Asset Details
Do you wish to reserve the book?
Electrotrawling can improve the sustainability of the bottom trawl fishery for sole: a review of the evidence
Hey, we have placed the reservation for you!
By the way, why not check out events that you can attend while you pick your title.
Oops! Something went wrong.
Looks like we were not able to place the reservation. Kindly try again later.
Are you sure you want to remove the book from the shelf?
Electrotrawling can improve the sustainability of the bottom trawl fishery for sole: a review of the evidence
Do you wish to request the book?
Electrotrawling can improve the sustainability of the bottom trawl fishery for sole: a review of the evidence
Please be aware that the book you have requested cannot be checked out. If you would like to checkout this book, you can reserve another copy
We have requested the book for you!
Your request is successful and it will be processed during the Library working hours. Please check the status of your request in My Requests.
Oops! Something went wrong.
Looks like we were not able to place your request. Kindly try again later.
Journal Article
Electrotrawling can improve the sustainability of the bottom trawl fishery for sole: a review of the evidence
2024
Overview
Between 2009 and 2021 almost the complete beam trawl fleet of the Netherlands switched from conventional beam trawls (BT) to pulse trawls (PT) using electrical stimulation to catch sole, Solea solea. Electric fishing, being banned in the EU in 1988, was made possible in 2006 under a derogation. Over the years stakeholders expressed concern about ecosystem effects. Here we review the research conducted. PT improved the selectivity of the fishery and reduced the ecological side effects. PT caught more sole per hour fishing but less discards and benthos than BT. The transition to PT reduced the surface area swept (lower towing speed), sediment depth of disturbance and associated benthic impacts, as well as fuel consumption. Laboratory experiments with 9 fish and 17 benthic invertebrate species showed that exposure to a commercial bipolar pulse stimulus did not result in harmful effects except in cod. Autopsy of cod sampled from PT revealed that 40% had an internal injury. Injury rates in other roundfish species was low (< 2%) and absent in flatfish. Electrical-induced impacts on biogeochemistry were not observed. The transition increased competition with other fishers which fed the resentment against PT. Governance arrangements under which the number of temporary licenses expanded, undermined legitimacy of the gear, resulting in a ban in 2021. Although questions about the ecological impact of electrical stimulation remain, adverse effects are considered negligible in comparison with the benefits.
