Faroe Islands seek applications for twin trawl fishing trials

The Faroese government will invite applications for experimental twin-trawl fishing targeting Greenland halibut in deep water and saithe, Kringvarp Føroya reports.

Minister of Fisheries Bárður á Steig Nielsen has approved the call for applications. A trial plan has been drawn up with the Faroese Marine Research Institute, and the trials are expected to begin this autumn if the industry is interested.

The trials are intended to provide enough information to determine whether twin trawling should be permitted under the fishing days system and how the number of fishing days should be adjusted, the minister said in a response to parliamentarian Fía Selma Nielsen.

If twin trawling is approved, the fishing days may need to be recalculated as the industry gains experience with the method, Bárður á Steig Nielsen said.

There is currently no basis for assessing the economic impact of allowing twin trawling. Trawlers eligible to apply for a trial licence must have between 501 and 3,000 horsepower.