# Using Smart Fishing Nets to Sustain Biodiversity and Support Fishers with Dr. Jennifer Blain and Dr. Jesse Senko of ASU

- Show: [Hardware to Save a Planet](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet)
- Published: 2022-12-22
- Length: 43m
- Episode: 16
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2022-12-22-using-smart-fishing-nets-to-sustain-biodiversity-and-support-fishers-with-dr-jen
- Listen: https://podcasts.fame.so/e/2nxqmxk8-dr-christen-and-dr-senko-using-smart-fishing-nets

## Summary

Dr. Jennifer Blain Christen and Dr. Jesse Senko of Arizona State University discuss their solar-powered submersible LED buoys designed to reduce bycatch in gill net fisheries. The cylindrical devices integrate flexible solar panels and blinking LEDs to deter sea turtles, whales, and sharks from entanglement while maintaining fisher catch. Initial trials in Mexico showed a nearly 70% reduction in bycatch and a 10-20% increase in target yellowtail catch, leading to high demand from global fishing communities. The team is now partnering with Synapse to refine manufacturing and scale production to hundreds, aiming for a mission-based distribution model to make the technology accessible to small-scale fishers worldwide.

## Chapters

- [0:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2022-12-22-using-smart-fishing-nets-to-sustain-biodiversity-and-support-fishers-with-dr-jen#t=3) Introduction: Dr. Jennifer Blain Christen and Dr. Jesse Senko at ASU
- [3:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2022-12-22-using-smart-fishing-nets-to-sustain-biodiversity-and-support-fishers-with-dr-jen#t=211) Ecological Roles of Sea Turtles and Whales in Carbon Sequestration
- [8:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2022-12-22-using-smart-fishing-nets-to-sustain-biodiversity-and-support-fishers-with-dr-jen#t=489) Bycatch Problems in Small-Scale Gill Net Fisheries
- [14:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2022-12-22-using-smart-fishing-nets-to-sustain-biodiversity-and-support-fishers-with-dr-jen#t=876) Designing Solar-Powered Blinking LED Buoys
- [22:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2022-12-22-using-smart-fishing-nets-to-sustain-biodiversity-and-support-fishers-with-dr-jen#t=1357) Validation of Blinking Lights and Fisher Adoption in Mexico
- [27:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2022-12-22-using-smart-fishing-nets-to-sustain-biodiversity-and-support-fishers-with-dr-jen#t=1632) Scaling Production with Synapse and Future Smart Nets
- [32:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2022-12-22-using-smart-fishing-nets-to-sustain-biodiversity-and-support-fishers-with-dr-jen#t=1955) Mission-Based Business Model and Global Distribution Challenges

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Arizona State University (company)
- Synapse (company)
- Disney Conservation Hero Award (other)
- World Wildlife Fund (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [166. Jellyfish Cyborgs Help Explore The Oceans & Solve Climate Change](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-03-19-166-jellyfish-cyborgs-help-explore-the-oceans-solve-climate-change) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [#397.2 - An Interview with Gareth from Greenpeace](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-06-22-397-2-an-interview-with-gareth-from-greenpeace) (The Amp Hour)
- [315: Trespassers William](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-01-03-315-trespassers-william) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2022-12-22-using-smart-fishing-nets-to-sustain-biodiversity-and-support-fishers-with-dr-jen. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Hardware to Save a Planet.