using a modified Nordmore grid

to reduce Nephrops discarding

Target species:
Nephrops

Area, Vessel
The quad-rig catch comparison trial took place in the western Irish Sea (ICES VIIa) on board MFV Our Lass II (DA261) (21.7m, 484kW) during September 2015.
Gear type:
demersal (quad rig)

Gear modification
The test gear was fitted with a modified Nordmore grid: (i) Vertical bars spaced 15mm apart in the lower half (ii) Reinforced opening in the top half (iii) Guiding panel and escape hole in bottom sheet of trawl to the rear of the grid. The standard gear was identical but without a rigid grid. Nominal codend mesh size and fishing circle were 70mm and 380 X 80 mm.


Results:
(i) There was a reduction of 35% in small Nephrops (ii) A reduction of 4% in whole Nephrops (>31mm) and (iii) There was no reduction in catches of small or large fish.
Further information:
Daragh Browne browned@bim.ie <A href=http://www.bim.ie/our-publications/fisheries/> http://www.bim.ie/our-publications/fisheries/ </A>




Citation :
Browne, D. , 2017. using a modified Nordmore grid . In O’Neill, F.G. and Mutch, K. (Eds): Selectivity in Trawl Fishing Gears. Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science Vol 8 No 1.