“We have to start thinking differently when it comes to how we fish. The marine environment is in poor condition and finding more sustainable methods is absolutely necessary,” said 85-year-old Sixten Söderberg.
The son of a fisher, Sixten has spent more than 50 years at sea, watching tides, seasons, and regulations change. Active in the fishing association FF Norden, one of the project partners, and married to a marine biologist, he is used to balancing practical know-how with scientific evidence.
After reading about an innovative project in Iceland that uses light to guide catches into a net, the idea behind this project took shape. In Sixten’s words: “Innovation is the way forward. If we want a future for our fishers and the fishery in general, we need to do something.”
He contacted the Icelandic team and, together with partners in Sweden, began exploring how the method could work in local conditions:
- Sotenäs Municipality is leading the project
- FF Norden represents the fishers who will have to make the gear work on deck and at sea
- Chalmers Industriteknik brings expertise in the blue and circular economy to help ensure that the new gear is both environmentally beneficial and economically viable.
Together, the partners set out a simple but ambitious goal: to maintain viable catches while reducing pressure on the seabed.
How Light-Guided Trawling Works
Instead of dragging fishing gear along the seabed to catch shrimp, the idea is to use lights to guide them up and into the trawl. The aim is that the gear does not touch the bottom, potentially reducing the impact on the seabed as well as wear and tear on equipment.
The light-guided system is also smaller and lighter than conventional trawls and creates less water resistance. The potential gains are twofold: environmental, through reduced bottom impact; and economic, through lower fuel consumption and less wear and tear of the gear.
From Prototype to Practice
Turning a promising idea into something a crew can rely on in the middle of the night requires careful testing. Although inspired by work in Iceland, the prototype must be tailored to Swedish seabed conditions and vessel types.
The partners are working through details that matter at sea: how heavy each light unit must be to stay steady in different currents, how water density and visibility affect the lights and the catch response, and how high above the seabed the gear can run while still catching shrimp.
The process takes time on the water, repeated adjustments, and the willingness to learn from setbacks. The partners are clear that the EU funding made the trials possible. Without support, the cost and risk of building and testing new gear would have been too high.
Looking Ahead
Trials are still ongoing, but if the light-guided trawl performs as hoped, it could offer a practical way to reduce pressure on the seabed while keeping businesses viable.
Sixten remains patient and optimistic: “We need a living ocean. There must be something left for the next generations, and to ensure this, we need to do things differently.”
The project’s blend of experience and evidence could help deliver exactly that: an innovative tool that protects the marine environment, cuts fuel costs, and helps keep coastal communities working.
