---
title: "Grīņi Fisheries installs electric engine in Latvia; reduced noise for neighbours"
sdDatePublished: "2026-09-03T10:08:00Z"
source: "https://een.ec.europa.eu/success-stories/small-fish-big-impact-how-grini-fisheries-helping-drive-sustainability-baltic-sea"
topics:
  - name: "environment"
    identifier: "medtop:06000000"
  - name: "renewable energy"
    identifier: "medtop:20000257"
locations:
  - "Latvia"
---


Grīņi Fisheries installs electric engine in Latvia; reduced noise for neighbours

Small fish, big impact – how Grīņi fisheries is helping drive sustainability in the Baltic Sea

Industrial waste, untreated sewage, oil spills, and noise pollution – the Baltic Sea is under threat. One small, family-run fishery is rising to the challenge, showing that giving back to nature is not only possible, but powerful – even for small businesses.

The Baltic Sea is a cradle of biodiversity, home to a remarkable variety of fish, plants, algae, plankton and teeming microscopic organisms. Together these species form a unique interconnected ecosystem. But this balance is under threat - dwindling fish stocks and declining marine life are visible signs that the sea is in trouble. Faced with mounting pollution and a decline in biodiversity, the time for action is now.

Large companies are beginning to shift toward greener energy and sustainable practices to save this rich, natural habitat. Smaller companies, however, need more targeted support. That’s where the Enterprise Europe Network comes in, helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to improve their energy efficiency and environmental impact through EENergy grants.

Dreaming of a more sustainable future

Grīņi Fisheries is one such company – a family-run micro-enterprise passed down through generations and built on tradition. Owner, Jānis Brakovskis, has a vision: a business that not only coexists with nature and actively helps restore it.

Already committed to sustainability – his home runs on solar energy – Brakovskis lacked the resources to make similar upgrades to his fishing operation. His boats still ran on diesel, and he dreamed of a cleaner, quieter alternative.

That dream began to take shape over the course of several inspiring conversations with Ints Vīksna, the director of the Latvian Technological Centre , part of the Enterprise Europe Network. "Those meetings really motivated me to try and put my ideas into practice," said Brakovskis.

For Vīksna, the partnership goes beyond mentorship. "We consider our clients as friends," he said. "We want them to feel supported – not judged – something they do not always get from official institutions."

Brakovskis appreciated the personal approach of Vīksna and his team. They shared a common goal: to supply the local village with fish, sustainably and quietly. Thanks to the Network’s support, Grīņi Fisheries was able to install a new electric engine. "We joked that the biggest beneficiaries were our neighbours," said Brakovskis. "Before, the whole village could hear me heading out to sea at 4.00 am."

It wasn’t just the human neighbours that benefited. The noise of the engines also disturbed the wildlife, and seals would follow the sound in search of fish - resulting in empty nets and tangled lines. This has now stopped and there is nothing but perfect silence.

"One sunny morning, I set out in complete quiet. It was a moving moment – just me, the sea, and nature in harmony," said the fisherman.

For Vīksna, the most rewarding part was watching Brakovskis achieve what once felt out of reach. "It’s always rewarding to see a client surprised by their own success," he said.

But this is just the beginning.

Both men see their collaboration as part of a larger effort to protect the Baltic Sea and support coastal communities.

Brakovskis hopes to receive further guidance, funding, and training through the collaboration with the Latvian Technological Centre for future projects. Vīksna, meanwhile, has gained more than a satisfied client – he has a trusted business partner who will return, and likely refer others.

It’s a partnership built on purpose – and a shared belief that even the smallest fish can help turn the tide.

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