- Catch of a beamtrawler, Ecomare
Flatfish fisheries
Flatfish catches are the most important source of income for North Sea fishermen with small to medium-sized ships. Plaice and sole are the most important species; however dab, turbot and brill are also caught. The Dutch, German and Belgium cutters used to fish primarily with the beam trawler: a drag-net held open with a steel pipe. This method of fishing costs lots of fuel. Since 2008, many cutters have switched to the modern, energy-saving methods. The Danish coastal fleet has been fishing economically much longer, using standing rigging (long nets in which the flatfish get tangled) or anchor seining.
- Dutch flatfish fishermen having problems
- Plaice, foto fitis, sytske dijksen
Due to the high oil prices, many flatfish fishermen are pessimistic about their future. Others are looking at technical solutions to the problem, such other kinds of beam trawl gear or new concepts such as pulse fishing.
Plaice catches form the largest source of income for the Dutch flatfish fleet. The market value of plaice is under pressure since the consumer has the tendency to choose cheaper, often cultivated fish species, such as tilapia. A direct competitor of plaice is the yellow fin sole. This flatfish is caught and cleaned in the Bering Sea, transported in frozen form to China, defrosted and filleted, refrozen and sent per container to European markets. Despite this world trip, a yellow fin sole filet is 40% cheaper than a plaice filet caught in the North Sea.
Therefore, the flatfish sector wants to improve the quality of their fish. The most concrete improvement is catching plaice using twin-trawling gear, an environmentally friendlier fishing method than the traditional beam-trawler. Plaice caught in this way has the MSC mark of quality, issued by the World Wild Foundation.
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