Fishing activities on the Dogger Bank 2006-2011

In 2008, the Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality notified four proposed Sites of Community In-terest (pSCIs) to the European Commission (for protection as Special Conservation Areas (SCAs) under the Habitats Directive). These areas are the Dogger Bank, Cleaver Bank, the Coastal Zone and the Vlakte van de Raan. The areas have been chosen, based on their specific habitats and ecological values. The objective of the current project is to give insight into the trends of the fishing activities of the Dutch and important foreign fleets (Belgian, German and UK) in the area of the Dogger Bank in the period 2006-2011. In the analyses attention is given to developments in effort, landings and economic value of the landings

Fishing activities on the Frisian Front and the Cleaver Bank; Historic developments and effects of management

In 2008, the Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality notified four proposed Sites of Community Interest (pSCIs) to the European Commission (for protection as Special Conservation Areas (SCAs) under the Habitats Directive). These areas are the Dogger Bank, Cleaver Bank, the Coastal Zone and the Vlakte van de Raan. The areas have been chosen for their specific habitats and ecological values (Bos et al., 2008). In addition, the Frisian Front will be designated as SPA (Special Protection Area) under the Bird Directive. Based on this decision a process has been executed during the last four years for the development of the provisions of this Directive in Dutch legislation and policy, namely the North Sea Natura 2000 project. LEI facilitated this process by making an initial inventory of the fishing activities of both Dutch and foreign fleets in these areas (Van Oostenbrugge et al., 2010). The current status is that for the areas in the coastal zone, management measures have been finalised and implemented. In the Dutch exclusive economic zone the state of play is that for the Dogger Bank, Cleaver Bank and the Frisian Front management proposals are being prepared for decision making in the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) context. Designating these areas under national law requires the Nature Protection Act to enter into force in the Dutch EEZ. This has been discussed in parliament (on 13 June 2012). Some questions remain on the importance of these areas for the Dutch fisheries and the economic consequences of management measures. The consequences of the management regime for the Dogger Bank are estimated by the ICES in the international process of the Dogger Bank Steering Group. The ministry of Economic Affairs has asked LEI to update the report from 2010 for the Frisian Front and the Cleaver Bank. Because a large part of the Belgian, UK and German flagged vessels are owned by Dutch companies, those fishing fleets are also taken into account in the current study

Deliverable 1.3: The economics of technological innovations to mitigate ecosystem effects of fishing: the pulse trawl in the North Sea

In this study we focused on the mitigation of the benthic impacts of the beam trawl fisheries for sole through the use of electricity as a technological innovation (pulse trawls replacing traditional beam trawl) and particularly on the economics of the gear transition. We identify drivers that probably influenced the technological change and got insight in the factors that may promote or hamper the use pulse trawl. The studies show that the pulse trawl is economically more profitable than the traditional beam trawl when targeting sole. This is particularly true when fuel prices are high and also when the landing obligation is implemented (because the catch is more selective). In the Dutch fishery, the wages of the crew operating with pulse are also higher which probably explain the support that the pulse trawl received from the crew. However this is not the case in the Belgian fleet where crew wages are based on value of landings only (as opposed to value of landings minus fuel price in the Dutch fishery). In addition to the good economic performances of the pulse trawl, non-economic factors have played a role in the uptake of the pulse trawl in the sole fishery. In particular, the information sharing amongst fisher through study groups and demonstration days have accelerated the process in the Netherlands. The support of the Dutch government was also influential. In contrast, barriers such as limiting days at sea in the North Sea for Belgian fishers and the controversial image of the pulse in Belgium may have hindered the adoption of pulse in Belgium