SEAGLOW brings sustainable solutions for small-scale fisheries to Nor-Fishing 2026

How can small fishing vessels cut emissions without compromising their economic viability? This question was at the centre of SEAGLOW’s participation in Nor-Fishing 2026 in Trondheim, Norway.

Project partners SINTEF Ocean and Food & Bio Cluster Denmark presented the solutions being tested by SEAGLOW and spoke directly with fishers about the practical and economic realities of adopting cleaner maritime technologies.

SINTEF delivered two presentations, in Norwegian and English. Both highlighted the important role fish can play in lower-emission food systems, while recognising that further reductions in fossil-fuel consumption are needed across the fishing sector.

From research to real-life demonstrations

The presentations introduced SEAGLOW’s work to improve the energy efficiency and environmental performance of small-scale fishing vessels in the North and Baltic Sea basins.

After outlining the research and stakeholder engagement undertaken during the project’s initial phase, SINTEF presented SEAGLOW’s four demonstration vessels in Denmark, Estonia, Norway and Sweden. The technologies being tested under real operating conditions include hybrid-electric drivetrains, the durable and biocide-free Ecoating® hull coating, and a low-cost sensor system for monitoring vessel operations and fuel consumption.

Particular attention was given to the project’s environmental assessments, including tests of the Ecoating® and measurements of vessel noise. Alongside fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, SEAGLOW is examining how the technologies may help reduce underwater noise and their effects on the marine environment.

Technical performance, however, is only part of the picture. SEAGLOW is also assessing commercialisation, exploitation and economic sustainability. This includes exploring whether solutions such as Ecoating® could be applied to other vessels, interviewing fishers and identifying viable pathways for replication. The aim is to establish not only whether the technologies work, but also whether fishing communities can realistically adopt and benefit from them.

Listening to fishers

Food & Bio Cluster Denmark and SINTEF complemented the presentations by interviewing fishers attending Nor-Fishing. The conversations formed part of SEAGLOW’s regional awareness-raising activities, which engage maritime communities and other stakeholders in assessing the environmental and economic potential of the project’s solutions.

Fishers’ practical knowledge is central to this process. Their feedback helps the project understand which technologies and value propositions could be both workable and economically viable in each pilot region.

One of the main topics discussed was the Norwegian demonstration vessel Anne Katharina. Its conventional biocide-based antifouling paint is being replaced with Ecoating®, intended to maintain vessel efficiency while reducing the release of harmful substances into the marine environment.

The discussions revealed strong interest in environmentally friendlier alternatives to biocidal antifouling paints, provided that they are cost-competitive in everyday use. Participants were particularly interested in the possibility of removing algae growth by cleaning the Ecoating®. This could reduce the time vessels spend in port for cleaning and reapplying conventional antifouling products.

A valuable setting for dialogue

Nor-Fishing proved an excellent setting for SEAGLOW’s regional awareness-raising activities. By bringing together stakeholders from across the value chain, the exhibition created opportunities to share the project’s progress and gather direct feedback from those who could ultimately use its solutions.

The transition towards cleaner small-scale fisheries must be shaped with fishers, not simply developed for them. By combining real-life demonstrations with environmental assessment, economic analysis and active stakeholder participation, SEAGLOW is working to ensure that sustainable maritime solutions are both effective at sea and viable for the communities expected to adopt them.