Provision of services for the development of off-bottom trawling gear for demersal fish species

Tender description

BIM wishes to invite tenders for the provision of services for the development of off-bottom trawling gear for demersal fish species. A range of European environmental policies are aiming to reduce use of mobile bottom-contacting gears (MBCGs) to protect seabeds and associated habitats. It is clear from these policies that MBCGs are likely to be excluded from large parts of EU waters. Lifting trawl gear off the seabed may be an option for fisheries targeting more off-bottom species such as whiting, haddock and hake. Research in this area is at an early stage but there are examples such as the US Georges Bank haddock fishery where such gears have been tested. The primary purpose of this tender is the development of off-bottom trawling for demersal fish species. Please refer to the enclosed Request for Tender (RFT) for further information.