Project

Electric pulses: exploring the safe operation reach for marine species and their potential for further innovation

Acronym
Solea solea L
Code
174D02313
Duration
01 January 2012 → 31 December 2015
Funding
Regional and community funding: various
Promotor
Research disciplines
  • Agricultural and food sciences
    • Veterinary anatomy, morphology and (clinical) pathology
Keywords
bycatch electrofishing sustainable sole
 
Project description

In trawl fisheries, beam trawls with tickler chains, chain mats, or bobbin ropes are used to target flatfish or shrimp. High fuel consumption, seabed disturbance and high discard rates are well-known disadvantages of this fishing technique. These shortcomings are increasingly gaining international public and political attention, especially with the upcoming discard ban in Europe. The most promising alternative fishing technique meeting both the fisherman’s aspirations and the need for ecological progress is pulse fishing with electrotrawls. Here, the mechanical stimulation by tickler chains or bobbins is replaced by electrical stimulation resulting in reduced bottom contact, fuel costs and discards. This project aims to study the safety ranges of electric pulse parameters for catching sole.