2.8 



NETHERLANDS 



The Dutch operate some of the largest fishing vessels in the world, including 1 3 super-seiners and stem trawlers 

 that can fish anywhere in the world for extended periods of time. Some of these ships have fished off the Falklands, 

 Morocco, Peru, and Argentina. These vessels are all fairly new to the Dutch fleet; the super-trawlers Astrid and 

 Holland were built in 1986. The pelagic super-seiner Cornelis Vrolijk Fzn (at 6,500-GRT) was launched in 1988. 

 It was followed by the Franziska, Dirk Diederik and Zeeland. All are ultra-modem vessels able to catch, freeze, 

 and transport large quantities of fish to distant markets. These Dutch vessels for herring, horse mackerel, mackerel 

 and silver smelt in the North Sea. They are, however, capable of harvesting other species; they have the capacity 

 to fish anywhere in the world. Three Dutch vessels were reflagged in Panama and another 3 vessels in Cypms in 

 1993. 



CONTENTS 



1. General Background 119 



2. Fleet Background 120 



3. Modernization Programs 121 



4. Decommissioning Programs 121 



5. Shipyards 121 



6. Intemational Agreements 122 



7. Fleet Dispersal Plans 122 



Sources 122 



Endnotes 127 



1. General Background 



The Dutch have fished for centuries' and 

 Holland's 15 million citizens enjoy eating seafood and 

 are willing to pay premium prices for fresh fish, 

 shellfish, and other seafood products, although 

 herring is the most prized species in Holland.' 

 Thanks to growing affluence, Dutch per capita 

 consumption of fish and shellfish reached 14.2 

 kilograms in 1990.^ Dutch fishermen landed over 



434,000 tons of fish and shellfish in 1992, making 

 Holland the sixth largest fishing nation in the 

 European Community. Plaice, sole, herring, 

 mackerel, horse mackerel, cod, shrimp, mussels, and 

 cockles are important species harvested by Dutch 

 fishermen. Dutch entrepreneurs export fresh and 

 value-added seafoods to markets around the world; 

 the value of Dutch fishery exports went from $512 

 million in 1980 to $1.4 billion in 1991." Modem 

 fishing vessels, ports, processing plants, and transport 



119 



