Abstract
The deep-sea red shrimp Aristeus antennatus is one of the most valuable demersal resources in Catalonia (northeast Spain), and Palamós is the most important harbour for this fishery in the area. Here, a management plan published in 2013 established the use of a 40-mm square-mesh codend (40s), replacing the previously used 50-mm diamond mesh codend (50d). The objective was to decrease the amount of juveniles in the catches, but the regulation did not bring the expected results. In this study, we measured and compared the selectivity of the 40s and the 50d in this fishery. In addition, we experimented with the use of a 50-mm square-mesh codend (50s). According to our results, the 40s had a lower 50% selection length (L50) than the 50d, while the 50s had a substantially higher L50 than the other two. A transition analysis showed an increase in yield per recruit after the second year from a hypothetical implementation of the 50s. Our conclusion is that the 40s does not have a higher selectivity than the 50d, which (at least partially) explains the failure to reach the management objective in Palamós. Conversely, the use of a 50s would significantly benefit the fishery, increasing gear selectivity and yield per recruit.
Highlights
Gear selectivity regulation is an important tool for fisheries management that can be efficiently implemented to maintain the catch within sustainable boundaries and to mitigate the overall impact of fisheries on the ecosystems (Sardà et al 2006, Suuronen and Sardà 2007, Coll et al 2008)
A management plan published in 2013 established the use of a 40-mm square-mesh codend (40s), replacing the previously used 50-mm diamond mesh codend (50d)
A transition analysis showed an increase in yield per recruit after the second year from a hypothetical implementation of the 50s
Summary
Gear selectivity regulation is an important tool for fisheries management that can be efficiently implemented to maintain the catch within sustainable boundaries and to mitigate the overall impact of fisheries on the ecosystems (Sardà et al 2006, Suuronen and Sardà 2007, Coll et al 2008). The main factors influencing gear selectivity are the codend mesh size and shape (Robertson and Stewart 1988, Reeves et al 1992). A diamond-shaped mesh displays a tendency to stretch and close under tension, reducing its effective selectivity as the codend fills with the catch. A square-shaped mesh tends to stay open during a tow, displaying an overall higher selectivity for most species than a diamond-shaped mesh of the same nominal size (Robertson and Stewart 1988, Sala et al 2008). The deep-sea red shrimp Aristeus antennatus (Risso, 1816) is one of the most economically important demersal resources in the Northwest Mediterranean Sea. In Catalonia (northeast Spain), this resource is fished exclusively by bottom trawling and makes up to 50% of the income of the local fishermen’s associations (Maynou et al 2006, DGPAM 2017). There is no official minimum landing size for this fishery
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