Trawl catch composition in relation to Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus L.) abundance on the Farn Deeps grounds, NE England

Management of fisheries directed at a particular species (the target) is often complicated by the capture of other species (the bycatch), each of which may be subject to competing management objectives. Optimal management depends upon a good understanding of how catches of the target species vary in relation to bycatch of other species of commercial and conservation concern. This paper considers the composition of trawl catches taken on a Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) ground off the NE coast of England, examining the factors that determine catch rates of Nephrops and various commercial finfish species taken as bycatch. We describe the results of a trawl survey undertaken using four commercial vessels deploying standard commercial gear. Only about 19% of the variance in Nephrops catch rates could be accounted for by variations in local density, as measured independently by underwater television survey of Nephrops burrows. Variations in Nephrops catch rates were dominated by changes over time, particularly in relation to tidal state. Five commercial bycatch species were taken alongside Nephrops in significant quantities. Catch rates of haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), whiting (Merlangius merlangus) and lemon sole (Microstomus kitt) varied independently of Nephrops, whereas catches of cod (Gadus morhua) and plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) were inversely related to Nephrops. We conclude that it is possible for the commercial Nephrops fishery to use spatial and temporal targeting to maximise catches of N. norvegicus whilst minimising the bycatch of some fish species. If catch statistics are used to identify Nephrops-directed fishing métiers for fishery management purposes it is vital that data are examined at the level of individual hauls or fishing trips. Aggregation of data at a higher level risks obscuring the effectiveness with which the fishery is targeted at Nephrops.     

Quantifying the effects of bycatch reduction devices in Queensland''s (Australia) shallow water eastern king prawn (Penaeus plebejus) trawl fishery

This study presents results from an experimental 10-day research charter that was designed to quantify the effects of (a) a turtle excluder device (TED), (b) a radial escape section bycatch reduction device (BRD) and (c) both devices together, on bycatch and prawn catch rates in the Queensland shallow water eastern king prawn (Penaeus plebejus) trawl fishery. The bycatch was comprised of 250 taxa, mainly gurnards, whiting, lizard fish, flathead, dragonets, portunid crabs, turretfish and flounders. The observed mean catch rates of bycatch and marketable eastern king prawns from the standard trawl net (i.e., net with no TED or BRD) used during the charter were 11.06 kg/hectare (ha⁻¹) (S.E. 0.90) swept by the trawl gear and 0.94 kg ha⁻¹, respectively. For the range of depths sampled (20.1–90.7 m), bycatch rates declined significantly at a rate of 0.14 kg ha⁻¹ for every 1 m increase in depth, while prawn catch rates were unaffected. When both the TED and radial escape section BRD were used together, the bycatch rate declined by 24% compared to a standard net, but at a 20% reduction in marketable prawn catch rate. The largest reductions were achieved for stout whiting Sillago robusta (57% reduction) and yellowtail scad Trachurus novaezelandiae (32% reduction). Multidimensional scaling and analysis of similarities revealed that bycatch assemblages differed significantly between depths and latitude, but not between the different combinations of bycatch reduction devices. Despite the lowered prawn catch rates, the reduced bycatch rates are promising, particularly for S. robusta, which is targeted in another fishery. Prawn trawl operators are not permitted to retain S. robusta and the devices examined herein offer the potential to significantly reduce the incidental fishing mortality that this species experiences.     

Evaluation of a simple means to reduce discard in the Kattegat-Skagerrak Nephrops (Nephrops norvegicus) fishery: Commercial testing of different codends and square-mesh panels

Discarding of fish species in the Kattegat-Skagerrak Nephrops directed fisheries remains at high levels. In this work we have tested four sets of codends pair-wise with the catch comparison technique under full commercial conditions to assess their potential in reducing the catch of undersized commercial species, in particular cod. We investigate the position of a 90 mm square-mesh panel (SMP), the effect of increasing the mesh size from 90 to 120 mm in the SMP, the effect of inserting a 90 mm SMP in an 80 mm codend and the effect of increasing the codend mesh size from 90 to 120 mm in a total of 89 hauls. Inserting the SMP 3–6 m from the codline compared to 6–9 m from the codline, reduced catches of cod above the minimum landing size (MLS) and Nephrops above and below the MLS. Increasing the mesh size in the SMP from 90 to 120 mm increased the catch of cod above the MLS in weight with an overall increase of 12% in the revenue. The effect of installing a 90 mm SMP 6–9 m from the codline in a nominal 80 mm codend had no effect on the catch of cod. Increasing the nominal codend mesh size from 90 to 120 mm reduced the catch of all species below the MLS, except monkfish. Catches of Nephrops above the MLS were, however, reduced by approximately one third and the total loss in revenue was 21%.     

Selective haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) trawling: Avoiding cod (Gadus morhua) bycatch

The critical condition of the North Sea cod stocks has resulted in restrictions on not only cod, but also haddock and other species that are caught together with cod. Thus full exploitation of the haddock stock is unachievable unless cod can be excluded from the haddock catch. We designed a selective trawl based on the behavioral differences between haddock and cod as they enter a trawl, i.e., cod stay close to the seabed whereas haddock rise above it. The trawl's fishing line is raised ～60 cm above the seabed to allow cod to escape beneath the trawl while haddock are retained. To collect the escapees, three sampling bags were attached beneath the raised fishing line. The selective haddock trawl reduced the total catch of cod by 55% during the day and 82% at night, and 99% of the marketable haddock was caught during the day and 89% at night. Cod escape rates were highly length dependent: smaller cod escaped the trawl in greater numbers than did larger individuals. Whiting, saithe, lemon sole, and plaice were included in the analysis.     

Evaluation of codends with sorting grids, exit windows, and diamond meshes: Size selection and fish behaviour

This paper presents the results of an experiment aimed at improving the size selection of cod (Gadus morhua) and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) in the Nordic bottom trawl fishery. Three systems simulating commercial conditions were tested: a 135 mm diamond-mesh codend fitted with a 55 mm sorting grid (Sort-V); a 135 mm diamond-mesh codend fitted with two lateral exit windows; and a codend built entirely of 155 mm diamond mesh. The selectivity curves showed similar selection ranges (SR) for the three systems. For cod, the mean SRs were around 8 cm, while for haddock, they were around 6 cm. All the estimated l₅₀ values were far above the minimum landing sizes (MLS). For cod, the mean l₅₀s were 56.1, 53.9, and 60.7 cm for the sorting grid, exit windows, and diamond-mesh configurations, respectively, while for haddock, they were 50.2, 50.6, and 49.9 cm, respectively. Underwater observations revealed that most of the fish escaped from the grid and exit-window codends as soon as they reached the vicinity of the sorting device. In contrast, fish remained inside the diamond-mesh codend for a longer time, and consequently were more exposed to physical damage before escape. In addition, many fish escaped from this codend during haul back and these fish were not likely to survive due to the rapid changes in pressure. Thus, the selectivity results obtained with this type of codend should be interpreted carefully.     

Effect of trawling with traditional and ‘T90’ trawl codends on fish size and on different quality parameters of cod <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gadus morhua</Emphasis> and haddock <Emphasis Type="Italic">Melanogrammus aeglefinus</Emphasis>

The effect of trawling on fish size and on different quality parameters of cod (Gadus morhua) and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) was evaluated after conducting 16 valid hauls using two trawls in a double rig fitted with a traditional and a novel ‘T90’ codend, respectively. The total catch volume during the fishing period was 47.6 metric tons, with an average catch per codend of 1.5 (range 0.5–2.9) tons. The mean haul duration was 5 h. The catch was assessed according to fish size, mortality, external damage, initial white muscle pH and development of rigor mortis. Fillet quality (colour, blood spots, gaping) was assessed after 1 week of freeze-storage. Our results showed there was no difference between the two types of nets in terms of catch volume, but significantly slightly bigger fish were caught with T90 than with the traditional trawl net (p < 0.05). Haddock caught with the traditional trawl net had more external injuries related to the trawl gear than haddock caught with the T90 gear (p < 0.05). The gaping frequency for cod caught with the traditional trawl net tended to be higher than cod caught with the T90 gear, but the difference was not significant (p = 0.07). No other differences in fish quality between fish caught in the trawl nets were observed.     

珠江口虾拖网的副渔获组成

拖虾是南海捕捞渔业的一种主要作业方式,南海北部的珠江口是广东省虾拖网的优良渔场之一。文章以珠江口铜鼓水道虾拖网渔业生物调查资料为基础,对该渔业的副渔获组成进行了分析研究。结果表明,珠江口虾拖网渔获种类多,以底栖鱼类和甲壳类为优势类群;副渔获的组成在不同月份有所变化;副渔获比例较高,虾与副渔获之比为1:10-1:19;副渔获中大部分鱼种未达到可捕规格,对幼鱼资源造成损害。建议渔业管理部门重视对副渔获问题的调查研究。     

桁杆虾拖网圆形分隔装置的效果分析

在桁杆虾拖网中间一只网囊前部加装圆形分隔装置,并在装置上部开设逃逸口.装置的格栅倾角分别为30.、45.、60.,栅条间距分别为2.5 cm、3.5 cm和4.5 cm.在逃逸口上方装有网袋,用于收集逃鱼.对装配不同倾角和不同栅条间距的装置进行了试验,根据各个网次网囊和网袋的渔获组成和体长分布情况,分析装置的分隔效果....     

国内外拖网减少副渔获物的研究进展

拖网渔业的兼捕是一个世界性难题,每年因兼捕而产生的渔获物抛弃对渔业资源的持续发展产生较大影响。目前世界各国针对本国拖网渔业的特点、主捕对象开展了卓有成效的选择性研究,并取得了较为理想的效果。但在推广及应用过程中反映出较多的实际问题,有待进一步完善、提高。笔者综合了国内外在开展拖网渔具选择性研究中具有代表性的成功经验,表明单纯的网囊网目很难对副渔获复杂的拖网产生理想的选择效果;选择性装置及其与网片的组合是解决拖网渔具兼捕的有效手段之一。     

闽南-台湾浅滩渔场单船拖网作业调查与分析

根据2009—2010年闽南-台湾浅滩渔场单船拖网作业监测调查资料和生产统计数据,阐明单船拖网作业的渔业地位、渔场分布、网具类型,着重分析该作业渔获种类组成及主要捕捞对象的资源动态。结果表明:单船拖网作业产量位居闽南-台湾浅滩渔场各种海洋捕捞作业的首位,大吨位、大功率渔船数量连续多年不断增长;渔具型式以有翼单囊网具为主;部分渔船使用的拖网网囊尺寸远远低于国家标准;带鱼、二长棘鲷幼鱼损害现象较为严重;秋季8—10月蓝圆鲹和鲐鱼群体绝大多数个体可达到最小可捕规格。调查研究结果还表明,2002年以来单船拖网渔业资源结构已发生较大变化,生命周期短、营养级较低的蟹类、枪乌贼类、乌贼类和虾类资源渔获比重显著增长;原优势种类绿布氏筋鱼资源已出现严重衰竭;二长棘鲷资源量逐年减少,渔获群体明显趋向小型化、低龄化。