Belgian fishers to help scientists collect data on fish stocks

Belgian fishers will help collect data on fish species in the North Sea as part of a new research project by the Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO).

The plan was announced on Wednesday by Flemish fisheries minister Hilde Crevits at the signing of a new agreement on sustainable fishing in Ostend. For the first time, fishers are at the centre of the deal.

The fourth agreement, called ‘Fishers at the Helm Towards Innovation’, aims to give fishers a bigger role in shaping the future of the sector. It also seeks closer cooperation between scientists and fishers and less paperwork for the industry.

Under the ILVO project, fishers will carry a device on board their vessels that takes water samples. Scientists can then see which fish species are present and where. This allows data to be collected more often and made available more quickly.

The information will help set fishing quotas based on up-to-date and reliable science. The system can also detect species not seen in traditional catch data. Researchers have already found more sardines in the North Sea than official catch figures suggest.

Two Belgian vessels are already taking part. An action plan to cut red tape is also being prepared with the sector.

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