Is there a way out for the beam trawler fleet with rising fuel prices?
Depestele, J.; Polet, H.; Stouten, H.; Van Craeynest, K.; Vanderperren, E.; Verschueren, B. (2007). Is there a way out for the beam trawler fleet with rising fuel prices? CM Documents - ICES, CM 2007(M:06). ICES: Copenhagen. 13 pp.
Part of: ICES CM Documents - ICES. ICES: Copenhagen. ISSN 1015-4744
Beam trawling is a very intensive fishing method with very high consumption of fuel and materials like steel and netting. The steeply rising prices of these basic materials weigh heavily on the net financial result of the vessel owners. The observation that between 30 and 50% of the gross revenue of beam trawlers goes to fuel indicates that measures are necessary to reduce this cost.In the short term, it is possible to reduce the fuel consumption of beam trawlers by some simple and often cheap measures. In the medium term, a switch of fishing gear on the same vessel can be a way out to let the vessel owner continue his fishing company and earn sufficient income to allow future investment in a more sustainable fishery.This paper describes the measures that have been taken and the plans for the near future to keep the beam trawl fishery profitable in the short to medium term.
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