FISHING HOT SPOTS REVEALED WITH STATE GOVERNMENT GRANT
Published Monday, 12 February, 2007 at 10:47 AM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
An innovative Cairns-based company that’s developed a world’s first software program to help fishermen pinpoint fishing hot spots has been awarded a State Government grant.
Minister for State Development John Mickel said CatchLog Trading had been awarded $85,000 to help commercialise its new electronic logbook program for the fishing industry – “CatchLog”.
“CatchLog could revolutionise the fishing industry with its new electronic logbook program. It’s a tailor-made commercial vessel management system made by fishermen for the fishing industry,” Mr Mickel said.
“It’s the first software program of its type designed specifically for the fishing industry.
“Commercial fisheries and fishing authorities will all benefit from this program because it dramatically cuts paperwork for fishermen, while improving their catch productivity, and can be connected with government databases to deliver accurate and timely catch reports to fisheries management authorities.”
Minister Mickel said the grant had been made available under the Innovation Start-Up Scheme (ISUS).
“Turning a bright idea into a marketable product or service costs money that many young companies just don’t have,” Mr Mickel said.
“The Innovation Start-Up Scheme helps companies take their high-tech ideas from the laboratory to the global marketplace, helping to take the early ‘struggle’ out of commercialisation.”
CatchLog Trading chief executive officer Paul Johnston said the program would build a knowledge-bank based on past seasons to analyse and report on catch trends in real-time help fishermen improve their catch.
“The program features GPS satellite navigation and monitors water temperature, rainfall and moon phases to build an extensive knowledge-base,” Mr Johnston said.
“The software will tell fishermen exactly where and when to fish to maximise their catch.
“It eliminates a lot of paperwork and provides an easily accessible wealth of knowledge for fishermen around the world.”
Mr Johnston said the company would use the grant to develop an intellectual property strategy to protect the program and accelerate the marketing of the software program overseas.
”The grant is fabulous news for the company,” he said.
“We have just returned from a world tour meeting with government and industry.
“It’s been extraordinarily promising and so far we’ve managed to secure trade deals in California and Canada.”
Company contact: CatchLog Trading Pty Ltd, Paul Johnston (CEO)
0400 224 980
Advisor Travelling with the Minister: Brett Raguse 0418 877 910
Ministerial contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
12 February, 2007
Minister for State Development John Mickel said CatchLog Trading had been awarded $85,000 to help commercialise its new electronic logbook program for the fishing industry – “CatchLog”.
“CatchLog could revolutionise the fishing industry with its new electronic logbook program. It’s a tailor-made commercial vessel management system made by fishermen for the fishing industry,” Mr Mickel said.
“It’s the first software program of its type designed specifically for the fishing industry.
“Commercial fisheries and fishing authorities will all benefit from this program because it dramatically cuts paperwork for fishermen, while improving their catch productivity, and can be connected with government databases to deliver accurate and timely catch reports to fisheries management authorities.”
Minister Mickel said the grant had been made available under the Innovation Start-Up Scheme (ISUS).
“Turning a bright idea into a marketable product or service costs money that many young companies just don’t have,” Mr Mickel said.
“The Innovation Start-Up Scheme helps companies take their high-tech ideas from the laboratory to the global marketplace, helping to take the early ‘struggle’ out of commercialisation.”
CatchLog Trading chief executive officer Paul Johnston said the program would build a knowledge-bank based on past seasons to analyse and report on catch trends in real-time help fishermen improve their catch.
“The program features GPS satellite navigation and monitors water temperature, rainfall and moon phases to build an extensive knowledge-base,” Mr Johnston said.
“The software will tell fishermen exactly where and when to fish to maximise their catch.
“It eliminates a lot of paperwork and provides an easily accessible wealth of knowledge for fishermen around the world.”
Mr Johnston said the company would use the grant to develop an intellectual property strategy to protect the program and accelerate the marketing of the software program overseas.
”The grant is fabulous news for the company,” he said.
“We have just returned from a world tour meeting with government and industry.
“It’s been extraordinarily promising and so far we’ve managed to secure trade deals in California and Canada.”
Company contact: CatchLog Trading Pty Ltd, Paul Johnston (CEO)
0400 224 980
Advisor Travelling with the Minister: Brett Raguse 0418 877 910
Ministerial contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
12 February, 2007