Technical measures and innovative fishing gears

This briefing considers the innovative gears provisions in the European Commission’s proposal for a technical conservation measures framework. Using pulse trawling as a case study, we argue that in order for a gear to be innovative it must have a lower impact on marine ecosystems than conventional gears.

The briefing explains the need for robust scientific evidence demonstrating this lower impact before the use or extension of use of the ‘innovative’ gear can be permitted.