News
April 2012
Invitations have been sent out worldwide to attend the Training Course in Trawl Technology 2012. It will take place in Hirtshals making good use of the facilities at the North Sea Science Park, especially the flume tank. Since 1999 about 100 people from all over the world have attended and many are still using the knowledge they brought back. CATch-Fish is again the organizer, and have - like in 2010 - asked Mike Montgommerie from SEAFISH, UK, to join in as organizer and instructor. Look here for
programme and registration.
March 2012
In 2010 CATch-Fish was invited to sit in the Technical Committee for the e-Fishing conference in Vigo. This year the second edition of E-Fishing 2012 in May will be devoted to the study of energy efficiency in the fishing world. This symposium aims to continue being a forum where experts will present the latest advances in research and development aimed at improving the energy efficiency of fishing vessels and systems.
This year professionals will gather again at this international forum, attending presentations made by scientists from prestigious research institutes in the field of eco-efficiency in fisheries. CATch-Fish will - together with Gemba Seafood Consulting - present the amazing results from the energy study in the Baltic. See more at
e-Fishing homepage
February 2012
The project "Efficient and low impact gear in the Danish fishery for Industrial species" had a flying start this month.The vessel "Lonny Hedvig" from Thyborøn tested the Dyneema warps, new trawls and flying doors on a one-day trip out in the North Sea. The trials were very successful and it is now hoped that the sand-eel quota is going to be large, so the fsihing capacity og the new rig can be tested thoroughly.
January 2012
In Thyborøn at the West coast of Jutland, two new projects have been started. The team behind are virtually the same companies and institutes as in the project "Energy Efficiency in Fisheries" in the Baltic. In both CATch-Fish have been involved in the trawl design and general set-up of the projects. One project aims at demonstrating that BAT (Best Available Technology) can reduce the burden of ever rising fuel expenses on a traditional trawler targeting round-fish.
The other project aims at demonstrating that it is possible to perform a bottom trawl fishery without having the doors on the seabed, and with a strongly reduced bottom contact from the rest of the trawl.
November 2011
The big project "Energy Efficiency in Fisheries" is coming to an end. For almost a year the Baltic trawler "Katrine Kim" of Nexø have been fishing with a completely changed set of bottom trawls: towing warps, bridles, and trawl netting all made from Dyneema; T90 in belly and intire codend; flying doors - that is pelagic doors off the bottom, while trawls remain on the bottom. The results are truly amazing: 35% less fuel consumption per kilo of catch, a payback time of less than 12 months, and a return on the investment of 300% p.a. CATch-Fish contributed to the trawl design. The results have been published in Fishing News International, December 2011, and in Fiskeritidende (in Danish), Nov. 24, 2011. The complete report can also be requested by contacting CATch-Fish.
October 2011
During the DanFish fisheries exhibition, held in Aalborg 12 - 14 October, CATch-Fish was given the task of organizing the miniseminars. The organisors behind the exhibition did not want to hold a one or two day seminar, which would draw visitors away from the exibition for longer periods, but instead offer a wide range of informative miniseminars to the visitors lasting less than an hour. The initiative was well received.
September 2011
As part of the project "Energy Efficiency in Fisheries" CATch-Fish took part in a trip with the Baltic trawler "Katrine Kim" from Nexø. The aim was to get some underwater footage of the performance of the fishing gear. Through good contacts to JT Electric from Faroe Islands making the new
TrawlCamera is became possible to test the camera on the new trawls. For two days footage was collected especially on the performance of the codend made entirely from T90 and the bottom contact of the bosom of the footrope. Note on the picture the open T90 meshes and the big cross-section area at the entrance to the codend.
May 2011
FAO in Rome have asked CATch-Fish to update the Danish Country Profile for fisheries in Denmark. Another exciting project is that DanFish 2011 - the big exhibition in Aalborg this year - have asked me to organise a number of mini seminars during the three days.
March 2011
February and March was used to investigate the fishing activities in parts of the North Sea for DONG E&P, Subsea Tech. Two new pipelines are planned and during the construction phase they will for a short period remain unprotected on the sea bed.
February 2011
The Regional Advisory Council (RAC) for the Baltic have invited to a seminar on the prospects for the coming management plan for the Baltic with a special focus on a ban on discards. CATch-Fish have been invited to give a speech on the project "Energy Efficiency in Fisheries" because this project have close ties to the management of fish stocks in a very innovative way: The Danish authorities agreed that no technical measures should apply, as all catch and discard are real-time monitored by several cameras mounted on board.
January 2011
One of Europes large rope- and netting manufacturers, Euronete, have asked CATch-Fish to upgrade their sales and production staff. Therefore in the end of the month I will go to Oporto, Portugal, to present my view on where the modern fishing industry is heading.
December 2010
CATch-Fish have been asked to contribute to an external evaluation of the scientific performance of Marine Institute in Bergen, Norway. The project have been granted to Oxford Research AS. The major part of the work takes place during 2011.
November 2010
The big event of November is "Energy Use in Fisheries", a conference taking place in Seattle this month. It is probably fair to say that it is the fisheries conference of the decade - at least it addresses very urgent problems for the industry. I have been asked by Fishing News International to present a report of the conference. It will appear in the January issue.
October 2010
19 very serious people showed up for the one-week training in trawl technology. From all over the world came skippers, fleet managers, service industry people, biologists and technologists. One week later they returned to New Zealand, South Africa, USA, Canada and several places in Europe, all in all they were representing 11 different countries. It was a great experience for Mike Montgommerie of SEAFISH, UK, and Ulrik Jes Hansen, the two instructors.
September 2010
The list of participants for this years International Training Course in Trawl Technology 2010 October 24th - 29th has reached a length so that we can proceed as planned. Should you wish to join the truly international group it is still possible to sign up. Look at
Program for ITC 2010 or contact through
Ulriks e-mail
August 2010
A very important conference is coming up:
Energy use in Fisheries.
It takes place in Seattle, Washington, US. Here is how the conference desribes the background: "Energy costs continue to be a critical concern for those involved in the wild capture and production of fish. Increases in the global demand for energy, particularly petroleum based energy products, have led to large price fluctuations in energy costs. These price fluctuations have negatively impacted commercial and recreational fishing activities. It is unlikely that fuel prices will remain low as the global economy recovers from the present recession. As a result, long term solutions to resolve increased energy costs in fisheries need to be considered and developed."
July 2010
CATch-Fish have been invited by the consulting company GEMBA to participate with trawl gear expertice to a demonstration project in the Baltic Sea. The project is partly funded by EU fisheries Fund.
The project will try to apply "best available practice" when it comes to energy savings in trawl fishing. A small cod trawler from the Baltic have been selected and will be given an energy audit and the identified saving potential will be mitigated. It will then be equipped with fishing gear, which have been optimized for lowest possible drag. On top of that the boat and gear will then be operated in practical fishing in ways which is known to reduce fuel consumption.
The practical tests are planned for the autumn of this year.
June 2010
The spring is normally the time to meet for the fishing gear technologist of much of the world. This year the meeting of the Fishing Gear and Fish Behaviour Working Group of the International Council for Exploration of the Seas (in short FTFB WG of ICES!) met in Copenhagen for almost five days in early June. Splendid weather could not disturb the participants, but - admittedly - added to the pleasure of the lunch break at the harbourfront of Copenhagen.
For the commercial fleet the topics of most interest are probably the increasing interest from the research side on seine fisheries - Anchor fishing (also called Danish seining) and Fly Shooting (Scottish seining). Many fishermen all over the world have focussed on these efficient methods which also known for saving energy and providing a good quality catch. All parameters of big interest
April 14 2010 - Two new training courses
Invitations have just been sent to a lot of addresses all over the world to participate in a training course in trawl technology arranged by CATch-Fish and SEAFISH, UK, in Hirtshals, Denmark. The venue is the North Sea Science Park and the flume tank housed there and managed by SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture. Look for more information on this website under
Training.
Please note that these courses were previously handled by SINTEF but are now issued by CATch-Fish. They have been held since 1999.
April 2010 - Basic Trawl Technology
While I worked in New Zealand for Seafood Industry Council I was asked to help produce a set of training DVD's picturing basic trawl technology. The project was managed by Seafood Industry Training Organisation, SITO. The outcome was two DVD's titled "Design and Construction of Trawls" and Operation and Rigging of Trawls".
You can find more information about the double DVD at
SITOs website and order your own copy. You can also read a review in Fishing News International April 2010.
Invitations have been sent out worldwide to attend the Training Course in Trawl Technology 2012. It will take place in Hirtshals making good use of the facilities at the North Sea Science Park, especially the flume tank. Since 1999 about 100 people from all over the world have attended and many are still using the knowledge they brought back. CATch-Fish is again the organizer, and have - like in 2010 - asked Mike Montgommerie from SEAFISH, UK, to join in as organizer and instructor. Look here for
programme and registration.
March 2012
In 2010 CATch-Fish was invited to sit in the technical committee for the e-Fishing conference in Vigo. This year the second edition of E-Fishing 2012 in May will be devoted to the study of energy efficiency in the fishing world. This symposium aims to continue being a forum where experts will present the latest advances in research and development aimed at improving the energy efficiency of fishing vessels and systems.
This year will gather at this international forum, presentations made by scientists from prestigious research institutes in the field of eco-efficiency in fisheries. CATch-Fish will - together with Gemba Seafood Consulting - present the amazing results from the energy study in the Baltic. See more at
e-Fishing homepage
January 2012
In Thyborøn at the West coast of Jutland, two new projects have been started. The team behind are virtually the same companies and institutes as in the project "Energy Efficiency in Fisheries" in the Baltic. In both CATch-Fish have been involved in the trawl design and general set-up of the projects. One project aims at demonstrating that BAT (Best Available Technology) can reduce the burden of ever rising fuel expenses on a traditional trawler targeting round-fish.
The other project aims at demonstrating that it is possible to perform a bottom trawl fishery without having the doors on the seabed, and with a strongly reduced bottom contact from the rest of the trawl.
November 2011
The big project "Energy Efficiency in Fisheries" is coming to an end. For almost a year the Baltic trawler "Katrine Kim" of Nexø have been fishing with a completely changed set of bottom trawls: towing warps, bridles, and trawl netting all made from Dyneema; T90 in belly and intire codend; flying doors - that is pelagic doors off the bottom, while trawls remain on the bottom. The results are truly amazing: 35% less fuel consumption per kilo of catch, a payback time of less than 12 months, and a return on the investment of 300% p.a. CATch-Fish contributed to the trawl design. The results have been published in Fishing News International, December 2011, and in Fiskeritidende (in Danish), Nov. 24, 2011. The complete report can also be requested by contacting CATch-Fish.
March 2010 - e-Fishing conference in Vigo
I have been involved in the fisheries conference May 18 - 20 in Vigo, Spain,
e-Fishing as member of the Technical Committee. Therefore I have had the priviledge to read the contributions in advance. I am glad to say they are very good and there is a whealth of information to be harvested. I would therefore use this place to recommend this event to anyone interested in fisheries development and especially possibilities for reduce energy consumption from fishing vessels and fishing gear. See all the details on the conference
website.
March 2010 - New feature
This is a new section of this website. I will try to catch (!) up with different new developments from my world and at the same time relevant for this website.
