Towed Array Fishing Net Entanglement Prevention or Damage Reduction

Fishing gear continues to become entangled in underwater towed array surveillance equipment causing a variety of damage to the arrays and towing equipment. Adaptive Methods proposes two solutions which should significantly reduce this damage, fishing gear deflection and fishing gear penetration (cutting). The fishing gear deflection concept consists of a bar or bars attached to the tow/leader cable which will deflect the fishing gear down and away from the areas on the towing equipment where nets or other fishing gear become entangled. The deflection bars will have a hard outer surface to resist penetration by hooks and other sharp objects. This concept is low cost and will have a minimum impact to the array system. The fishing gear penetration concept consists of a long bar with powered cutting teeth designed to cut through fishing gear allowing the arrays to pass through without damage. Upon detection of fishing gear, the system would automatically activate, cut through the gear and shut off. This concept is more sophisticated, and would require more modifications to the array system but would probably better protect the array system. These concepts would be safe for the back deck crew and would not interfere with the array performance.