Duration:  October 24 to November 3, 2024

Cruise area:  North Sea (commercial shrimp fishing areas in Germany)

Purpose:  Test of the "KingGrid" sorting grid

The Thünen Institute has recently developed the innovative sorting grid concept "KingGrid", which potentially improves the ecological and economic sustainability of the beam trawl fishery for North Sea prawns (Crangon crangon) in the North Sea.

The sea trials conducted during the 820th voyage of the Solea in 2023 showed that the new "KingGrid" has a high sorting efficiency, robustness and easy handling during fishing operations. However, in order to prove the potential of the new sorting device for commercial use, it is necessary to directly compare the performance of the "KingGrid" with the sieve net traditionally used in commercial fishing. Therefore, the 841st voyage of the Solea will for the first time compare the sorting and application characteristics of the "KingGrid" in three different configurations with the traditional sieve net.

The tests are based on a catch comparison method in which a trawl equipped with the "KingGrid" is used in parallel with a trawl equipped with a traditional sieve net. The resulting catches are analysed separately and compared afterwards. Furthermore, practical challenges arising from the use of the respective selection devices are recorded, quantified and evaluated. The research planned for the 841st voyage of the Solea is seen as a necessary step for the future transfer and testing of the "KingGrid" in commercial fisheries.