, to monitor the biodiversity of marine ecosystems. We are planning to assess the accuracy of the opto-acoustic surveys in deriving single-species abundance indices (in numbers or weight) for direct input into stock assessments, and to evaluate the benefits brought by these new technologies with respect to the classical procedures based on fish sampling. Moreover, a dedicated open-access database system will be created to collect, maintain and share the scientific data acquired by the UUVs.