Fishermen ashore due to fuel prices: call for the removal of the pulse ban | Inland

The pulse fishing gear gives small electric pulses that startle flatfish from the seabed and swim in the net. The European Union banned the method last year, after vigorous lobbying by the French. Contrary to scientific reports, the Dutch invention is said to be harmful to marine life.

Due to the ban, Dutch fishermen have to drag heavy chains (beam trawl) over the seabed again. This can quickly lead to a doubling of fuel consumption. Enraged at this competitive advantage, French fishermen turned to the French environmental movement for a successful lobby against pulse fishing.

Dutch MEPs from VVD, CDA, CU and SGP seize the extremely expensive fuel prices to ask Brussels to reconsider the ban on pulse fishing.

“An additional advantage is that the climate goals can be achieved more easily,” says CU MEP Peter van Dalen. His SGP colleague Bert-Jan Ruissen points to the food supply of Europe: “We must prevent that we become dependent on imported fish from distant parts of the world.”

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