GIFS activity 1.2: Case study Arnemuiden

GIFS activity 1.2: Case Study Arnemuiden: If and how coastal governance structures can actually support Inshore Fisheries (and the economics related to that)

Overview and background

The sandy coastline of the Netherlands borders the southern part of the North Sea between Denmark and Belgium. The total length of the Dutch coastline is around 400km, in which three units can be distinguished: the Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt estuary in the SW part, coastal barriers in the central part and the Wadden Islands (Schiermonnikoog, Ameland, Terschelling, Vlieland and Texel) bordering a large tidal flat area in the northern part of the country. Along the coast line, there are five coastal provinces (Zeeland, Zuid-Holland, Noord-Holland, Friesland and Groningen). The Netherlands is part of the top 5 countries with a major role in the European fisheries context with 6,87 % of the total EU production of fish . In 2012 the Dutch fishing fleet consisted of 740 registered vessels, with a combined gross tonnage of 133.7 thousand GT and total power of 286.5 thousand kW. In 2011, the entire fleet realized a fishing effort of 44.8 days at sea. The Dutch fleet landed a total of 261.7 kt. Jack and horse mackerels were the most important species in terms of landed weight. Sole accounted for the highest value of landings (€83 million). Fishing in the Netherlands accounts for 0.3% of the total employment. The Netherlands commercial fishing fleet comprises both sea and coastal fisheries. Coastal fisheries in the Netherlands are mainly cockle fisheries, seed mussel fisheries, oyster cultures and shrimp fisheries in the East and West Schelde, the Grevelingen, the Voordelta and the Wadden Sea . Inshore fisheries was in place in 15 Dutch fishing communities, from Arnemuiden until Zoutkamp. Each of the inshore fishing communities developed a certain specification, together with specific type of fishing vessel .