ACCELERATOR

At the same time, fishermen can maintain their income.

The project will highlight the entire value chain and focuses on promoting cooperation and innovation across the entire chain – from fishermen to the processing industry and retail. It aims to strengthen commercial relationships and create new opportunities for sustainable products that can be further developed after the project’s completion. Through this collaboration, a shared understanding is being built of the challenges and opportunities in bottom trawl fisheries, and efforts are being made to find solutions that can benefit both the environment and the fishing industry. The project is supported by the EU and involves actors such as DTU Aqua, the Danish Fishermen’s Producer Organization, and several other stakeholders from the fisheries and food industries.

In the primary sector, the project focuses on improving equipment and methods to ensure both animal welfare and environmental considerations are addressed, without compromising the catch value. New trawl modifications and equipment are being developed, for example, to catch fish more selectively, reduce bycatch, and minimize the impact on the seabed. The project is also working on methods to make fishing more energy-efficient, thus reducing fuel consumption.

Funding
The project is co-financed by the EU through the Danish maritime, fisheries, and aquaculture program (EMFAF). It is led by the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and involves participation from the Danish Ocean Cluster (DOC) as well as the Danish Fishermen’s Producer Organization (DFPO). The research spans several areas, including fishing technology, marine populations and ecosystem dynamics, and observation technology. This collaboration provides the opportunity to develop innovative solutions that can promote sustainability in bottom trawl fisheries, while supporting the growth of the maritime and fisheries industries.