FloMo’s
 first UK trial
 delivers conclusive
 results.

Whiting-Tows-11--22

In May 2025, a 10-day trial in the western Irish Sea Nephrops fishery put FloMo head-to-head with the standard 300mm square-mesh panel.

Across 22 tows, the FloMo gear successfully met the primary trial objective by significantly reducing the bycatch of sub-MCRS (Minimum Conservation Reference Size) whiting.

• 59% reduction in sub-MCRS whiting bycatch in tows 1–11(even though there were some technical deployment issues in these tows).

• 74% reduction in tows 12–22 after minor gear adjustments with the FloMo setup.

Same fishery. Same conditions. Measured against the control trawl.

We acknowledge that we still have work to do with Nephrops size selectivity for tailed products but we’re confident we will be able to achieve that and deliver:

Less unwanted catch. Better selectivity. Smarter fishing.

That’s a win for fish stocks — and a win for fishers.

While retention of ‘whole’ Nephrops was similar across gears, overall catch rates with FloMo were lower than with traditional codends.

The results provided a promising starting point, but as is typical for any first-of-its-kind gear trial, with subsequent trials to then refine and optimise the design to achieve the desired outcomes.

Stay tuned for updates from recent New Zealand scampi trials as an example of FloMo’s potential to reduce bycatch and increase size selectivity without compromising on catch rates.

Read the full trial results here

FloMo. A better way to fish.

FloMo Tesco News

Tesco

FloMo lands first prize in a significant UK sustainability competition for its commercial fishing innovation, FloMo.

Auckland, New Zealand — Precision Seafood Harvesting and its revolutionary commercial fishing innovation FloMo won the 2024 Tesco Agri T-Jam Competition against world-class competition from hundreds of entries.

The annual competition invites the world’s Agri-tech innovators to pitch their inventions to demonstrate how they can help Tesco's supply chain achieve sustainability goals, such as reaching net zero, protecting nature, and improving animal health and welfare.

FloMo’s revolutionary design and unique benefits designed to help the fishing industry, our oceans and their fish stocks thrive hooked the big one – a New Zealand first.

The prestigious first place prize secures FloMo fast-track introductions to Tesco’s supplier network, a trial with one of the retailer’s supply chain partners along with the FloMo team receiving mentoring from the Tesco Sustainable Agriculture & Fisheries team, Agri-TechE membership, and the opportunity to speak at the 2024 REAP conference on 6 November.

Natalie Smith, Head of Sustainable Agriculture at Tesco, said:

“We were really impressed with the standard of entries from all the finalists, but FloMo really stood out with their commitment to re-imagining the way we fish, addressing key challenges the fishing industry faces. We’re thrilled to welcome them to our network.”

On hearing the news that FloMo had won the competition, Dr André Pinkert, General Manager Commercial, FloMo said:

"I am thrilled to have participated in this year's Agri T-Jam and feel humbled that the Tesco judges chose FloMo to be the winner- especially considering the high calibre of the other finalists. We chose to apply because of the amazing opportunity the T-Jam provides, allowing us to establish a strong supply chain relationship with Tesco."

FloMo creates an aquarium-like, low-flow, low-turbulence environment that allows the catch to maintain their natural swimming motion through the trawl, which effectively means they aren’t strained out, exhausted or damaged by the traditional mesh cod end.

Over the last seven years, we have completed over 10,000 experimental tows and conducted numerous tests on key performance indicators, including survivability, selectivity and catch quality.

Results of these trials indicate that catch quality increases; there is a greater chance of survivability for returned catch, and a reduction in under-sized and juvenile fish being brought on board as the unique design of FloMo allows many of these fish to escape during the trawl.

Moana New Zealand CEO Steve Tarrant said:

We are proud to have been involved from the beginning with this innovative gear. I’d also like to acknowledge our contract fishers who helped us trial pilot nets—many who have quickly recognised its value, become early adopters of FloMo and continue to use it. Our contract fishers are the biggest users of this industry-changing gear, and we congratulate the team on this win and look forward to the next stage of the commercialisation of this technology.”

The FloMo team are very excited about the opportunities that winning the 2024 Tesco Agri T-Jam competition will deliver and is looking forward to working with and learning from Tesco’s sustainable agriculture and commercial experts.