Species-selective Nephrops trawling: Swedish grid experiments

Abstract

This paper presents a summary of all catch-comparison gear tests performed between 2002 and 2006 with Nordmøre-type sorting grids in the Swedish Nephrops trawl fishery in the Skagerrak and Kattegat. The overall aim was to minimise fish by-catch while maintaining catch rates for the target species, i.e. Nephrops. The results showed that a trawl fitted with a grid and a square-mesh cod-end, caught less small and marketable cod, haddock, whiting, hake and plaice than did a standard commercial trawl. For cod larger than 35 cm, the catch reduction was close to 100%. For marketable Nephrops no difference in catch amounts was detected. Results of three modified grid variants are also reported here. None of these showed convincing results in terms of better species-selectivity or superior handling characteristics than the standard grid. The results on fish by-catch reduction indicate that the Swedish grid may be a useful tool to reduce non-target mortality and to decouple Nephrops from cod and other demersal fish species under existing and future recovery plans.