In an opinion given on Wednesday 30 May, the International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES) considers that electric pulse trawls have less impact on ecosystems than traditional beam trawls. The opinion tends to uphold the considerations of the European Commission, while the European Parliament, on the other hand, has taken a stance against the experimental authorisation in the North Sea of so-called electro-fishing in the European Union (see EUROPE 11940).
The ICES issued its opinion at the request of the Netherlands which supports and practices electro-fishing. The ICES compared the impact of electric pulse trawls with that of traditional beam trawls during sole fishing in the North Sea. The opinion concludes: “Pulse trawling has fewer environmental and ecological effects than beam trawls”.
The ICES notes that “pulse trawls do not penetrate as deeply into seabed sediments” resulting in a lesser effect on the organisms living there. The pulse trawl also produces a smaller footprint and the ICES thus considers the impact of electro-fishing on fish resources “is expected to be lower”. Finally, “pulse trawling probably causes a lower rate of injury through fish colliding with gear, although there is some impact from its electrical field”.
The trialogues between institutions on technical fishing measures continue and there are no breakthroughs on the matter of electro-fishing. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)