Development of fishing Gears with Reduced Effects on the Environment (DEGREE)

Background

High levels of concern have been expressed for many years about the adverse effects that towed fishing gear can have on the seabed and the benthic communities that live on and in the seabed. To counter these effects, there is growing pressure to close significant areas of the sea to fishing, which could have significant socio-economic effects on fishing-dependent communities. Another alternative would be the development of fishing gear with a lower environmental impact.

Objectives

Closing established areas to fishing may protect some benthic communities but it may also lead to increased exploitation of more vulnerable components of stock and increase the socio-economic strains on fishery-dependent communities. As an alternative to this approach to environmental protection, DEGREE will:

• Develop new fishing gear (otter trawl, beam trawl, dredges) that reduce the adverse effects on the seabed and benthic communities
• Quantify the potential reduced effect on habitats and benthic communities
• Assess the socio-economic consequences of introducing these gear in established fisheries

Policy development

• The development of modified, low-impact fishing gear will help the EU and Member States to meet their international obligations for the protection of the marine environment, habitats and species
• DEGREE will inform fishery management decision-makers about environmental protection and the socio-economic consequences of individual decisions
• Information collected and gear developed by DEGREE will assist the EU in meeting numerous aspects of declared fishery policy, such as ‘adopting measures to reduce the impact of fishing activity on marine ecosystems’ (Council Reg. 2371/2002 Art 4)

Cefas contribution

Further development of Benthos release panels or cod-ends.  These are designed to reduce the environmental impact of commercial beam trawlers.  Problems with weed build-up and capture of stones need to be overcome to allow this technology to be used on a commercial scale.

Cefas aims to:

• Overcome weed build-up in the panel joining meshes.
• Adapt the technology to be used with a stone-release gap.
• Develop the technology for full commercial use in the English Channel and Belgium chain mat beam trawl fisheries.

Partners

This project involves 12 partners from 8 different countries.