Fishermen in La Turballe Port express their lingering fears and doubts: 'We've been villainized for decades'
Swinging Pendulums of Iron: Modern Fishing in the Bay of Biscay
The deck of the Magayant, a trawler sailing the Bay of Biscay, becomes a bustling space at dawn, as three sailors scramble to pour out the catch of the night. On this particular April morning, the catch is lackluster—180 kilograms of hake and half the usual number of mackerel, as opposed to the usual haul requiring multiple rounds of fishing.
David Le Huche, a seasoned sailor with over two decades at sea, already feels the lackluster catch in the numbers. "It's not our big season," he says, "Here, we just keep the pot boiling."
The captain of the Magayant, Anthony Le Huche, shares his cousin's assessment, flanked by his sons Roman and Théo, as well as the apprentice Loan. From his command post, a glassed-in cockpit, Anthony records their catches in an electronic logbook. Despite the average night's take, he remains philosophical, "It's fishing."
The Struggles of a Struggling Profession
The fishing industry faces numerous challenges, as the Magayant and its crew experience firsthand. The Bay of Biscay,, this vast maritime territory, is no exception to the economic, environmental, and technological pressures weighing down on the industry worldwide.
Environmental Turmoil
The environmental pressures faced by this region include climate change's impact on fish stocks and the environmental conditions for fishing operations. Additionally, there's the need to minimize bycatch of non-target species like sea turtles and cetaceans.
Economic Challenges
High fuel prices increase operational costs for the vessels, impacting profitability. Strict regulations and monitoring of fishing practices require additional resources and adjustments from fishermen.
Technological Struggles
Investment and training are needed to adopt new technologies like AI and machine vision to improve efficiencies and sustainability. The sector is also shifting towards digitalization, which can improve traceability, but poses challenges in implementing and maintaining these systems.
Operational Efficiencies
Reducing fuel consumption and optimizing routes, while helping the environment, also lowers operational costs. Effective management of fish stocks and real-time monitoring of catches are crucial for sustainable fishing practices.
These challenges batter the industry, but adjustments, innovations, and concerted efforts hold the promise of a more sustainable and profitable future for fishing operations like the Magayant.
- The fishing industry, as demonstrated by the Magayant and its crew, encounters various challenges, including the environmental turmoil imposed by the Bay of Biscay, economic difficulties, and technological hurdles.
- In this maritime territory, environmental challenges range from the effects of climate change on fish stocks and environmental conditions for fishing operations, to the conservation of non-target species like sea turtles and cetaceans.
- Economic pressures against the industry consist of high fuel prices escalating operational costs, stringent regulations and monitoring of fishing practices, and the need for investment and training to adopt modern technologies like AI and machine vision.
- As the sector continues its digital shift, the Magayant and similar operations grapple with challenges in implementing and maintaining digital systems aimed at improving traceability and enhancing efficiency and sustainability.
