Aiming to reduce the reliance of the European small-scale fleet on fossil fuels while also promoting renewable energy, the SEAGLOW project (Sustainable Energy Applications for Green and Low-impact Operation) ultimately aims to help pave the way for achieving carbon neutrality for small fishing vessels in the future, according to Hanne Bregendahl Pihl, who manages this initiative as North Denmark EU-Office Coordinator of the Enterprise Europe Network in Denmark.
Seaglow focuses on reducing the carbon footprint of small-scale fisheries in the Baltic and North Sea through the implementation of alternative energy sources and fuel-efficient technologies, and addresses the urgent need for sustainable fishing operations by reducing dependency on fossil fuels. Its objectives include developing energy-efficient practices, by testing different types of energy sufficient applications such as engines, coatings and surveillance technology on four fishing vessels in Denmark, Norway, Estonia, and Sweden.
‘Small-scale fishing boats, which make up a significant portion of the European fishing fleet, face high operational costs and environmental impacts due to fuel dependency. By targeting these boats, SEAGLOW aims to reduce emissions and fuel consumption, contributing directly to the EU Green Deal objectives while at the same time helping smaller operators remain economically viable while reducing their environmental impact,’ she explained.
The consortium behind Seaglow brings together research institutes, NGOs, industry representatives, and energy technology providers from across Europe, as well as the four fishermen involved who are contributing their time and their boats to this platform. Seaglow is exploring the opportunities for hybrid methanol/electric engines, low-drag hull coatings, and low-cost monitoring systems for tracking fuel consumption and operational efficiency.
‘Each technology is to be tested on a different fishing vessel, providing a comprehensive assessment of their effectiveness in reducing fuel consumption and emissions in real-world conditions,’ Hanne Bregendahl Pihl said, adding that among the stakeholders are small-scale fishers, industry representatives, policymakers, and environmental organizations.
‘We’ll try to involve all parties through co-creation workshops, policy advocacy, and community-based trials, where other fishermen can come and try the different application in order to encourage adoption and ensure that developed technologies meet stakeholder needs. Through these workshops and public engagement, we hope that Seaglow can help foster collaboration and ensure that new innovations align with local community goals and needs as well as aligning with the EU policy on the topic,’ she said.
The four participating vessels are the 11.50-metre PMA-605, which fishes from a bay near Pärnu in Estonia, the 10.65-metre Norwegian crabber/gillnetter Anne Katharina, 10-metre Danish hook-and-line boat Ester and 8-metre Valentina, which fishes with traps in Swedish waters.
Fishermen can participate in Seaglow’s showcases being run, for instance, in Sweden, allowing them to check out and test the new technologies in a real life scenario and see how they can benefit from any cost and efficiency gains by implementing these on their own boats.
‘Through stakeholder workshops and policy engagement, Seaglow also gives the opportunity to fishers to contribute to the reports that are to be delivered to the EU Commission aiming at advising and influencing future sustainable EU practices and policies within the fishing industry.’
The Seaglow project is funded by the European Commission via its Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021 to 2027).
