Seaglow Innovation Project Advances Small-Scale Fishers Energy Transition
The European Union has placed the energy transition of fisheries and aquaculture high on its policy agenda, driven by soaring fuel costs and the sector’s long-standing dependence on fossil fuels.
Those vulnerabilities were exposed sharply during the recent energy crisis, when fuel price volatility placed acute financial strain on fishing operations across Europe.
For small-scale fisheries, however, the transition presents distinct challenges. New propulsion technologies, vessel adaptations and regulatory constraints often carry disproportionate costs for smaller operators, many of whom already face narrow margins and limited access to capital. This has heightened concerns that, without targeted support, small-scale fleets risk being left behind as decarbonisation accelerates.
Against this backdrop, the Seaglow project was launched to explore how emissions from small-scale fishing vessels can be reduced through practical, vessel-specific retrofits, while ensuring fishers remain involved in shaping the policies that will affect their future.
“The goal goes beyond technological development alone,” said Claudia Orlandini, representing the Low Impact Fishers of Europe, a partner in the Seaglow consortium. “It is equally about ensuring small-scale fishers have a voice in EU-level discussions about the future of their sector. Without their direct participation, the energy transition risks overlooking the realities on the ground.”
An EU-Funded Initiative Under Horizon Europe
Seaglow is an EU-funded Horizon Europe project aimed at reducing fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from small-scale fishing vessels operating in the Baltic Sea and North Sea basins.
The project is built around six demonstrators, consisting of four small-scale fishing vessels and two supporting technologies: an ecological hull coating known as E-coating, and a fuel-monitoring and behaviour-analysis system called SIMUL.
Seaglow also contributes to the EU Mission Ocean and Waters, an EU-wide initiative designed to improve coordination between research and innovation projects working to protect and restore the health of Europe’s oceans, seas, rivers and lakes by 2030.
Objectives Focused on Practical Solutions
The core objective of Seaglow is to test, compare and refine low-carbon and energy-efficient technologies that can reduce the environmental impact of small-scale fishing boats without compromising safety or operational reliability.
Technologies under evaluation include hybrid electric drivetrains, polymer-based anti-fouling coatings designed to reduce hull drag, and low-cost permanent sensors intended to influence fuel-efficient sailing behaviour. The project also examines how combinations of these technologies perform when deployed together under real fishing conditions.
Measuring Performance at Sea
A central element of the project is its emphasis on data collection. Sensor systems installed on participating vessels record fuel consumption, emissions, engine performance and operational efficiency over time.
This data-driven approach is intended to move the discussion beyond modelling and assumptions, providing evidence of what works in practice for small-scale vessels operating in commercial fisheries. The findings are expected to inform short, medium and long-term pathways for decarbonisation within the small-scale segment of the fleet.
Project Structure and Timeline
The Seaglow consortium brings together sixteen partners from the European Union, Norway and Thailand and is coordinated by the North Denmark EU Office. Partners include research institutions, harbours, small and medium-sized enterprises specialising in coatings, and fishers organisations.
The project which runs for 48 months, concludes in April 2028.
Pilot Vessels Across Northern Europe
Four small-scale fishing vessels are participating in pilot demonstrations in Denmark, Estonia, Norway and Sweden. These vessels are undergoing multi-season testing under normal fishing operations, allowing the project to assess performance across different fisheries, seasons and operating conditions.
In addition to vessel retrofits, the E-coating and SIMUL technologies are being deployed to evaluate their individual and combined contributions to fuel efficiency and emissions reduction.
Technical Validation and Early Results
The Danish Technological Institute (DTI), a technology partner in the consortium, said that decisions on which solutions to pursue are guided by proven technical performance and operational reliability.
The focus is on reducing CO₂, NOₓ and noise emissions through hybrid and alternative propulsion systems, energy storage solutions and environmentally friendly surface treatments, with potential benefits both for environmental performance and onboard working conditions.
“Results achieved so far show that these solutions are already viable under operational conditions,” said Kim Winther, Senior Specialist at DTI. “For three of the four pilot vessels, tailored retrofit concepts have been developed and validated through simulation and technical design, demonstrating that fossil fuel consumption can be significantly reduced without compromising safety, range or reliability.”
Alignment With EU Energy Transition Policy
Seaglow’s work feeds directly into the EU’s broader Energy Transition Roadmap for fisheries and aquaculture. By grounding its findings in real-world operations, the project contributes evidence to support policy development around retrofit pathways, technology uptake and regulatory adaptation.
The project’s focus on practical constraints faced by small-scale fishers, including vessel size, cost limitations and operational flexibility, aligns with ongoing EU efforts to develop differentiated approaches for fleets of different scales.
Multidisciplinary Collaboration
Across the consortium, Seaglow partners are applying a multidisciplinary approach that combines engineering, fisheries science, economics and policy analysis.
Small-scale fishing vessels are being retrofitted with new engines and innovative technologies while continuing to operate commercially. In parallel, SIMUL systems monitor consumption patterns, and hulls are treated with E-coating, an ecological surface treatment designed not to release harmful substances into the marine environment. All activities are funded through the Horizon Europe programme.
Argo Mengel, Estonian boat owner
Estonian boat owner, Argo tells us why he decided to take part in the Seaglow Project
Allan Vestergaard, Danish boat owner
Fishing from Hanstholm Port boat owner Allan Vestergaard and his vessel T 247 Ester
Allan Vestergaard, a Danish fisher with more than 30 years of experience, owns and operates the 10-metre vessel T 247 Ester, one of the boats participating in the Seaglow project.
Operating from Hanstholm Port on the north-western coast of Jutland, Vestergaard fishes for cod, haddock and hake using longlines and gillnets. His vessel typically consumes around 100 litres of fuel per trip and accumulates approximately 1,700 engine hours per year.
Ester has been selected as a test platform for a plug-in parallel hybrid drivetrain, combined with biocide-free eco-coating, fuel-monitoring systems and custom hydrofoils. The retrofit is scheduled for autumn 2026, after which Seaglow will begin collecting operational data from everyday fishing activity.
Vestergaard said fishers recognise the need to adapt to the green transition and the introduction of CO₂ taxation, but economic pressure, fluctuating quotas and regulatory complexity often make it difficult to prioritise investment in new technologies.
He described Seaglow as valuable because it delivers practical testing rather than theoretical modelling, offering fishers clearer insight into costs, performance and barriers to adoption. He also noted that fishers bear the greatest financial risk when retrofitting vessels and require safeguards to protect against lost fishing time or depreciation.
Vestergaard expects fuel savings of around 20–30 per cent once the hybrid system is installed, alongside reduced emissions when operating on HVO diesel. He also highlighted improvements to onboard working conditions, particularly reduced noise during deck operations when running on electric power.
However, he cautioned that greener fuels remain more expensive, limiting short-term economic benefits. He added that alternative fuels require additional onboard space and power, and that current EU rules governing tonnage and kilowatts restrict progress for many vessels.
According to Vestergaard, a meaningful green transition for medium-sized and larger vessels will require coordinated changes to regulation, technology design and fuel infrastructure.
The European Commission will host its second high-level conference on the energy transition of fisheries and aquaculture on 17 February 2026 in Brussels. Titled “Navigating Change: Towards the Energy Transition in the EU Fisheries and Aquaculture”, the event forms part of the Energy Transition Partnership and follows the Commission’s 2023 Communication on the sector.
Focus of the Conference
The conference aims to consolidate recommendations gathered during two years of stakeholder consultations and contribute to the development of the forthcoming Energy Transition Roadmap. The stated objective is to move the sector towards a competitive and greenhouse-gas-neutral future while maintaining economic viability.
Broad Institutional Participation
Participants are expected to include representatives from the European Commission, the European Council, the European Parliament, Member States, fisheries organisations, industry bodies and other stakeholders, making the event a key forum for shaping the next phase of the transition.
Strategic Themes Under Discussion
Agenda topics include the deployment of energy-efficient technologies, the adoption of alternative low-carbon fuels, vessel renewal and retrofit pathways, and improvements in operational energy efficiency. These themes are closely aligned with the EU’s wider climate neutrality and decarbonisation objectives.
