In a newly launched project, scientists from Nofima are hoping to find out how wild fish can be caught as gently as possible to safeguard fish welfare, good quality and financial gain.
Cod landed at coastal fisheries in Norway will be studied with researchers paying particular attention to whether any correlations exist between the way in which the fish are caught and the quality obtained and also whether there is any correlation between gentler fishing methods and the price obtained by the fishermen.
“Even though we in Norway have been fishing and hunting since pre-historical times, we still have lots to learn about what happens to the fish during the catch,” said project manager, Geir Sogn-Grundvåg at Nofima.
“We know that consumers want sustainable food from animals that have been well-treated. We are now starting to document the condition of the fish when they are caught using different fishing equipment, and how this affects quality and price,” he added.
The researchers will study the use of longline and gillnets along with how the fish are affected by different fishing conditions using Danish seine. A fishery simulator – a kind of swim tunnel for fish, with different currents that simulate common fishing conditions – will document various aspects of the fishes’ welfare.
Nofima is leading the project, which is being carried out in cooperation with the Norwegian Veterinary Institute and the Artic University of Norway (Tromsø). The three-year research project is funded by the Research Council of Norway.
