Fishing on a Postage Stamp
From ticklerchain to pulse
Why How by Whom When
North Sea RAC Demeral Working Group
21 February 2013
Pim Visser, VisNed
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NSRAC Dem WG Amsterdam 21 February 2013
Traditional beamtrawl with tickler chains
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Less impact beam trawl with pulse gear
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Small scale brown shrimp fisheries
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Demonstration set up
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Overview
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Over 10 years of development, trialphase until 2006,
– Long troublesome process until away from subsidies
– HFK development as catalyst
– Derogations needed from EU
• first 22 vessels 2008-2010,
• 20 additionals in 2011-2012 for extra research
– 38 Beamtrawl, 4 Brown Shrimp
• 3 Marelec, 10 Delmeco, 29 HFK
Main Driver Fuel Costs
– Traditional beam trawl can not survive at € 0,45++
– Better quality catch Now E+
Additional driver Ecology
– Less drag, less benthos
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Steering Group
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Public Private Co-operation
Participants: Policymakers; Scientist; Industry; NGO’s
Objective: working together to a permanent or more extended
authorisation of pulse trawling
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Three working parties (Industry €)
– Further development and monitoring
– Communication
– Control & enforcement
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Scientific Assesment
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Research results to EU-CIE and reviewed by ICES
Positive respons from ICES but with recommandations for extended
research (2006 en 2009)
Newest research (November 2011) handed to EU-CIE
Research on cod (spinal damage) carried out in Norway with farmed
cod
Comparative studies:
– Differences between traditional beam trawl and pulse trawl
– Characteristics electric field in lab-setup and at sea
DG Mare asked for assesment by STECF regarding all studies
Availability of studies:
http://www.groenkennisnet.nl/dossiers/pages/pulskor.aspx
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STECF conclusions
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Plenary meeting 16-20 April 2012 Brussels
Report at: http://stecf.jrc.ec.europa.eu/reports/plenary
Conclusions
Ecological concerns raised by ICES, have been addressed.
– One issue remains (avoidance mortality of cod).
If more beam trawlers use pulse gear it will reduce catches and
fishing mortality for (non)target species and benthic organisms.
Critical for lifting the derogation is control and enforcement
Current characteristics for pulse trawling are not appropriate to
prevent unregulated/harmful practices/technologies.
To tackle the problem of control and enforcement:
– the Dutch certification system can be a basis for an
appropriate regulatory framework
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STECF recommendations
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Control & enforcement should be resolved before increasing the
number of beam trawlers using pulse trawls
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Extension of the area not before an impact assessment on the
effects of the pulse trawl
In particular when species not subject to a prior study,
such as Nephrops, could be catched.
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Application of pulse technology in other gear types only after an
assessment on the effects of the new pulse gear on the
ecosystem.
In particular when species not subject to a prior study are
involved.
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Control & enforcement
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Fisheries Department asked Imares to make proposals for
management, control and enforcement regarding puls trawling
Objectives: safe for users, controllers and environment
Co-operation between scientist (Imares, ILVO), fishery inspectors
(NVWA), Shipping Inspection and suppliers/designers
Proposals for:
– Legislation
– Certification
– Control and inspection
– Enforcement
Carry out a pilot about Control & inspection in JDP
Final report July 2012
Certification by RINA
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Control & enforcement
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Legislation, General measures:
Goes much further than the current derogation
For the use of pulse gear, electricity, etc.
Presence of certificate / technical description
Logging of important electronical information>on line
Avoiding unwanted experiments and developments
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Certification
Complete description of all parts of the pulse trawl gear
Manual for users and inspectors, including safety rules
Safety check and inspection logbook
Maintenance esp insulation
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Agenda 2012 and beyond
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Research
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Monitoring programme for 2 year, 20 vessels (Dutch industry)
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Special attention for questions about cod
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Exclude / reduce negative effects such as spinal damage (cod)
Organising controle & enforcement
Continuous development
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Pulse fishing is new, improving the gear by experience
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If possible: also assesments for using pulse in other fishing
gears and in other fishing areas.
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Negatives
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Arguments
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Damaged fish (horrible pictures)
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Catch efficiency
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Now fishing in previous non accessible areas
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Who are against
– Fishers in NL, UK, F
– Same member states are reluctant or against
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What is our answer
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Historical evidence on damaged fish (baseline)
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Preventive measurees cod by catch
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Open approach, come aboard!
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NSRAC involvement
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Establish NSRAC wide focus group to form an opinion
Participate in a study event facilitated by Dutch Authorities and
Industry
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Mare Liberum and/or Multiple use of North Sea?
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