Harvesting zooplankton by bubble flotation

The current proposal outlines a new approach and technology to harvest copepods in the ocean. The project aims to test and build the prototype of a platform for practical use, which is designed to harvest copepods in the size groups where the economically important groups in Norwegian waters are to be found. This skimmer trawl has the potential to greatly reduce negative side effects like by-catch of fish larvae. Further, this approach has great potential to develop an economically robust, environmentally benign, and sustainable fishery on a renewable resource at the base of the food web, within the context of ecosystem based management.