changing the groundgear
to reduce the capture of small flatfish in a Nephrops trawl
Target species:
Nephrops and mixed round and flatfish
Area, Vessel
24 twin trawl catch comparison hauls were carried out in the North Sea on board the Zenith BF106 (671 HP).
Nephrops and mixed round and flatfish
Area, Vessel
24 twin trawl catch comparison hauls were carried out in the North Sea on board the Zenith BF106 (671 HP).
Gear type:
twin trawl
Gear modification
The catching performance of a low headline ‘Letterbox’ trawl with 200mm spherical bobbins in the 15m centre section of the groungear is compared with a similar gear with 200mm rockhopper discs in the centre section.
twin trawl
Gear modification
The catching performance of a low headline ‘Letterbox’ trawl with 200mm spherical bobbins in the 15m centre section of the groungear is compared with a similar gear with 200mm rockhopper discs in the centre section.
Results:
Using the spherical bobbins reduced the catches of flatfish species. This was length dependent and smaller flatfish were less likely to be retained than larger ones. For plaice and lemon sole there were greater catches of the larger individuals.
Using the spherical bobbins reduced the catches of flatfish species. This was length dependent and smaller flatfish were less likely to be retained than larger ones. For plaice and lemon sole there were greater catches of the larger individuals.
Further information:
Matt Kinghorn mathew.kinghorn@gov.scot
Matt Kinghorn mathew.kinghorn@gov.scot
Citation :
Kinghorn, M.
, 2017.
changing the groundgear
. In O’Neill, F.G. and Mutch, K. (Eds): Selectivity in Trawl Fishing Gears. Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science Vol 8 No 1.