Norway spout grate likely to be successful

After various problems during the Norway spout trial fishing, the grate demanded by the Danish authorities seems to be working.

This information is provided by the Chairman of the South West Jutland Fishing Association, Jesper Juul Larsen.

The trial fishing was jointly commissioned by the Danish Fishmeal Association, the Danish fishmeal factories and the Danish Fishing Association and carried out by fisherman and skipper Jens Thorbek of Thyborøn on "Pernille Kim" with Thorvald Børsmose as scientific consultant.

- Getting the grate to work was quite difficult, explains Jesper Juul Larsen. - Among other things, "dead water" was created in the trawl during the first trials and the practical handling of the grate also caused problems. However, all problems now seem to have been overcome and we have learned how to handle the equipment.

- We are therefore very confident and almost ready to say that it works as it should, concludes Jesper Juul Larsen, who adds that an underwater camera has recently been purchased in order to follow exactly what actually happens around the grate during fishing.

At pistol point

- However, it was a close call, he adds. - The grate trials have been going on for three, four, five years without good results until we were held at pistol point by the Danish authorities last year. The clear indication was that we would not be allowed to fish Norway spout unless we use a grate which works as intended.

- It is therefore good to be able to say that we have now developed a grate which we can handle and which effectively separates at least whiting and haddock, while also to a large extent almost all other species from the Norway spout.

However, Jesper Juul Larsen emphasises that there is always room for improvement, why it is important to leave "room for development" in the new government order concerning Norway spout.

He also points out that although the grate is working, this is not the same as getting a quota.

- So far, the recruitment is not looking very promising, so the current advice is that there will be no quota, he says. - However, the advice will be reassessed twice before fishing can hopefully start in September 2012.

TripleNine's Managing Director, Christian Bisgaard, is also pleased that the technical obstacles to Norway spout fishing appear to have been overcome and he very much hopes that this fishing will again be allowed, as it is very important to both TripleNine and the company's suppliers.

- We are almost ready to say that it works as it should, Jesper Juul Larsen concludes.