ECO-CATCH – Sustainable fisheries for the Baltic and North Sea basin

Background and Objective

Fisheries in the North and Baltic Seas face significant challenges: the bycatch of protected species such as marine mammals, seabirds, and demersal fish threatens not only vulnerable ecosystems but also the long-term viability of the fishing industry. Existing mitigation measures are insufficient to meet the targets of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. At the same time, technical solutions for bycatch reduction—ranging from selective fishing gear to digital real-time alert systems—already exist, but are often at low technological readiness or difficult to implement in practice. ECO-CATCH addresses this gap. Funded under the European research and innovation programme Horizon Europe, the project brings together partners from science, fisheries, industry, certification, and civil society. Its aim is to develop and demonstrate market-ready, practical solutions that reduce bycatch, protect sensitive habitats, and support sustainable fishing methods.

ECO-CATCH aims to deliver a technology catalogue of innovative solutions for more sustainable fisheries in the North and Baltic Seas. These solutions follow three development pathways:

1. REFINE – Improving existing fishing techniques

2. REDUCE – Reducing bycatch through new selective technologies

3. REPLACE – Testing alternative fishing methods with a lower ecological footprint

In addition, the project will develop digital tools, AI-supported monitoring systems, and market-ready business models to support technology transfer and increase sector acceptance. ECO-CATCH combines gear development in laboratory settings, field trials with commercial fishers, and economic, ecological, and regulatory assessments.

Approach

The project is structured into nine work packages. The Thünen Institute of Baltic Sea Fisheries is actively involved in four key areas:

WP1 – SMART Bycatch Detection Systems

Development and integration of AI-based detection systems in nets and on board to identify bycatch of protected species and juvenile fish in real time. (Lead: DTU)

WP2 – Habitats (Thünen involved)

Mapping of sensitive habitats in the North and Baltic Seas and conducting a Bycatch and Habitat Risk Assessment (ByHRA). The Thünen Institute leads key analyses on vulnerable species and supports the integration of these findings into gear development and fisheries management strategies.

WP3 – REFINE

Creation of digital decision-support tools for fishers (e.g. "Wheelhouse Visualiser") based on real-time data on catch composition and environmental parameters.

WP4 – REDUCE (Thünen involved)

Development and evaluation of selective gear technologies to avoid bycatch, such as innovative excluders (e.g. KingGrid), modified tickler chains, and visual or acoustic deterrents. The Thünen Institute contributes to real-world validation of these prototypes and documents their effectiveness and usability.

WP5 – REPLACE (Thünen leading)

Testing alternative low-impact and energy-efficient fishing methods, including:

• MicroSeine system for vessels <12 m (coordinated by the Thünen Institute)
• Multi-species traps for crustaceans
• Flatfish pots

The Thünen Institute develops technical prototypes in close cooperation with fishers, conducts field trials in various regions, and documents ecological and economic performance indicators.

WP6 – Demonstration (Thünen involved)

Large-scale field testing of the developed technologies in commercial fisheries. The Thünen Institute organizes demonstration trials, collects operational data, and evaluates practical applicability, user acceptance, and environmental performance.

WP7 – Sustainable Commercialisation & Data Toolkit

Preparation of project data for integration into sustainability standards (e.g. MSC) and development of ecological assessment indicators and tools for market uptake.

WP8 – Communication, Education & Knowledge Transfer

Outreach, stakeholder engagement, development of training materials, and international transfer of results to other regions and fisheries.

WP9 – Project Coordination

Project leadership and coordination by the Technical University of Denmark (DTU Aqua).