German shrimp fishermen will stop the use of Dolly Ropes

German fish producer organisations for North Sea shrimp fishing have extensively deliberated and decided to voluntarily abstain from using Dolly Ropes.

Dolly Ropes are thread-like abrasion protection for fishing nets, used to prevent net damage, especially on stony ground and on rocky coasts.

Detached threads from nets equipped with such ropes contribute to the pollution of the marine environment with plastic, and they are commonly found in the wrack line along the seashores. When they appear in the catch of shrimp fishermen, they increase the sorting effort. The producer organisations aim to advocate for a Europe-wide ban on Dolly Ropes.

Captain Dirk Sander says, “In shrimp fishing on flat, sandy surfaces, net abrasion can be prevented in other ways. We want to avoid the nets coming into contact with the seabed anyway, as it only increases drag and fuel costs. And if necessary, abrasion protection can also be achieved with other materials, such as yak leather. It weathers quickly and is environmentally friendly when it wears off or gets lost.”

“Dolly rope is the name for orange or blue plastic threads that are used to protect bottom trawling nets against wear and tear. During fishing operations or maintenance work on the net, threads or bundles of dolly rope threads may end up in the sea. The result is that this material is commonly found along beaches in northern Europe and floating out at sea. This poses a threat to marine wildlife and a safety hazard to marine traffic.” 

Source: The Fishing Daily