‘Being a fisherman is not just a profession. It is a way of living and thinking, and the contact with them is precisely what makes my work so much fun.’
On a rainy November morning, I spoke via Teams with Amerik Schuitemaker from the Dutch Fishermen’s Association for this newsletter. As a project employee and MT member, Amerik is involved in numerous topics affecting the fishing industry: from MSC certification to fish sales, from national and European policy to spatial planning at sea – and also sand extraction.
The Dutch Fishermen’s Association has played an active role in the OR ELSE project since its inception. For Amerik, the research is particularly valuable due to its focus on spatial challenges. The fishing area in the North Sea has been decreasing for years due to factors such as wind farms and protected nature areas, and sand extraction will play an increasingly important role in the future. The Fishermen’s Association aims to give fishermen a voice in both the research and decision-making on these topics.
“I find it important that the knowledge of fishermen is used,” says Amerik. “They are at sea daily and see changes happening. They experience the impact of deep sand extraction pits, for example, when their fishing gear ends up in such a pit. When designing sand extraction pits, we should therefore not only look at the quality of the sand and the ecological effects but also at the safety and workability for fishermen.”
Fishermen notice, for instance, how currents or sandbanks change due to sand extraction. Sometimes this can be beneficial for fishing, but often it’s not. “Is it related to changes in the seabed composition, the availability of food, or the current?” Amerik wonders. “It would be great if OR ELSE could map out these processes better. We could then use those insights for future sand extraction projects.”
To achieve this, he emphasizes the importance of collaboration between fishermen and researchers. The observations of fishermen must be included in measurements and analyses. At Amerik’s request, the OR ELSE project team will organize a discussion between fishermen and scientists to facilitate this knowledge exchange.
All OR ELSE stakeholders will recognize that much is overlooked regarding the North Sea. The North Sea is not just a ‘big container of water and sand’: there is much variation and activity. The richness of the North Sea is often overlooked. For Amerik, this richness naturally also lies in the fish. He advocates for Dutch people to eat more local fish. “We export much of our catch, which is a shame. The fresher the fish, the tastier. Dutch people could enjoy more of their own sea.”