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Oceans and fisheries
  • Project

Converting from trawl to seine fishing

A small-scale fisher in France used EU funds to convert from trawling gear to seine to practice more artisanal fishing that respects the environment and the seabed. 

Fishing vessels in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Ciboure, France
©Florence Piot/stock.adobe.com

Imanol Ugartemendia, from the fishing port of Ciboure in the French Basque Country, decided to transform an old 12-meter-long wooden trawler built in 1984 into a small purse seine boat to fish for small pelagic, mainly horse mackerel and sardines. 

The boat's transformation was undertaken with the help of the last local shipyard still working with wood, and a marine architect who carried out a stability study.

EMFF funding was essential in supporting the project and assisting with the transition from trawl to seine.

Results

  • Adaptation of hydraulic system at the front of the boat to pull the seine.
  • Installation of brine tanks (ice and water) to preserve fish.
  • The reduction of horse mackerel and mackerel quotas available to the boat has limited year-round fishing, so the transformation of the boat has not been fully exploited.

Contact

Imanol Ugartemendia

Name
Imanol Ugartemendia
Phone number
+33 6 62 46 11 20