ECO-CATCH · Sustainable fisheries for the Baltic/North Sea basin

The mitigation options in-use in the Baltic and North Sea fisheries are insufficient to reach EU Biodiversity 2030 bycatch and habitat objectives. Promising technologies and gears are not deployed to scale due to low TRL maturity. ECO-CATCH will deliver a Catalogue of 10 technologies incl. Digital Tools, Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRD) & Alternative Gears to TRL7-8 maturity. Real-time AI-detectors in-trawl & on-vessel will feed decision-grade data into Wheelhouse Visualisers for fishers to optimise catch efficiency & avoid vulnerable habitats. Alternative Gears will offer economically viable options, where BRDs are ineffective.Following a 3yr R&D Phase, Demonstration & Exploitation in yr. 4-5 will showcase the 10 technologies/gears in commercial conditions, integrate the best pilots in existing production lines, and support 4 Pilot fleets with adopting new Business Models.SMEs and Industry Organisations within the consortium will capture the market value of best technologies. Conditions for scalability & replicability of business models to other regions will be supported by streamlining the certification audit process with 4 operational market access schemes. The consortium spans the entire fisheries value chain, from gear manufacturing to R&D tech companies, fish producers & suppliers, and certification schemes. The consortium track record on Government Advice is the first pathway to long-term policy impact. Project outputs will directly empower fishing industry to deliver to EU Green Deal target on “protect 30% of EU marine areas to reverse biodiversity loss”, and support UN SDG Target 14.4 on “regulate destructive fishing practices”.ECO-CATCH will Cluster all 3 Sister Projects under the Call, to optimise co-delivery & co-demonstration, and add flexibility to resolve uptake & commercialization bottle necks in project Phase “Demonstration & Exploitation” (years 4-5 of the project).