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Dieren en planten

Flatfish   Sole   Plaice   

Water en land

Sumwing

Because beam trawl fisheries with heavy tickler chains use an enormous amount of fuel, the fishery sector is open for more cost-efficient alternatives. In 2007, trial runs started with the sumwing, a suspended wing with nets. The fishing gear is much lighter than the beam trawl and is less resistant because there are no heavy shoes needed.The shoes are heavy weights which glide over the sea bottom. This saves up to 11% on fuel. Another advantage is that the bottom is not churned up as much.

Texel pioneers, Texel's name


Sumwing op de kade van Oudeschild, CIV Texel

The sumwing is an invention first experimented with by fishermen on Texel. The device also has a name from Texel. 'Sum' is Texels for penis. The fishermen chose that name based upon the extension piece in the middle of the 'wing'.

  • From experiment to success

    The Texel fishing vessels TX36 and TX38 experimented with the first sumwing prototype in 2007. After various improvements, the technique was ready for wider application in 2009.
    Due to increasingly high ship fuel prices, more and more fishermen put in orders for a set of sumwings. Even southern Dutch and Belgium flatfish fishermen now work with the sumwing. A model has also been developed for smaller vessels and for catching shrimp.

  • The pulse wing
    Pulswing, Ecomare, Pamela Lindeboom

    Besides the shoes, the heavy tickler chains also cause much resistance when fishing. The chains are necessary for frightening the flatfish out of the bottom. It´s also possible to accomplish the same effect using small electric shocks. Instead of tickler chains, hoses with electrodes, so-called pulse wires, are towed over the bottom in front of the net. From the start, it was the intention to eventually replace the tickler chains on the sumwing with pulse wires. The amount of energy saved with this design would be even greater and the damaging impact on the marine life even less.
    In 2009, when the wing had been sufficiently tested and improved, it was time to attach a pulse installation. The TX36 and the SL3 cutters experimented with this method in 2009 and 2010. It was very precise work, since cruising speed, sea current, type of sea floor and the strength of the electric shocks must all be in balance with each other. These conditions are constantly changing at sea.
    But a fisherman who is able to fish with the pulse wing can count on an abundant and clean catch, low fuel costs and a minimum on undesired bycatch. That is the reason why the TX38 and four vessels from the Jaczon shipping company (OD1, OD17, SCH18 en SCH45) are switching over to the pulse wing.

  • Jackwing
    Jackwing, Ecomare, Pamela Lindeboom

    The sumwing can be called a floating trawl. A trawl is a towed net. The jackwing is also a floating trawl, but has a different shape. The V-shape is meant to decrease the resistance and provide a stable floating ability above the sea floor. The technique is still in the prototype stage, but some of the tests have already shown good results.