The trial showed that the C Bud was a very efficient means of collecting sea urchins (and other benthic invertebrates) from a flat seafloor.
The trial showed that urchins collected by the C Bud have a good survival rate. The urchins collected would be suitable for both immediate sale as well as holding in land or sea-based systems for roe enhancement.
Sea cucumbers appear to be able to cope with harvesting by the C Bud, followed by transport and live storage (up to 47 days).
C Robotics’ C Bud proved to be effective in harvesting Icelandic scallop with good catch rates in relation to the effective running time.
The numbers from trial estimated the C Bud to be capable of harvesting over 16.000 (sixteen thousand) scallops per hour.
The C Bud covers approximately 1,8 acres (7.200 m2) pr hour whilst harvesting from the seabed.
Compared with bottom scraping equipment that otherwise is used for scallop fisheries, the C Bud appears to have a far lesser impact on the bottom habitat.
Most of the larger bycatch is considered to have a high likelihood of survival.
Non-target organisms were largely undamaged.
Based on the field observations, it is unlikely that the C Bud will cause excessive pressure on the seafloor, or cause habitat destruction.
We find it unlikely that the C Bud had left notable track-marks across the maerl habitat.