Efficacy of selective devices in reducing discards in the Nephrops trawl fishery in the Bay of Biscay

Abstract

Abstract The Nephrops fishery in the Bay of Biscay is an important commercial fishery which generates large amounts of discards owing to the use of small mesh trawls. To reduce discards, French trawlers were equipped with a variety of selective devices, from 2005 onwards. This study examines their efficacy using data from the French on-board observer programme, 2003–2010. Generalized linear models were built for catches, discards, and landings of Nephrops and hake, controlling for the other factors which drive the variability in these variables. A dorsal square-mesh panel meant to let small hake escape did not affect hake catch, but was found to decrease Nephrops catches and discards. Among the devices intended to reduce Nephrops discards, the flexible grid was the most efficient, as it decreased catches and discards in large proportions while increasing landings but this result was supported by a small number of observations; a larger mesh size in the codend (80 mm instead of 70) slightly decreased Nephrops discards; and a ventral square-mesh panel was not found to affect catch or discards of either species. The design of the on-board observer programme was meant to estimate discard amounts, which limited their utilization to investigate factors for discarding.