Performance of Low-Profile Skimmer Trawls in the Inshore Shrimp Fishery of North Carolina

Abstract

Abstract A gear development study was conducted during May–Jun 1995 comparing the catch composition of shrimp (family Penaeidae) and finfish bycatch in a standard high-profile skimmer trawl (3.7-m vertical height) and a low-profile skimmer trawl (0.9-m vertical height) in the North and Newport rivers, North Carolina. As opposed to the traditional otter trawl, a skimmer trawl is a net attached to frames and pushed rather than pulled by the vessel. The low-profile net was designed by commercial fishers in the hope of reducing finfish bycatch and the capture of floating debris. The objective of the study was to determine whether a reduced vertical height actually reduced finfish bycatch, while minimizing losses of brown shrimp Penaeus aztecus and pink shrimp P. duorarum. White shrimp P. setiferus were not present during the study period. Total shrimp catches (including discard shrimp) with the low-profile net were significantly smaller than with the high-profile net. Brown shrimp catches were smaller by 39.1...