Scottish seine fishing involves several operational challenges related to coordination, communication, and situational awareness during both the setting and hauling of the gear. Operations often take place under time pressure and in varying weather and sea conditions, placing high demands on the interaction between crew, vessel, and equipment. Limited visibility of the gear’s actual position and configuration underwater can make it difficult to optimize maneuvering and hauling patterns, increasing the risk of misjudgments. This can result in inefficient operations, loss of catch, unnecessary fuel consumption, wear and tear on the gear, and in the worst case, unwanted incidents such as snagging, gear loss, or conflicts with other equipment and seabed infrastructure.
