A biological and socioeconomic impact assessment of fishing gears used to catch plaice and sole in the North Sea and an investigation the use of alternative fishing gear which would improve selectivity and improve the sustainability of the fisheries concerned.    

  Large-scale recovery campaigns of lost or abandoned fishing nets will be organized and as much as possible will ghost nets be recovered. Focus is on deep sea areas. Main objective is to estimate the quantity of ghost nets on the seabed.   Why this study?

  This report presents a description of the Community fleet using bottom gears (fishing gears which are in contact with the seabed) on the high seas (waters located beyond national jurisdiction), together with an analysis of its economic and social importance.