IFREMER, the French Research Institute for the Exploitation of the Sea, published on 20 June 2018 an analysis of the scientific advice produced by ICES on electric fishing (This link may or may not translate – see link below). This advice was produced following a special request by the Netherlands in February 2018, after the vote of the European Parliament in favour of a full and definitive ban on electric fishing. This request, drafted by the ICES Advisory Committee (ACOM), was to compare “the ecological and environmental effects of pulse trawls and traditional beam trawls when exploiting the North Sea sole TAC”. As a result of this extremely narrow question, ICES concluded that “there are fewer ecological and environmental effects of using pulse trawls than traditional beam trawls when exploiting the total allowable catch (TAC) of North Sea sole”. IFREMER reminds in its analysis that « this ICES advise was formulated to answer a specific question. It does not constitute as such an opinion on the use of electric pulse trawl ». Click here to read more

BLOOM produced a critical analysis of this advice which is politically-driven by the Netherlands to prevent a full ban on electric fishing.

BLOOM an NGO alliance is fighting Electric pulse fishing – click here to see the timeline of events

This recent Fishing News article also summarises the current debate