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Dieren en planten

Water en land

Mens en Milieu

Rod and line (fishing) sport   Lugworm fisheries   
Lugworm digging machine and manuel lugworm digging, Foto Fitis, www.fotofitis.nl
© Ecomare

Lugworm fisheries

Every year, around 25 million lugworms are fished up by the four lugworm vessels in the Dutch section of the Wadden Sea. Lugworms are also dug up manually. The annual yield is good for more than ten million euros in turnover. The lugworm is not being threatened by this activity. Only one to two percent of the total stock is fished.

  • Gapers

    From studies of the effects of mechanical lugworm fishing on the tidal bottom, it appeared that lots of sand gapers were also caught. In order to capture the worms, the machines dig down 40 centimeters, which is also where the sand gapers are found. If gapers are brought to the surface, they are usually incapable of digging themselves in again. They then make an easy prey for gulls and crabs.

  • Licenses
    Traces of machinezed lugworm fishery, Foto Fitis, www.fotofitis.nl

    The Nature Protection Act has limited lugworm fisheries to four licenses. The licensed companies have been active since the 1970s. The licenses are not transferable, which means they will eventually become invalid. One of the places where fishing occurs is the Vlakte van Kerken by Texel. Three Wieringen companies were allowed to fish there up till 2007. Although the town of Texel was very much opposed, the Ministry for Food Quality continued to grant permission. After years of bickering, between the town and the ministry, the court in Alkmaar decided to give the municipal designation plan, in which the fisheries is forbidden, the highest status. This made the governmental permission invalid.