Dongwon adopts AI, drones to ease deep-sea fishing workload

[Courtesy of Dongwon Group]

Dongwon Group is pioneering the use of artificial intelligence in fish detection within the deep-sea fishing industry to mitigate the impact of an aging workforce. By automating operational processes, like how pilots rely on autopilot, the company aims to reduce the workload and attract talented young professionals.

The aging of deep-sea fishing crew members has reached critical levels. According to a report on Tuesday, 38.2 percent of the 1,104 deep-sea fishing crew members in South Korea were aged 60 or older as of the end of 2023 and this figure has doubled from 19 percent in 2017. Additionally, the total number of deep-sea fishing crew members has decreased by 21.5 percent during this period, with the remaining workforce predominantly consisting of older individuals. This trend raises concerns about the feasibility of operating deep-sea fishing vessels in the next five to six years.

A Dongwon Group official highlighted the issue, saying, “While around 500 new crew members graduate from maritime high schools and universities each year, only about 5 percent choose to work on deep-sea fishing vessels instead of merchant ships.” The demanding physical and mental nature of the work on deep-sea fishing vessels contributes to this low percentage.

Dongwon Group believes that leveraging advanced technology is crucial to alleviating the workload. The company has focused on AI technology, establishing an AI innovation office within Dongwon Industries in November 2020. This office is dedicated to nurturing in-house AI experts.

AI technology is primarily used for fish detection, as relying solely on sonar and radar has limitations given the ocean’s vast size. Traditionally, experienced crew members relied on intuition to locate fish schools, but AI can enhance detection accuracy by analyzing comprehensive fish data.

Dongwon Group has also reduced costs significantly by using drones instead of helicopters to monitor fish movement. Integrating AI with drone-collected fish data allows for more efficient route planning for deep-sea fishing vessels, significantly easing the workload for the crew.

“Losing skilled professionals to foreign countries could result in a loss of valuable know-how,” the official said.

Dongwon Group is also actively using AI technology in tuna selection processes. While much of the sorting for tuna cans is still done manually, AI automation has improved quality control and efficiency in removing impurities.