The new Dutch right-wing coalition government has announced it intends to reintroduce pulse fishing as part of its overarching policy on agriculture, fisheries and food security.

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Dutch to continue pulse research in event of EU ban

The government's long-term plan, published on Sept. 13, stipulates that it intends to restore the controversial practice, which uses an electric pulse to stun flatfish as an alternative to beam trawling but has been officially banned by the EU since June 2021.

"Fisheries involve harvesting sufficient and high-quality food from nature, in balance with the ecological system from healthy waters, seas or oceans," the new government writes.

"That is why we are strongly committed to making the pulse possible again. For this, we will create support in Europe, and we will work on abolishing obstructive EU regulations."

Prior to the ban, the Dutch fishing fleet had originally been granted derogations, allowing it to equip 5% of its fleet with pulse trawls for research purposes. However, the method came under scrutiny in 2017 when it became clear that 84 vessels, or 30% of the Dutch fleet, had begun using the technique.

While advocates of pulse fishing note its far superior catch rate compared to beam trawls and reduced seafloor impact, critics described it as inhumane, citing cases of broken fish spines from the shock, as well as pointing to the lack of understanding of how these electrical currents impacted the growth of juveniles and fish eggs.

Fishermen from other countries also raised concerns at the time that the technique was too efficient at catching fish, describing how areas of the seafloor became lifeless 'deserts' if a pulse trawl had recently passed through.

A study by the pulse research team at Wageningen University in the Netherlands after the resolution to ban the practice was passed in 2019 indicated that the initial loss of capital incurred by the Dutch fleet was in the region of €25 million, or €250,000 - €350,000 per cutter. 

Fishing space, innovation high on agenda

The document also contains statements on how the Dutch fishing fleet can be modernized and fit within the country's broader climate commitments.

"This includes sufficient space to fish in the North Sea where a lot of space is required for wind farms that, in addition to nuclear energy, are needed to make the industry more sustainable (green growth) and to achieve the climate objectives," the government writes. "Possible use of fish fields will be further elaborated in consultation with the sector and other stakeholders."

Moreover, for shrimp fishing, "a voluntary restructuring scheme is being implemented in combination with a vision for the future for those who want to continue."

"This vision for the future will be sent to the House of Representatives in the first quarter of 2025," it says.