An issue of electric pulse trawling was raised by Jason Hall-Spencer and caused considerable debate at the Coastal Futures conference. If you have any insights, links or particular knowledge of this fishery and recent European decisions could you please send them to me ASAP bob.earll@coastms.co.uk
An SEA? Clearly research has been done to prove the efficacy of the technique yet it is not clear whether any EIA or SEA has been undertaken on this techniques effects on non target fish or other seabed or animals in the vicinity. Do you know?
Given that every other marine sector has to jump through highly formal licence procedures involving EIAs and SEAs – think offshore wind or cumulative effects – to introduce a significantly different and apparently very damaging fishing technique without such an assessment seems perverse and undermines the whole framework that seeks to manage and protect the environment.
One link …