using a flexible inclined grid in the lower panel of the extension

to increase flat fish and anglerfish selectivity in whitefish fisheries

Target species:
Anglerfish, megrim, rays

Area, Vessel
29 twin trawl hauls took place in 2016 on the Men Brial (16,50 m, 269 kW) in the Bay of Biscay.
Gear type:
Demersal (twin rig)

Gear modification
A flexible rectangular grid made of rubber tubes with between bars spacings of 125 x 60 mm and an overall dimension of 1075 x 1045 mm was inserted, at an angle of about 45o, in the lower panel of the extension.


Results:
There was a large reduction of benthic fish and flatfish and a large reduction of cephalopod discards. There may also be some commercial losses of sole. The grid does not effect of the retention of gadoids, rays and pouts and the catch of anglerfish (by weight) was not affected, however, small individuals (< 30 cm) escaped through the grid.
Further information:
CELselect project; marion.fiche@pecheursdebretagne.eu, pascal.larnaud@ifremer.fr, Marianne.robert@ifremer.fr




Citation :
Fiche, M, Larnaud, P, and Robert, M. , 2017. using a flexible inclined grid in the lower panel of the extension . In O’Neill, F.G. and Mutch, K. (Eds): Selectivity in Trawl Fishing Gears. Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science Vol 8 No 1.