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'The marine equivalent of fracking': Europe to legalise controversial pulse fishing

The European Parliament’s fishing committee allowed a motion to pass legalising the controversial technique.

A BRANCH OF the European Union has voted to allow an untested type of fishing that sends electric shocks through the seabed.

The European Parliament fisheries committee decided to allow “electric pulse” fishing to be considered conventional, a move which would allow EU states to licence it like any other type of fishing.

The technique was invented in the Netherlands in 1992, and because of this mostly Dutch ships use the technique.

The fishing method replaces the chains of traditional “beam” trawling with a series of electrical drag wires mounted into the net. The wires send electrical pulses into the seabed which cause the muscles of fish to contract and forces the fish upwards and out of the seabed and into the net.

It’s also been alleged that the practice uses 46% less fuel and reduces the number of areas ships need to go to catch the fish.

The Dutch have remained the biggest advocates of pulse fishing, claiming that it ensures that more of the target species caught, less damage to the seabed and fish that are caught are in better condition.

But critics have raised concerns about the lack of testing the technique has, and called the method destructive and “the marine equivalent of fracking”.

Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Riada, who’s a member of the EP fisheries committee, said that although the technique isn’t used in Ireland, “it’s only a matter of time” if the technique becomes legal.

She says if Dutch ships that use the technique were to fish in Irish waters, the practice would impact on Ireland that way.

As the legislation was passed, it’s likely that the practice will be allowed in Ireland. Ní Riada’s amendment would mean that greater responsibility is given to the local fishermen and fishing organisations on how fishing practices are used.

The Irish Wildlife Trust had urged the committee’s members to resist the measure. In a statement it said:

“The development of industrial electrocution of marine life is a further indicator of chronic overfishing of our waters, which requires ever more destructive modes of capture to target what’s left of fish and invertebrate populations for commercial exploitation.”

Read: Are fisheries the first casualty in a Brexit split between Ireland and the UK?

Read: Ireland calls UK withdrawal from fisheries agreement ‘unhelpful and unwelcome’

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    Mute Paul Horgan
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    Nov 26th 2017, 12:04 PM

    Genuine question : will this not catch all fish in the area no matter the size or species ?

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    Mute Jason
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    Nov 26th 2017, 12:18 PM

    @Paul Horgan: I’d imagine that the problem with it… It virtually strips marine life from an area…

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    Mute Richard Sweeney
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    Nov 26th 2017, 12:18 PM

    @Paul Horgan: My first thought too. If it just stuns the fish temporarily then it seems like a decent method. Otherwise it’s the equivalent of fishing with dynamite.

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    Mute Andy K
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    Nov 26th 2017, 12:26 PM

    @Paul Horgan: I think currently they drag chains over the ground to keep the nets just above the ground. They state that it is less harmful.

    Maybe rather than objecting we should focus on creating a study which shows the impact of this type of fishing.

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    Mute @aidoroch
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    Nov 26th 2017, 12:33 PM

    @Paul Horgan: all commercial net fishing does that Paul. This is a different technique but will do the same thing

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    Mute Frank Dubogovik
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    Nov 26th 2017, 12:52 PM

    @Paul Horgan: yep….everything goes in the net…regardless of species,age etc

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    Mute Jay Coleman
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    Nov 26th 2017, 1:01 PM

    @Paul Horgan: only fish that live on the seabed ie sole,plaice. Its only suitable for those fish and shrimp. Maybe people should read about it before jumping to conclusions.

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    Mute Michael Geraghty
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    Nov 26th 2017, 2:05 PM

    @Andy K: don’t be so logical andy. No place for logic here

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    Mute tismeself
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    Nov 26th 2017, 12:32 PM

    Overfishing is already a huge problem, we could be looking at fishless oceans as soon as 2048. Surely we should be looking into protecting the oceans and fish population, not decreasing it further.

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    Mute gregory
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    Nov 26th 2017, 1:27 PM

    @tismeself: Irish Fishermen have always gotten screwed by the EC/EU. Imagine an Army of German/Dutch/French farmers coming to Ireland with a brigade of combine and potato harvesters to steal our crops? Certainly Irish Fishermen would be better off with IrexiT (Eire leaving the EU). This new technique is guaranteed extermination using technology – they shouldn’t even call it fishing anymore. Fishing is where you go out and based on your skill catch some fish and, many get away to ensure a decent fish population. You could liken it to going hunting with a gun, whereas this technique is the equivalent of dropping a large bomb on the whole forest and you just go around and collect the bodies. Disgraceful.

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    Mute Stewart O Neill
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    Nov 26th 2017, 12:39 PM

    Are’nt our seas already being decimated by trawelers and razor fishing boats. Surely the world is better off without this type of fishing.

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    Mute Aiden Galvin
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    Nov 26th 2017, 12:36 PM

    Well ,the Irish fishermen are about to get screwed again . Pulse fishing should be tested and proven before use. And once the UK cut off their waters to Europe . I’m afraid the whole lot of Europe’s fleet will be off the Irish coast destroying one of our best resources. So all our forgotten fisherman in Ireland ,assume the position don’t forget the Vaseline because your about to get f__k_d..

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    Mute tom McCormack
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    Nov 26th 2017, 12:18 PM

    Irish fisheries will be under pressure after Brexit when all EU countries will be excluded from UK waters.

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    Mute David Dineen
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    Nov 26th 2017, 12:16 PM

    The fish stock is battered enough without adding salt to the wound ..no doubt our English neighbours will scampi over this side and goujon more stocking ,there should be no more Codding on this issue..

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    Mute Franklin Roosevelt
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    Nov 26th 2017, 12:43 PM

    Great.

    So the European Parliament has been just as easily bought off as the US Congress.

    Nothing like big business to grease the wheels of corruption.

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    Mute Tom Kiely
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    Nov 26th 2017, 12:28 PM

    What a disgrace.. the biggest trawler in the world sailed around Ireland for 9 months this year. The same trawler that’s banned from Australian American Chinese waters to name but a few. Europe my back side.. look it up on you tube.. our fishermen are struggling enough do you think many of them could afford such a system?

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    Mute Pat Shine
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    Nov 27th 2017, 8:51 PM

    @Tom Kiely: Was chatting to a Skipper last April in Den Helder, I asked how much the Pulse system cost, he told me about 400k.Fuel cost down 70% Fish catch up.Forget what % But must be good to pay for this Upgrade. In 2012 off Ramsgate in Kent, A EU beamer with pulse, had 20 ton soles for a weeks fishing.A normal Chain Beamer would have 4-6 ton for 10day trip

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    Mute Kieran Graham
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    Nov 26th 2017, 12:40 PM

    Hardly fishing..

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    Mute Eoin Fitzpatrick
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    Nov 26th 2017, 1:43 PM

    I love fish but I would be in favour of a 5 year EU wide ban on fishing of any kind in order to replenish stocks. I’m sure the EU could afford to pay fishermen etc a living wage in the meantime until the ban is over.

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    Mute gregory
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    Nov 26th 2017, 1:48 PM

    @Eoin Fitzpatrick: That is a good initiative. The problem is it seems to me that the EU is all about big business and money, so it won’t happen.

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    Mute Eoin Fitzpatrick
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    Nov 26th 2017, 2:20 PM

    @gregory: I know it will never happen but tough measures like this are required if we are to combat issues like this.

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    Mute Benjamin Dolan
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    Nov 26th 2017, 12:27 PM

    Sounds like animal cruelty,

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Nov 26th 2017, 12:30 PM

    This type of fishing seems very unfair. It would kill all the fish would it not? Like dynamiting fish in a barrel. With no research done it could effect all different species of fish.

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    Mute paddlingAlong
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    Nov 26th 2017, 12:53 PM

    Unbelievable,

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    Mute Liam Dempsey
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    Nov 26th 2017, 12:55 PM

    Don’t know a whole lot about sea fishing but it seems that this method is forcing fish that hide in the sea floor to come out for easy pickings.

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    Mute BlueSkyThinking
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    Nov 26th 2017, 12:47 PM

    Each fishing technique will have its pros and cons environmentally that will depend on the resilience of the specific ecosystem and the life cycle of the affected species. A full study needs to be done to access application of this technology. I would be for a temporary ban (except for research) until we know more.

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    Mute Isthatright
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    Nov 26th 2017, 12:59 PM

    Disgusting decision

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    Mute Brian O Reilly
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    Nov 26th 2017, 1:14 PM

    The gluttony of our species ,knows no bounds.

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    Mute Seán Dillon
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    Nov 26th 2017, 12:30 PM

    Typical humans kill everything.

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    Mute gregory
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    Nov 26th 2017, 1:32 PM

    @Seán Dillon: The Dutch have the largest vessels and they care not a whit – it’s all about money for them and they’ve already emptied the sea near the Netherlands, so they need a new/free fishing ground – Ireland – and a guaranteed haul (using this technology) to reduce their operating costs. This is all about €€€€ but it is morally and ethically indefensible and should be banned. Who gives humans the right to wipe out our Ocean Life??

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Nov 26th 2017, 5:18 PM

    @Seán Dillon: Wipe out everything…

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    Mute Bob McTanned
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    Nov 26th 2017, 12:39 PM

    Will this have any bearing on the price of Donegal Catch?

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    Mute Ronan Gallagher
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    Nov 26th 2017, 12:56 PM

    @Bob McTanned: doubtful because Donegal catch comes from south American fish farms

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    Mute
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    Nov 26th 2017, 1:42 PM

    Mr Burns with the plastic can rings.

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    Mute Chamillionaire
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    Nov 26th 2017, 6:15 PM

    At this stage who really cares about the environment when there’s money to be made ,
    We should just keep our head in the sand about failing crops , fishless seas and climate change , I’ve been told they were all invented by fake scientists to control the population , thanks trump fans for setting me straight when the oxygen starts to run out at least we’ll have money

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Nov 26th 2017, 5:17 PM

    Are fishermen that greedy as they only ones who could use this are the super super trawlers registered in Africa or more likely the amount of fish are at such a low level that it would be insane to fish for them.
    Are we on a verge of not having any fish in the sea as fishing trawlers can only can so much fish. How much damage will this do to other fish in the sea???

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Nov 26th 2017, 5:21 PM

    “Today’s greatest threat is not climate change, not pollution, not flood or fire. It’s that we’ve got people in charge of important s…t who don’t believe in science.”
    Harrison Ford.

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    Mute Finn Mc Cool
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    Nov 26th 2017, 10:06 PM

    In the meantime…the Dutch have proven themselves among the best in all areas of food production. Let us hear from them how this system works before we condemn it.
    Too many emotional type comments here.

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    Mute Georgio Zizek
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    Nov 26th 2017, 12:49 PM

    Sounds good.

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    Mute Misanthrope
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    Nov 26th 2017, 2:23 PM

    Great way of picking up chicks also

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