The negative impact of bottom trawling on the marine environment as well as local economies and societies has been the focus of several recent studies, with some NGOs calling for: stop practicing completely.
Despite supplying a quarter of the world's seafood, bottom trawl fishing has sparked a long-standing debate over its catch. influencedeep sea ecosystem carbon dioxide emission level it generates. NGOs called for the complete elimination of this practice, as well as demands for 2022 to: Replaced by bottom trawling in the EU Fishing gear with low impact.
A Canadian startup is trying to find a middle ground that allows bottom trawling to continue with less negative impact on vital undersea environments.
“I don't think it should be that way. [viewed] As long as it's negative. “Fishers are generally very concerned about the sustainability of their industry, but they don't have the tools to fish differently,” says Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. said Angie Green, chief financial officer of Kutch, a start-up based in . “We're just getting more and more regulated without doing anything to help change that. We feel our solution bridges the gap between both efforts. [ensuring environmental sustainability while protecting fishers’ livelihoods] and help them collaborate. ”
Kutch's solution is the company's pioneering bottom trawl gear designed to reduce fuel consumption, minimize equipment damage and protect the sensitive seabed environment.
The idea for such a project started with Marc d'Entremont, founder and CEO of Katchi. He envisioned a fish capture system that would improve commercial fishing efficiency while eliminating or at least minimizing disturbance to the seabed, thereby reducing costs for fishermen.
With support from Halifax-based Dalhousie University, funding from Canada's Ocean Supercluster, and collaboration with other partners, the system is scheduled for commercial release in 2024.
“[On traditional vessels]Currently, the trawl network has two huge trawl doors that frequently have to be taken to a welding shop for repairs. Then, at a cost of several thousand dollars, it is reattached to the ship and ready to go out again. It will delay your trip. They are expensive and in some cases, trawlers can get stuck on the bottom and lose a large portion of their net system. [of the ocean]” said Green. “[Katchi’s system] Since they do not touch the seabed, costs such as maintenance and fuel consumption are reduced, and environmentally, bycatch is reduced. ”
The innovative bottom trawl fishing gear has …
