Pulse Fisheries in the Netherlands

1. 43a

EC Fact Finding Mission December 2-4, 2015 The Hague Structure

• Why is pulse fishery important for the Netherlands?

• How was pulse developed?

• What is the discussion about? Why is pulse fishery important for the Netherlands? • Flatfish fisheries are important for the Netherlands

• Large share in quota on the North Sea • Plaice 36% • Sole 76% • Turbot 56% • Dab 62%

• 40 per cent of total revenue Dutch fisheries comes from flatfish fisheries

• Traditional fishing method: beam trawl, but this method has some disadvantages, like… Seabed disturbance…

Large number of discards…

… and high fuel consumption Why is pulse fishery important for the Netherlands?

Therefore innovation is needed

Innovation has led to diversification in the Dutch flatfish fleet:

• Flyshoot: good for catching gurnard, red mullet and squid • Sumwing: good for catching plaice, less good for sole • Twinrig: good for catching plaice and nephrops • Pulse: good for catching sole and shrimps

• Puls Fisheries is – at the moment – the main alternative for beam trawl fisheries on sole. • Both the Dutch government and the industry want – eventually - a permanent permission to use the puls technique. How was pulse developed?

• Before 1988: research with use of electricity in fishing • 1988: ban on electric fishing ************ 5 stages

1992-2004: Developing a pulse system 2004-2007: Pilot project on a commercial vessel (UK 153) 2007-2010: Derogation in Technical Measures (850/1998); first 20 licences, start Study Group Pulse & Sumwing 2010-2014: Expanding nr. of licences to 42 cutters 2014-present: Expanding nr. of licences tot 84 cutters. How was pulse developed?

Key moments:

2004: tests on a commercial vessel (UK 153) 2005: steering group pulse (linking with EU-ICES) 2006: 5 per cent derogation EU 2007: fishing sector withdraws support to the pilot project 2007 – 2010: FIP (EMF) and Study Groups 2020: 5 pioneer vessels tests 2010: order for 4 pulse systems by a leading fishing company 2011-2014: drive for expansion; too little licences for demand (waiting list) 2015: end of expansion (availability of quota limits demand for opportunity to use pulse) How was pulse developed? What is the discussion about? What is the discussion about?

• Ecological effects • Effects on cod, dab and elasmobranchs • Unforseen long term effects • Economical effects • Competition (more effective for sole) • Only in the North Sea

There are 2 transition trajectories: Netherlands and EU Pilot Project • Brings total number of Dutch vessels using pulse to 84 • 3 parts: • 1. Field trials on avoiding by-catches • 2. Monitoring programma • 3. Pulse fishing research agenda • safe range of pulse parameters that excludes (significant) consequences for all marine organisms? • What are the differences in sensitivity to electricity between various vertebrate and invertebrate marine species? • What are the effects on the juvenile stages of marine species that spawn in shallow zones where pulse nets can be used? • What is the long-term effect on small non-commercial species and on undersized commercial species that are repeatedly exposed? • What is the effect on the electro-sensitive organs of sharks and rays? • Is there an electrolysis effect from the substrate and the water column that could result in the formation of toxic metabolites? • What is the effect of pulse fishing on various populations? • Governance issues surrounding the introduction of pulse fishing and adequateregulation to ensure the manageability of development. More info?  www.pulsefishing.eu 1.43b

> P.O. Box 20401 2500 EK Den Haag The Netherlands

Directorate-General for Agro European Agricultural Policy and To: Food Security Department Focus Group Pulse Fishing of the North Sea Advisory Council Visit address Bezuidenhoutseweg 73 2594 AC Den Haag The Netherlands Postal address P.O. Box 20401 2500 EK Den Haag The Netherlands Billing address P.O. Box 16180 2500 BD Den Haag The Netherlands

Date 25/02/2015 Organisation Code 00000001003214369000 Re Dutch pulse derogation (in English) T +31 (0)70 379 8911 www.rijksoverheid.nl/ez Dealt with by On … (date) you submitted an application for authorisation to fish with a pulse trawl. On 10 June 2011/5 August 2011 we notified you by letter that the T +31 (0)70 processing of your application had been deferred and that you had been placed F +31 (0)70 on the reserve list. According to the European Commission, the Netherlands has @minez.nl the opportunity to expand the use of the pulse trawl on the basis of Article 14 of the basic CFP regulation. In that context we now have the scope to grant further Our ref. DGAN-ELVV / 15028105 authorisations. On ………. (date) I received your reply in which you indicate that your original application is still valid. Your ref.

Encl. Based on section four and five of Article 53, of the Sea Fisheries Implementing Regulation (Uitvoeringsregeling zeevisserij), I hereby grant you authorisation to use your vessel (name) to fish for flatfish with an electrical beam trawl (hereinafter pulse trawl) provided you do so within six months of the date postmarked on this letter. This authorisation ends on (February 2019).

Permission requirements The following provisions apply to this authorisation: 1. Fishing with pulse trawl is only allowed in the ICES divisions IVc and IVb south of a rhumb line joined by the following points, measured according to the WGS84 coordinate system: • A point on the east coast of the United Kingdom at latitude 55° N, • and a point on the west coast of Denmark at latitude 55° N. 2. Before fishing for flatfish the vessel must meet the following requirements: a. maximum 1 kW per metre beam length or electric field width (electric capacity behind the ship’s generator and in front of the power cables); b. The field strength is a maximum of 0.25 Vrms per centimetre of electrode distance; c. The electrode distance is a maximum of 40 cm; d. The width of the electric field measured as a horizontal distance between the two outer electrodes, the perpendicular length between electrodes may not exceed the width of the net, to a maximum of 12 metres per pulse fishing gear. e. The vessel is equipped with an automatic computer management system which records the maximum power used per beam and the effective voltage between electrodes for at least the last 100 tows. It

Page 1 of 3

Directorate-General for Agro European Agricultural Policy and Food Security Department

Our ref. DGAN-ELVV / 15028105

is not possible for non-authorised personnel to modify this automatic computer management system and f. No tickler chains may be used in front of the footrope. The requirements for the pulse trawl may be adjusted in the future. 3. A technical file (TF) must be kept on board during every fishing expedition. This TF must have been prepared by the supplier of the pulse fishing gear that was supplied to you and installed on your vessel, and this TF must contain a declaration from the supplier that the pulse fishing gear complies with the abovementioned requirements. The TF is part of the inspection of the pulse fishing gear. The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate also requires a TF to be kept on board for fishing with a pulse trawl. The TF forms part of the regular certification of your vessel by the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate. 4. You are required to cooperate with the study into the effects of pulse fisheries carried out in collaboration between the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the fisheries sector and research institutes. This cooperation may involve contributing towards the costs of the programme. Article 14 of the basic regulation provides for the possibility, within the framework of the landing obligation, to carry out a pilot project to fully study all the viable methods of preventing, reducing and eliminating unwanted catches in fisheries. This authorisation to allow fishing with electrical pulse fishing gear is part of this pilot project. In order to monitor the results of this pilot project your participation in the monitoring programme is required. You will receive further information about participation in this study. 5. If you undertake a fishing voyage exclusively within the Dutch EEZ, you should use the following fishing gear codes when using the pulse trawl.

Name of fishing gear Code to be noted in logbook Pulse trawl PUK Pulse wing PUL

It should be noted that if the abovementioned requirements are not met, the authorisation may be revoked. For the sake of completeness, I would like to point out that on the basis of section seven, Article 53, of the Sea Fisheries Implementing Regulation, the requirements attached to this authorisation can change.

This authorisation for the use of a pulse trawl is valid for a period of 5 years. The objective of the pilot project is to arrive at a generic authorisation of the pulse trawl. If the pilot project is successful, specific authorisation will no longer be necessary. However, should the results of the pilot project be insufficient, and not result in the generic authorisation of the pulse trawl, then the restriction on the use of the pulse trawl will continue to apply fully. Further exemptions to the restriction cannot and shall not be permitted.

Finally, please inform me immediately in writing before actually fishing with the pulse trawl or when you decide to definitely stop using the pulse trawl.

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Directorate-General for Agro European Agricultural Policy and Food Security Department

Our ref. DGAN-ELVV / 15028105

This exemption must be kept on board the vessel for the duration of the fisheries activities, and must be presented to the inspection official at first request.

You, or another party affected by this decision, may appeal against this decision to the Minister for Agriculture within six weeks of the date postmarked on this letter. Appeals accompanied by a copy of this letter should be sent to the following address:

Ministerie van Economische Zaken Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland Team Juridische Zaken Postbus 20401 2500 EK Den Haag.

For the Minister for Agriculture,

Page 3 of 3

1.43e

Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation

Netherlands Food & Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA)

@nvwa.nl

Head fish, feed, animal by-products, animal testing team The Central Government Inspectorates 1. Customs (4,869 fte) 2. NVWA (2,400 fte) 3. The Human Environment and transport Inspectorate (1,200 fte)

4. The Inspectorate of Social Affairs and Employment (1,180 fte) 5. Dutch Inspectorate of Education (475 fte) 6. The Health Care Inspectorate (450 fte)

7. Radio communications Agency Netherlands (120 fte) 8. State Supervision of Mines (60 fte) 9. Inspectorate for Youth Care (50 fte)

10. Public Order and Safety Inspectorate (50 fte) 11. The Cultural Heritage Inspectorate (25 fte) 12. The Inspectorate for Implementation of Sanctions (10 fte)

2 NVWA / MinEA NVWA

3 NVWA / MinEA Locations:

4 NVWA / MinEA Positioning

Ministry of Economical Affairs Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport NVWA

• NVWA is part of the central government • Owner is Ministry of Economical Affairs, • Main assignments from two ministries

5 NVWA / MinEA Budget in 2014 (ca. € 240 million)

70 100

EZ VWS third parties

6 NVWA / MinEA NVWA in numbers (2014)

• 2.300-2.450 FTE • 500.000 exportcertificats • 200.000 controls • 140.000 reports, complaints & question • 9.000 RASFF reports • 1.800 RAPEX-reports, 1.556 ‘serious risk’ • 5.652 fines / penalties • 13 serious investigations (CIS) • 6,58 x 106 criminal deprivations

7 NVWA / MinEA Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA)

Inspector General Deputy Inspector General

Director Staff Department

Director Director Chief Chief Chief Director Inspector Inspector Inspector Office for Risk Customer Veterinary & Agriculture Consumer Criminal Assessment services Imports & Nature & Safety Investigation & Research Division Division Division Division Division

8 NVWA / MinEA Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA)

Inspector General Deputy Inspector General

Director Staff Department

9 NVWA / MinEA Division

XX Disciplines

MS Development MS Execution team Teams

10 NVWA / MinEA Criminal investigation division

•Special Investigative Services Act •Extensive powers and coercive measures (equal to police detectives) for intelligence and investigation •Focus on serious crime: complex, internationally oriented and organized fraud •Seizure of illegally obtained profits

11 NVWA / MinEA Agriculture & Nature Division

12 NVWA / MinEA Area of inspection Primary production: •Inspections on farms (use of pesticides, vet. drugs, animal feed, farming practices) •Transport controls (animal welfare) plant health: •Plant health •Plant protection •Invasive species •National reference centre for plant health •Auditing of delegated tasks

13 NVWA / MinEA Veterinary & Imports Division

14 NVWA / MinEA Area of inspection: Animals, animal products •Safety of meat and meat products •Animal health •Animal welfare •Export inspections / certification •Import inspections / control

15 NVWA / MinEA Consumer & Safety Division

16 NVWA / MinEA Area of inspection

•Food, alcohol, tobacco •Nonfood consumer products •Fish, feed, animal by-products, animal testing V Import of vegetable oils / grains for feed V Petfood V Registration animal testing laboratories V Fish farms V Pelagic & demersal fishing

17 NVWA / MinEA Fish: Two specializations

Food Safety Durability

• Export inspections • Inspection on deep sae fishery • Import inspections • Landing inspections of fresh fish • Fish processing industry • Landing inspection of frozen fish • Inland sea fishery • Tank farming

18 NVWA / MinEA Partners Ministry of Economic affairs.

Coast guard: • Customs • Police • Military police • Navy • Shipping inspection

19 NVWA / MinEA Allowed Ports of landing fishery vessels • Breskens • Vlissingen • Colijnsplaat • Stellendam • Scheveningen • IJmuiden (also Velsen voor DTR) • Den Helder • Den Oever • Harlingen • Lauwersoog • Delfzijl (en Termuntenzijl) • Eemshaven (voor DTR) • Urk • Vlaardingen (voor DTR)

20 NVWA / MinEA Fish auction

• Quota • Minimum size • Fresh • Etc..

21 NVWA / MinEA Inspection locations

• Northsea • Harbours • Inland sea waters • Mudflats (Waddenzee) • Auctions, transportation, precessing industry, cold stores. • Market and shops • Fish farms

22 NVWA / MinEA Sea inspection with the Barend Biesheuvel

23 NVWA / MinEA Boarding at sea

24 NVWA / MinEA Measurement of the mesh size (Omegameter)

25 NVWA / MinEA Total Inspections (yearly) • At sea: 350 boardings • Landing: 10 % (based on total Kg) • Transport and market surveillance: risk based • Air surveillance:

26 NVWA / MinEA Risk based inspections at premises “soft where possible, tough where necessary”

Permanent risk •Strict enforcement, •compliance assistance

•At random inspections, Small risk •communication on inspection strategy, •compliance assistance and re-inspection

(Almost) Support no risk

27 NVWA / MinEA Corrective instruments of the NVWA Public sanctions Like closing of premises, publication of sanctions, penalties

Administrative sanctions Like ban on transport or trade of goods, ban on import, withdrawals from market, special administrative financial punishment

Other instruments Like special communication to ‘warn’ companies, publication of inspection data, compliance assistance

28 NVWA / MinEA 44e

Pulse fishing Technical Measures I

• Regulation No 850/1998 - Article 31a:

Electric fishing in ICES divisions IVc and IVb 1. By way of derogation from Article 31, fishing with beam trawl using electrical pulse current shall be allowed in ICES divisions IVc and IVb south of a rhumb line joined by the following points, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 coordinate system: • a point on the east coast of the United Kingdom at latitude 55° N, • then east to latitude 55° N, longitude 5° E, • then north to latitude 56° N, • and finally east to a point on the west coast of Denmark at latitude 56° N. Technical Measures II 2. Electrical pulse fishing shall be allowed only when: • (a) no more than 5 % of the beam trawler fleet per Member State use the electric pulse trawl; • (b) the maximum electrical power in kW for each beam trawl is no more than the length in metres of the beam multiplied by 1,25; • (c) the effective voltage between the electrodes is no more than 15 V; • (d) the vessel is equipped with an automatic computer management system which records the maximum power used per beam and the effective voltage between electrodes for at least the last 100 tows. It is not possible for non-authorised personnel to modify this automatic computer management system; • (e) it is prohibited to use one or more tickler chains in front of the footrope.’; Proposal for enhancing Dutch Current Dutch Permission Art. 31a (850/1998) license requirements

1. Fishing with pulse trawl is only 1. Fishing with pulse trawl is only 1. By way of derogation from Article 31, allowed in the ICES divisions IVc and allowed in the ICES divisions IVc and fishing with beam trawl using electrical IVb south of a rhumb line joined by the IVb south of a rhumb line joined by the pulse current shall be allowed in ICES following points, measured according to following points, measured according to divisions IVc and IVb south of a rhumb the WGS84 coordinate system: the WGS84 coordinate system: line joined by the following points, •a point on the east coast of the United • A point on the east coast of the United which shall be measured according to Kingdom at latitude 55°N; Kingdom at latitude 55°N; the WGS84 coordinate system: •east to a point on the west coast of • and a point on the west coast of — a point on the east coast of the Denmark at latitude 56°N*; Denmark at latitude 55°N. United Kingdom at latitude 55° N, — then east to latitude 55° N, longitude 5° E, — then north to latitude 56° N, — and finally east to a point

2a. The effective voltage is no more 2b. The field strength is a maximum of 2(c) the effective voltage between the than 15V. The peak voltage is no more 0.25 Vrms per centimetre of electrode electrodes is no more than 15 V; than 60V. The voltage must be distance; measured (or limited) between the connection of the electrodes and pulse modules (the beam);

2b. The maximum outgoing electrical 2a. maximum 1 kW per metre beam 2(b) the maximum electrical power in power (peak power) for each beam length or electric field width (electric kW for each beam trawl is no more than trawl is no more than the length in capacity behind the length in metres of the beam metres of the beam multiplied by 1,00; the ship’s generator and in front of the multiplied by 1,25; power cables); Proposal for enhancing Dutch Current Dutch Permission Art. 31a (850/1998) license requirements

2c. The manufacturer records the X X following elements in the dossier file: -Composition of the electrodes and isolators. -Total length of the electrode string -The thickness, length and amount of conductors. -The composition of the conductors. -The amount of isolators.

2d. The frequency-configuration is X X between 20 and 180 Hz. Application outside this frequency forces the user for additional research;

2e. The current carrying part of the X X pulse period (the ‘duty cycle’) does not exceed the 3.0%;

2f. The Electrodes are installed on the 2c. The electrode distance is a X wing/beam with a minimum of 40 cm of maximum of 40 cm; each other (H/H). Proposal for enhancing Dutch license Current Dutch Permission Art. 31a (850/1998) requirements

2g. The set of electrodes are steered X X alternate towards the adjacent set of electrodes, to keep the electrical field stable

2h. The total width of the electrical field of 2d. The width of the electric field X the gear does not exceed the width of the measured as a horizontal distance fishing net, with a maximum of 12 meter. between the two outer electrodes, the perpendicular length between electrodes may not exceed the width of the net, to a maximum of 12 metres per pulse fishing gear. Proposal for enhancing Dutch Current Dutch Permission Art. 31a (850/1998) license requirements

3. The vessel is equiped with an 2e. The vessel is equipped with an 2(d) the vessel is equipped with an automatic computer management automatic computer management automatic computer management system including a data logger. The system which records the maximum system which records the maximum data in the system may not be possible power used per beam and the effective power used per beam and the effective to manipulate. The system registers the voltage between electrodes for at least voltage between electrodes for at least following data during the last six the last 100 tows. It is not possible for the last 100 tows. It is not possible for months and at least the last 100 tows: non-authorised personnel to modify this non-authorised personnel to modify this a.The system registers all moments that automatic computer management automatic computer management the data is accessed; system. system; b.The system registers if the fishing gear was on or off, linked with the exact time and position of fishing; c.The system registers the peak voltage between the electrodes (2a) and the maximum power per beam trawl (2b); d.Electrical power and voltage should be maximized to the allowable. If not, it should be made possible to create a diagram per fishing haul which shows the voltage on the set of electrodes; e.The system registers with which configuration fishing took place; f.Aside from the enforcement authority and the manufacturer, nobody has access to the computer management system for modification; g.The computer management system and the data-output are described in the dossier file. 35 Proposal for enhancing Dutch license Current Dutch Permission Art. 31a (850/1998) requirements 4. It is prohibited to use tickler chains or other 2f. No tickler chains may be used in front of 2(e) it is prohibited to use one or more tickler fish stimulating facilities, such as across the footrope. chains in front of the footrope; tightened weights in front of the footrope; 5. On the vessel, a floating net is used as X X supply for the pulse system; 6. The legislation for the pulse trawl may be 2. The requirements for the pulse trawl may X adjusted in the future; be adjusted in the future. 7. The skipper should always have an up to 3. A technical file (TF) must be kept on board X date dossier file on board; during every fishing expedition. This TF must have been prepared by the supplier of the pulse fishing gear that was supplied to you and installed on your vessel, and this TF must contain a declaration from the supplier that the pulse fishing gear complies with the abovementioned requirements. The TF is part of the inspection of the pulse fishing gear. The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate also requires a TF to be kept on board for fishing with a pulse trawl. The TF forms part of the regular certification of your vessel by the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate. 8. Collaboration is obligatory towards the pilot X X programme of the effects of pulse fisheries, which is executed in collaboration by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the industry and the research institutions; 9. If a fishing haul is executed exclusively X 36NVWA / MinEA X within the Netherlands EEZ, the following fishing gear code need to be used (PUK, Proposal for enhancing Dutch Current Dutch Permission Art. 31a (850/1998) license requirements

8. Collaboration is obligatory towards 4. You are required to cooperate with X the pilot programme of the effects of the study into the effects of pulse pulse fisheries, which is executed in fisheries carried out in collaboration collaboration by the Ministry of between the Ministry of Economic Economic Affairs, the industry and the Affairs, the fisheries sector and research research institutions; institutes;

9. If a fishing haul is executed 5. If you undertake a fishing voyage X exclusively within the Netherlands EEZ, exclusively within the Dutch EEZ, you the following fishing gear code need to should use the following fishing gear be used (PUK, PUL).* codes when using the pulse trawl. Dutch demersal fisheries 1.44a

3rd of December 2015, (LEI) Introduction

Composition Dutch Fishing Sector:

▪ Pelagic fisheries ▪ Cutter fleet ▪ Other small scale fisheries ▪ Mussel culture ▪ Oyster fisheries Structure Cutter fleet

▪ Number of vessels: 277 (2013) ▪ Value of landings : 232 MEur ▪ Fishermen: 1093 ▪ Most important gear: Beamtrawl/SumWing/Pulse ▪ Target species: Flatfish (Sole and Plaice) and shrimp Dutch demersal cutter fleet

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014* # Vessels 294 297 284 274 280 277 280 Revenues (mln €) 250 212 218 204 233 232 245 Costs (mln €) 251 207 211 208 219 219 220 Net profit (mln €) -1 5 7 -5 14 14 25 Effort (x100,000) 440 413 399 374 378 367 360 Dutch demersal cutter fleet Effort

Effort main fisheries based on hp-days (= hp x (hours at sea/24)) Effort

Flatfish: Transition Conventional beamtrawl to Pulse 100% 2013: Beamtrawl – 6% 90% SumWing – 21% 80% Pulse 47% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 2008: Beamtrawl20%– 77% SumWing10%– 1% Pulse 0% 0% 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Beamtrawl SumWing Pulse Flyshoot Shrimp Other Fuel and flatfish

Fuel price 0,7 0,6 0,5 0,4 0,3 0,2 euro/liter 0,1 0

€ 14,00 € 2,50 € 12,00 € 2,00 € 10,00 € 8,00 € 1,50 € 6,00 € 1,00 € 4,00 € 0,50 € 2,00

Sole Sole (Euro/kg) € 0,00 € 0,00 Plaice Plaice (Euro/kg)

Sole Plaice Fuel and flatfish

8.000 60 2,50 7.000 50 6.000 2,00 5.000 40 Liter Beam trawl 1,50 - 4.000 30 3.000 SumWing Liter 1,00 20

2.000 Percentage Euro Euro Pulse 0,50 1.000 10 0 0 0,00 Fuel use Fuel costs fuel costs % fuel use per per DAS per DAS of revenue kg fish Cutter fleet 300 250 200 150

Miljoenen 100 50 0 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014* Fuel use Economic performance (Flatfish)

Net profit (Million Euro) 10

5 Miljoenen

0 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

-5

-10

-15 Beamtrawl SumWing Pulse Conclusions

▪ Around 275 active vessels in Cutter fleet ▪ 2014: ● Total Revenues  245 mln. Euro ● Total Costs  220 mln. Euro ● Net Profit  25 mln. Euro ▪ Transition Beamtrawl to Pulse fisheries ● Reason: increasing fuel prices and decreasing flatfish prices ● Side effects on discards, and ecological footprint Conclusions

▪ Fuel use per kg landed fish: 2.13 euro beamtrawl, 2.04 euro SumWing and 1.89 euro pulse ▪ Fuelcost as percentage of revenues: 52% beamtrawl, 43% SumWing and 28% pulse ▪ Fuel use per day at sea: 7,300 L beamtrawl, 6.200 L SumWing and 4.000 L pulse ▪ Fuel use cutter fleet from 272 mln. L in 2003 to around 95 mln. L in 2014 ▪ Net Profit 2013: beamtrawl -1.1 mln. euro, SumWing +1.2 mln. euro, pulse +4.6 mln. euro

Thank you for your attention.

Questions?

Mail: @wur.nl

Yearly publication: www.agrimatie.nl/visserij Quota Lease

Sole quota 4

3,5

2,5

1,5

1 Price (Euro/kg) Price 0,5

0 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 1 st 2nd 3rd 4th 1th 2nd 3rd 2013 2013 2013 2013 2014 2014 2014 2014 2015 2015 2015 Pulse fishing: scientific research and 1.44b Research Agenda

What do we know, what do we not know?

(IMARES) & (ILVO) 3 December 2015

@wur.nl

Overview

What do we know 1. Characteristics of electric field 2. Catch efficiency and selectivity 3. Effect of electricity on marine organisms 4. Ecosystem effects

What do we not know 5. Knowledge gaps (Research agenda)

What do we plan to do 6. Pulse trawl programme

1. Characteristics of electric field Characteristics of electric field

. Pulse characteristics: ● Field strength (V) ● Frequency (Hz) Duty cycle (%) ● Pulse width (µs) ● Pulse shape-

Capacitor

Pulsed alternating current (PAC)

Seawater Commercial settings

Sole Shrimp

Power (kW/m) 0.7 0.13 Voltage (V) 45-60 60 Frequency (Hz) 45-80 4.5

Pulse width (µs) 100-270 500

Duty cycle (%) ~2 0.45

De Haan et al (submitted) 1. Characteristics of electric field

isolator

conductor 1. Electric field: non homogeneous

Field strength (V/m) Isolator

Conductor

De Haan et al. (submitted) 2. Catch efficiency and selectivity

2. Selectivity & Catch efficiency

Comparative fishing experiment in 2011: TX36 (HFK), TX68 (Delmeco), GO4 (tickler chain beam trawl)

Van Marlen et al. (2014) Fisheries Research 2. Catch efficiency

Tickler Pulse Ratio P chain n=2*33 Pulse n=33 /tickler

Landings 0.10 0.08 81% <0.001 (baskets / hectare)

Discards (fish & benthos) 0.59 0.25 43% <0.001 (baskets / hectare)

Van Marlen et al. 2014 2. Catch efficiency (flat)fish

Tickler Pulse Ratio P chain n=2*33 Puls n=33 /tickler

Plaice (kg/hectare) 1.34 1.26 94% ns

Sole (kg/hectare) 0.59 0.61 103% ns

Fish discards 108.4 61.9 57% <0.001 (#/hectare)

Van Marlen et al. 2014 2. Selectivity (plaice & sole): lower bycatch undersized flatfish

Schol

Catch per unit area swept Pulse / Tickler chain

Puls higherTong

1:1

Van Marlen et al. 2014 Puls lower

Pulse fishing for shrimps

Shrimp fishing: comparative fishing traditional – pulse trawl

.Dutch Wadden Sea .Year round monitoring (2013) .Results: ● Commercial shrimp (+2%) ● Small shrimp (-21%) ● Fish/benthos (-66%) ● Drag resistance (-23%) ● Seabed contact (-60%) .Huge potential! 3. Effect electricity on marine organisms 3. Effects of electricity

Field observations (catch commercial puls trawlers) .

3. Effects of electricity

. Lab experiments (ILVO, University Gent, IMARES) . Exposure upto 2 sec ● Cod, Seabass, Sole, Dogfish ● Brown shrimp & Nereis . Measurements ● Survival (2 weeks) & behaviour ● Macroscopic ● X-ray & Histology Uni Gent: Marieke Desender Maarten Soetaert; Annemie Decostere; ILVO: Hans Polet; IMARES: Dick de Haan; Bob van Marlen 3. Overview single exposure experiments

Behavioural response Injuries Mortality Feeding Cod Escape (<20 Hz) fractures no resume normal Cramp (>20Hz) haemor- feeding Epileptic (120V) rhages

Sole Escape (<20 Hz) None No resume normal Cramp (>20Hz) feeding Epileptic (extreme)

Dog-fish Escape None no Resume feeding; deposition viable eggs Shrimp Jump (<20 Hz) Increase virus No - Cramp (>20Hz) infection? Nereis movement None no -

Desender (in prep); Soetaert et al (2015) De Haan et al. (in prep) 3. Dab: single exposure experiment to study ulcers

. Three groups of 50 dab . Maximal exposure ● DELMECO (60V) ● HFK (70V) ● Reference group (not exposed) . After 1week killed and examined for lesions, ulcers, wounds, parasites . No ‘injuries’ observed

de Haan et al (in prep) 3. Effect pulse on injury probability

de Haan et al (submitted)

Heamorrhages Length Frequency Field strength Duty cycle

Fractures

de Haan et al (submitted) 4. Ecosystem effects 4. Ecosystem effects compared to traditional beam trawl

. Reduction in ● Bycatch of undersized fish ● Bycatch of benthic invertebrates ● Penetration depth . Trawl path mortality ● Under study . Change in distribution pattern ● Consequences to be studied

4. Change distribution pulse trawlers: consequences for ecosystem effects

Tickler chain Pulse trawls beam trawls 1-4. Conclusion sole pulse: what we know

. Higher selectivity for sole . Lower catch efficiency for undersized fish . Lower catch efficiency for benthos . Lower penetration depth of electrodes in sediment . Change in spatial distribution . Injuries in cod and whiting (bone fractures, haemorrhages) . No injuries detected in sole, seabass, dogfish, dab, shrimp, ragworm . Shrimp exposed to 200 V/m higher incidence of virus infection, but this could not be reproduced 5. Pulse trawl research programme 5. Pulse trawl programme

. Objective: to provide a scientific basis to assess the consequences of the transition of beam trawling to pulse trawling the ecosystem (bycatch, benthos, ecosystem functioning)

. Approach ● Monitoring ● Impact Assessment

Photo: Hugo Schuitenmaker Monitoring

. Discards (observer trips)

. Pulse technology development 5. Pulse Trawl Impact Assessment

6. PhD1 - Effect on marine organisms

. Objective ● To develop a predictive model on the distribution of the electrical field in various organisms and their effect on activity and survival . Approach: ● Lab experiments (fish, benthos) ● Modelling . Model species ● Roundfish, flatfish, sharks and rays ● Bivalves, crustaceans, polychaetes, sea urchin 6. PhD2 - Effect on the benthic ecosystem

. Objective ● To develop a predictive model of the impact of electrical pulses on benthic ecosystem functioning in particular on the biogeochemistry . Approach ● Lab and Field experiments ● Use of closed area (Oyster Grounds / Frisian Front)

6. PhD3 – Upscaling effects to fleet and ecosystem level

. Objective ● To develop predictive models of the ecosystem effects (bycatch, proportion of injured fish, benthic ecosystem functioning) on the level of the fleet and North Sea

. Approach ● Modelling spatial distribution pulse trawl fleet in relation to benthic habitats (high resolution) ● Modelling effect pulse trawls on ecosystem functioning Thanks

. . ILVO, Oostende, Belgium . @ilvo.vlaa nderen.be

. . IMARES, Ijmuiden, Netherlands . @wur.nl 1.44c