European plaice is doing well in the North Sea. The stock of plaice is above the safe biological limits.
A [pulse trawl] is a more selective method than the traditional [beam trawl], but bycatchBycatch:
Species caught next to species targeted for fishery. By-catches can consist of non-commercial species and species that are too small, and can be kept (this part is sometimes called by-product) or thrown back into the sea (discards). is still high and so are the discards. The survivability of these discards is low.
A pulse trawl also has less impactful effects on the seabed than a beam trawl. The effects of the electric pulses on vulnerable species, like rays, are however not fully known.
The management of this fishery level is done at EU-level and a [long-term management plan] for sole and plaice has been adopted. This plan is positive for plaice.
There are measures needed to limit the bycatch and environmental effects.