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Evidence that pulse fishing is more environmentally friendly
A new study by lead author Adriaan van Rijnsdorp showed that the ban on the use of electricity when catching fish is at odds with the EU objective to improve the ecological and economic sustainability of the fisheries.
A review of fifteen years of research – by WUR, NIOZ and ILVO, among others - on electric pulse trawls in European beam trawl fishery for sole showed that pulse trawls reduced the bycatch of discards and seafloor impacts, reduced the fuel consumption and increased the economic profitability.
Laboratory and field experiments showed that adverse effects of pulse stimulation were restricted to cod, with negligible population effects. The governance arrangements under which the number of derogations were expanded and the increased competition with other fishers undermined the legitimacy of the gear.
The study highlights the importance of stakeholder involvement in the process of implementing technological innovations.