Low water fishing for sand eel in the North Sea has been put in the spotlight by Danish scientists in order to sedure the future of both the fish stock and the fishing industry.

The Thyborøn trawl door, with a distance sensor and a pitch, roll and height sensor underneath, while testing environmentally safer trawling methods in the North Sea

The Thyborøn trawl door, with a distance sensor and a pitch, roll and height sensor underneath, while testing environmentally safer trawling methods in the North Sea

At the same time, they are looking for methods to burn less fuel whle fishing.

With specially designed pelagic trawl doors from Thyborøn Trawl Doors and new net designs, the scientists from DTU Aqua are conducting a ‘Green Development Demonstration Project.’

Onboard the Danish Lonny Hedvig fishermen, scientists and fishing gear manufacturers have achieved significant results regarding more sustainable ways of bottom fishing for sand eel.

Lonny Hedvig has recently finished the first trip, and after three fishing days the vessel landed a total catch of approximately 900t. The skippers are said to be very satisfied.

As well as a fuel saving of approximately 14% and an increase in towing speed, the project has also shown that it is possible to fish in a sustainable way with the doors lifted of the bottom, even when fishing as shallow as 30m.

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