Ecological Impact Study of Pulse Trawling off Ramsgate, 2018-19

A 2018/19 survey conducted as part of the UK's Fisheries Science Partnership programme, funded by Defra. The project aimed to assess the effects of pulse trawl technology used by Dutch beam trawlers on fishing grounds off the English east coast near Ramsgate. The work involved collaboration between UK fishermen and scientists, focusing on reported observations of detrimental impacts.

Use Cases

• Assessing the localized ecological impact of pulse trawling based on survey data from a reported hotspot.
• Analyzing potential changes in fish populations, such as common sole (Solea solea), in relation to fishing gear technology.
• Studying collaborative science models based on the co-commissioning framework between industry and researchers.
• Investigating spatial patterns of fishing pressure based on the identified area beyond 12 nautical miles off Ramsgate.

Strengths

• Data originates from a collaborative, government-funded scientific programme (Fisheries Science Partnership) established in 2003.
• Focuses on a specific, reported environmental concern in a defined geographic area (off Ramsgate, English east coast).
• Involves direct input and observations from the local fishing industry, providing ground-level context.

Limitations

• Row count, column definitions, and file formats are unknown, which limits suitability assessment.
• The description notes a perceived reduction in sole catches was not addressed in the report, indicating a potential data gap.
• Last update date and license information are unknown; freshness and reuse terms are unverified.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries Science Partnership (FSP), a Defra-funded programme.

Collection Method

A collaborative scientific survey involving UK fishermen and scientists.

Time Range

2018-2019

Freshness

Data collection occurred in 2018/19; last update status is unknown.

Geography

Fishing grounds off the English east coast, near the Port of Ramsgate, beyond 12 nautical miles.