Fishermen involved in the Alaska cod and sole fisheries comes under one roof in Hirtshals, Denmark, to discuss issues facing their industry. In the meeting the fishermen from Alaska and Europe have enjoyed and discuss improvements to trawl selectivity, bycatch reduction and innovations in trawl nets that minimize seafloor contact while maintaining or improving catch rates.
Fishermen of the North and Barents seas also face the same problems like Alaskan. They need to reduce by catch of non target species, catch only market-sized fish while impacting little on the seafloor. Hritshals is the home to a world-class flume tank operated by SINTEF, a Norwegian research institute that hosts scientists and engineers to test net designs, underwater video capabilities and other applied research to assist the fishing industry. It is the main junction of trawl innovation in Europe.
The meeting benefits all the fishermen who came there for innovation. There was no moaning and groaning over the mandate to minimize bycatch and bottom contact. They learned about gear innovations being developed on both continents. They learned fish behaviour by video so that they can reduce the bycatch and catch more target fish.
There were presentations, data reviewed, discussion on gear modifications and reduction in catch rates in a constructive and productive manner. The meeting proved useful as every fisherman has learned something or other which is vital for their industry.
