Nathalie Steins and Marloes Kraan (CIBBRiNA)
Abstract.
For decades, the challenge of increasing the selectivity of fishing gear has been at the forefront of efforts to make fishing more sustainable. Despite proven innovations, voluntary uptake of selective gear has remained low globally, even after the introduction of stricter regulations like the EU’s landing obligation. Our recent study of the Dutch demersal fishery sheds new light on this issue, revealing that decisions to adopt selective gear are influenced not just by technical ability but also by complex social and policy-related factors.
In this presentation, we will explore:
- The two key drivers of voluntary uptake: Willingness and Ability
- How intrinsic motivations, beliefs about sustainability, perceptions of fairness, and policy legitimacy shape fishers’ decisions
- Why focusing only on the technical ability to use selective gear may not drive real change
- Recommendations for encouraging more selective and sustainable fisheries
