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Sustainable fisheries for the Baltic/North Sea basin
Project
Project code: TI-OF-23-OF-2026-2865
Contract period: 01.06.2026
- 31.05.2030
Purpose of research: Applied research
Keywords: oceans, fishery, technological development, fishing structure, farming, ocean ecosystems, monioring
A European innovation project to reduce bycatch and protect marine habitats
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: REFINE – Improving existing fishing techniques REDUCE – Reducing bycatch through new selective technologies 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.
Section overview
Subjects
- Marine fisheries
- Agroecology
- Mariculture
