Working Group on Electrical Trawling (WGELECTRA; outputs from 2023 meeting)
The Working Group on Electrical Trawling (WGELECTRA) works on improving knowledge of the effects of electrical or pulse fishing on the marine environment.
During the 2023 meeting, the working group considered a discussion on razor clam eletrofishing research trials, the only ongoing research on electrofishing. The final wrap-up of recent research on sole pulse was also highlighted.
Topics discussed by the group during the past 3 years confirmed findings that were discussed in the extensive Scientific WGELECTRA report at the end of the previous cycle in 2018. The main conclusion is that the application of electricity to catch fish has many potential applications in technological innovations to improve the sustainability of a fishery by improving the selectivity, reducing unintended bycatch or reduce the impact on the benthic ecosystem.
Pulse trawling was banned by the European Union in 2019. As a consequence, no new research on this topic has been approved since then. Due to lack of new research projects, the group agreed that there is not enough content to discuss in the coming years, and therefore decided to dissolve the group and transfer its members to the Joint ICES/FAO Working Group on Fishing Technology and Fish Behaviour (WGFTFB) where the group originated.
History
Published under the auspices of the following ICES Steering Group or Committee
- EOSG
- SCICOM/ACOM
Published under the auspices of the following ICES Expert Group or Strategic Initiative
WGELECTRASeries
ICES Scientific ReportsVolume
6Issue
67Contributors (Editors)
Edward Schram; Mattias van OpstalContributors (Authors)
Pim G. Boute; Chloe Blackman; Julie Bremmer; Guy Claireaux; Marieke Desender; Nicolas Desroy; Clive Fox; Marloes Kraan; Pieke Molenaar; Hans Polet; Adriaan Rijnsdorp; Edward Schram; Arianna Servili; Justin Tiano; Mattias van Opstal; Anthony Viera; Pim VisserISSN
2618-1371Recommended citation
ICES. 2024. Working Group on Electrical Trawling (WGELECTRA; outputs from 2023 meeting). ICES Scientific Reports. 6:67. 13 pp. https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.26067835Publication language
- en