Agriculture
Netherlands seeks to reinstate banned pulse fishing on Brussels agenda
Dutch State Secretary Erkens is seeking support from other EU member states to reintroduce pulse fishing, a technique banned in 2019 that primarily affected Dutch fishermen. Acknowledging past mistakes where the Netherlands acted alone and exceeded usage limits, Erkens now aims to build alliances by ensuring scientific validity and shared benefits for other European nations. The method uses electrical pulses to lift flatfish into nets, offering a more sustainable alternative to beam trawling with 50% less fuel consumption and reduced seabed disturbance. A pilot program involving limited vessels and additional research is proposed to rebuild trust and demonstrate environmental advantages.
Ozetta summarises; the reporting is the newsroom's