The European Parliamentary Research Service has released a comprehensive study titled “Exploring the viability of innovative fishing technologies as an alternative to bottom trawling in European marine protected areas.” Fisheries in Europe’s marine environment use different types of mobile and static fishing gears that come into contact with the seabed, including mobile bottom-contacting gears (MBCGs) towed through the water and across the seabed. The report evaluates the potential of innovative fishing gears to replace bottom trawling, a method known for its detrimental environmental impacts, particularly in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The report conducted a literature review, a quantitative analysis of publicly available data and case studies.

Key Findings

The study highlights the urgent need to explore and implement alternative fishing methods to bottom trawling, a method often associated with significant seabed destruction and biodiversity loss. The report outlines several innovative fishing technologies that have shown promise in reducing environmental harm while maintaining economic viability for the fishing industry.

Innovative Alternatives

1. Passive Gears: The study find that passive gears, such as traps and pots, significantly reduce seabed impact and bycatch. These gears are environmentally friendly and can be economically sustainable with proper management.
2. Selective fishing technologies: Innovations like selective trawls and benthic release panels are effective in minimizing bycatch and habitat damage, offering a viable alternative to traditional bottom trawling.
3. Electric pulse fishing: with its reduced seabed contact, this method has shown potential but requires further research to fully understand its long term environmental impacts.

Findings

The study shows that mitigating the impact on the seabed with innovations will likely not suffice to reach the conservation objectives. Given the lack of voluntary uptake, the most promising innovations would have to be made mandatory. It recommends that MBCGs be excluded from the designated MPAs deemed vulnerable to bottom fishing. So far, innovations for lighter-impacting gears or solutions not affecting catch rates are lacking. This induces a net increase in impact when fishers increase effort to compensate for loss in catch efficiency.

Excluding MBCGs likely comes with only a limited displacement effect, which might be larger if future MPA designation were to better match sensitive features needing protection. For now, discontinuing the use of other fishing techniques such as passive gears is not required, as they do not impact MPAs where vulnerable seabeds are found. However, some MPAs will be sensitive to passive gears, and these techniques should be limited there if innovations do not reduce the bycatch of vulnerable species to levels deemed acceptable under the EU common fisheries policy and Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

Recommendations

The report acknowledges that while innovative technologies show promise, their adoption faces several challenges. These include higher initial costs, the need for training and adaptation by fishers, and regulatory hurdles. To overcome these challenges, the EPRS recommends:

• Policy Interventions: The mandatory implementation of alternative fishing technologies in MPAs to ensure compliance and effectiveness.
• Incentives and Support: Financial incentives and technical support for fishers to transition to sustainable fishing methods.
• Research and Development: Continued investment in R&D to refine and improve innovative fishing technologies, ensuring they are both effective and economically viable.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Active involvement of stakeholders, including fishers, policymakers, and environmental groups, to foster collaboration and ensure the successful implementation of new technologies.

Conclusion

The EPRS report concludes that excluding mobile bottom-contacting gears (MBCGs) from MPAs and promoting the use of passive and selective gears can significantly reduce the environmental impact of fishing while supporting the economic sustainability of the fishing industry. The findings highlight the critical need for a balanced approach that integrates conservation objectives with the socioeconomic realities of coastal communities.

Access the full report here