Annual Report 2025: Progress at Sea and Momentum on Shore

If 2024 was about persistence, 2025 was about proof.

Proof that Hookpod works in demanding, real-world fisheries. Proof that fleets are willing to trial new approaches when they see genuine potential. And proof that, commercially, the company is beginning to move in the right direction.

Working across global fisheries is rarely straightforward. Different fleets operate in different ways, regulatory systems move at their own pace, and practical realities at sea often shape what is possible. For that reason, progress is rarely linear. But when we step back and look at the year as a whole, the overall direction of travel has been encouraging.

This year also marked a moment of reflection for us as a team. After 13 years of involvement in Hookpod, Dave Agombar stepped down as a Director. Dave has been closely connected to the company since its earliest days, from helping to secure early funding through to representing Hookpod at events around the world. His energy, commitment and belief in what we are trying to achieve have been hugely important, and we are grateful for everything he has contributed.

On the operational side, one of the most closely watched developments during the year has been our work in the Indian Ocean with the Kha Yang fleet and Thai Union. Following an earlier pilot in 2024, some concerns were raised by crews about catch rates and operational challenges. When we revisited those claims in 2025, closer examination suggested that agreed deployment protocols had not always been followed.

Rather than walking away from the project, the operator agreed to continue working with us on a renewed pilot using a single vessel, a trusted skipper and clearly defined procedures. Since April 2025, that vessel has been fishing in waters east of South Africa. Early feedback has been extremely positive, with successful deployment and, most importantly, no reported seabird bycatch during the period of use. Full monitoring footage will be reviewed in 2026, but the willingness to continue testing is an important step forward.

Elsewhere, interest in Hookpod has continued to grow. In Europe, we are supplying Hookpod LEDs to the University of Barcelona for trials within the Spanish longline fleet as part of the REDUCE bycatch project. A separate French initiative will also see thousands of Hookpod Minis trialled alongside other mitigation technologies. These projects will provide valuable real-world testing across multiple fleets over the next two years.

At the same time, the wider seafood industry is changing. Sustainability expectations are rising, traceability requirements are tightening and investors are placing greater weight on environmental performance. Increasingly, fisheries are being asked to demonstrate that their practices protect the wider marine ecosystem. Solutions that can work practically at sea are becoming more important.

Looking ahead, 2026 has the potential to be an important year. Results from ongoing trials, progress in new regions and further regulatory developments could all influence the next stage of Hookpod’s growth.

Our ambition has always been clear: to help eliminate seabird bycatch in pelagic longline fisheries. That goal remains unchanged. What continues to evolve is the global environment around it - and increasingly, that environment is asking for practical, proven solutions.

If you would like to explore the detail behind the developments outlined here, you can click here to read our full 2025 Annual Report.