The Netherlands is taking the European Court of Justice to challenge the pulse fishing ban. According to Minister Schouten (LNV), the EU made various errors in imposing the ban. A legal procedure at the court will take years, and pulse fishermen will have to comply with the ban until then.
Pulse fishing gear delivers small electric shocks that startle fish from the seabed. This year, the European Parliament enacted a ban on pulse fishing. Small-scale fishermen and environmental organizations ran a successful campaign claiming that electric pulse fishing destroys all marine life.
The Netherlands now says the ban violates EU rules. According to The Hague, a new rule may only be introduced after consulting the best available scientific advice. Scientists have advised that pulse fishing is actually better for marine life than older fishing methods. The critics' complaint was precisely that for years the Netherlands issued dozens of pulse licenses under the pretext of âscientific research,â but hardly any research was conducted.
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Dutch Member of the European Parliament Peter van Dalen (Christian Union) fully supports the Dutch legal action. âIt is entirely justified that the Dutch government takes the EU Court action regarding the decision about pulse fishing. Scientists have demonstrated that pulse fishing is a more environmentally friendly, selective (= catches the fish you want to catch: prevents unwanted bycatch), and thus a highly effective fishing technique.â
Whether fishermen will benefit from the lawsuit is uncertain. Half of all pulse fishermen have already had to surrender their pulse gear; the other half must do so within a few years. By then, the procedure at the court probably wonât be completed.