200mm diamond-mesh netting in the wings, square and back sections of a trawl

to improve size selection and reduce undersized haddock in ICES Area VII

Target species:
Cod, haddock and other demersal species

Area, Vessel
18 hauls with a single-rig; 9 tows with each rig, on board MFV Valhalla in the Celtic Sea. August and September 2014.
Gear type:
demersal (single rig)

Gear modification
The standard gear was a 115mm mesh size trawl with a 100mm codend. The modified gear incorporated 200mm mesh size wings, square and lower back.


Results:
(i) The modified gear caught fewer haddock across all length classes (ii) Nevertheless substantial numbers of unmarketable ones were still caught.
Further information:
Cefas.co.uk / Contact: Stephen.mangi@cefas.co.uk; Thomas.catchpole@cefas.co.uk




Citation :
Mangi, S. and Catchpole, T. , 2017. 200mm diamond-mesh netting in the wings, square and back sections of a trawl . In O’Neill, F.G. and Mutch, K. (Eds): Selectivity in Trawl Fishing Gears. Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science Vol 8 No 1.