Abstract
A spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias excluder grate (grid) within the extension of a silver hake (whiting) Merluccius bilinearis trawl net was designed and tested in Massachusetts Bay, USA between October 2008 and August 2009 using a live-fed underwater video camera. Grates with 50 mm spacing were investigated for effects from color (white or black), angle, and direction (leading to a top or bottom escape vent). Spiny dogfish numbers were greatly reduced for all gear configurations based on video observations and data collected from the codend, while target species were caught in commercial quantities. Four tows (of various gear configurations) resulted in spiny dogfish blockages in front of the grate. The reduction of spiny dogfish led to increases in the quality of marketable catches, likely reductions in non-target species mortality, and decreases in the codend catch handling times.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
