Sure Buoy™
Reducing Trap Loss Before It Becomes Ghost Gear.
Sure Buoy™ is a patent-pending trap recovery concept built around a Three-Layer Deployment System™ designed to help commercial fishermen locate and recover traps after common loss events.
Trap Loss Creates More Than an Equipment Problem
Commercial fishing traps can be lost because of vessel strikes, severed lines, equipment failure, weather, strong currents, shifting bottom conditions, and extended time underwater.
Each lost trap can represent:
- Lost equipment investment
- Lost fishing time
- Reduced earning potential
- Additional replacement costs
- Continued ghost fishing
- Marine debris and habitat impacts
A trap that can be found has a better chance of being recovered before it becomes long-term ghost gear.
Introducing Sure Buoy™
Sure Buoy™ is a patent-pending trap recovery system designed to provide an additional recovery opportunity when a primary trap marker is lost, damaged, disconnected, or no longer available.
The concept is designed for use across multiple trap fisheries, including crab, lobster, stone crab, and other commercial trap applications.
Three-Layer Deployment System™
Three independent recovery conditions designed to help address common ways commercial traps become lost.
Vessel Strike Recovery™
Designed to provide a recovery marker if a vessel strike damages or severs the primary buoy line.
Line Failure Recovery™
Designed to provide a recovery marker if the trap becomes separated from its normal surface marker because of line failure or another unexpected disconnection.
Extended Submersion Recovery™
Designed to provide a recovery marker if a trap remains submerged beyond a predetermined recovery period.
Designed to Create Value Across the Fishery
For Commercial Fishermen
- Reduce the percentage of traps permanently lost
- Improve the chance of locating disconnected gear
- Lower trap replacement costs
- Reduce time spent searching for missing traps
- Protect equipment investment
- Reduce avoidable disruption during the fishing season
For Fishing-Gear Manufacturers
- Introduce a new product category
- Add value to existing trap and buoy product lines
- Differentiate products in a competitive market
- Create new recurring sales opportunities
- Support customer retention
- Demonstrate practical sustainability leadership
For Fisheries and Coastal Waters
- Reduce abandoned fishing gear
- Reduce long-term ghost fishing
- Support cleaner working waterfronts
- Reduce navigation and habitat hazards
- Improve recovery of commercial fishing equipment
- Create measurable conservation benefits without removing fishermen from the water
Potential Applications Across Trap Fisheries
Sure Buoy™ is being developed as a flexible recovery platform that may be adapted for different trap types, water depths, fishing conditions, and regional fisheries.
Final configurations would be developed and validated through engineering review and field testing.
Developed From Real-World Trap Recovery Experience
Dennis Woytowitz is the Founder and President of Space Coast Water Sweep and the creator of Water Report Network.
Through field operations locating, documenting, and recovering derelict commercial fishing traps, he has gained firsthand insight into how traps are lost and the financial and environmental consequences that follow.
Sure Buoy™ was developed from one central question:
What if fishermen had another opportunity to recover a trap after the original buoy or line was lost?
Seeking an Engineering, Manufacturing, and Licensing Partner
Sure Buoy™ is currently being presented to established companies with experience in commercial fishing equipment, marine products, buoy systems, plastics, ropes, trap manufacturing, and product distribution.
The goal is not simply to sell an idea. The goal is to develop, test, and bring a practical trap-recovery product to the commercial fishing industry.
Built With Future Development in Mind
The initial Sure Buoy™ concept is focused on dependable physical trap recovery. Future product development may explore optional identification, fleet-management, electronic, communication, or tracking features.
Future capabilities would be evaluated with the selected development partner.
Request a Private Sure Buoy™ Presentation
Manufacturers, product developers, commercial fishing organizations, distributors, and potential strategic partners are invited to request a private presentation.
The presentation may include:
- The commercial problem
- The Sure Buoy™ concept
- The Three-Layer Deployment System™
- Product renderings
- Potential fishery applications
- Preliminary development strategy
- Pilot-testing opportunities
- Licensing and partnership options
- Future product-development opportunities