多囊桁拖网选择性研究中对照网囊网目尺寸的选择

对比作业法是拖网渔具选择性研究中重要的试验方法之一,而对比试验中对照网囊网目的选择至关重要。研究利用多囊桁拖网不同网目尺寸(20、30、35和40mm)网囊捕获的哈氏仿对虾、小黄鱼和棘头梅童鱼渔获体长分布数据,应用几何相似原理,分析过滤性渔具的选择性,并按不同假设条件下(假设1:符合几何相似原理对渔获具有一定的选择性;假设2:对渔获种类没有选择性),探讨如何合理选择对照网囊网目尺寸。结果表明,对照网网囊网目尺寸为20mm,在上述2种假设下,对选择性模型的拟合、简化及对其它网囊的选择性参数没有显著的影响;在考虑了桁拖网渔具各网囊具有相同相对作业强度,以及桁拖网渔具与普通拖网渔具选择性分析方法上的差异等因素后,认为在此项研究中,将小于20mm网目尺寸的网囊视为没有选择性的对照网囊是可行的。     

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.     

Respiratory mode and gear type are important determinants of elasmobranch immediate and post‐release mortality

Estimated declines in shark and ray populations worldwide have raised major, widespread concern about the impacts of global fisheries on elasmobranchs. The mechanisms causing elasmobranch mortality during fisheries’ capture are not fully understood, but we must gain greater clarity on this topic for fisheries managers to develop effective conservation plans to mitigate further population declines. To evaluate how two important factors, respiratory mode and fishing gear type, impact elasmobranch survival, we compiled publicly available data sources on the immediate mortality percentages of 83 species and post‐release mortality percentages of 40 species. Using Bayesian models, we found that sharks and rays captured in longlines had significantly lower immediate mortality than those caught in trawls or gillnets. Our models also predicted the mean total discard mortality (combined immediate and post‐release mortality) percentages of obligate ram‐ventilating elasmobranchs caught in longline, gillnet and trawl gear types to be 49.8, 79.0 and 84.2%, respectively. In contrast, total discard mortality percentages of stationary‐respiring species were significantly lower (longline capture mean = 7.2%, gillnet capture mean = 25.3%, trawl capture mean = 41.9%). Our global meta‐analysis provides the first quantified demonstration of how mortality is affected by these two factors across a broad range of species. Our results and approach can be applied to data‐deficient elasmobranchs and fisheries to identify species that are likely to experience high rates of mortality due to respiratory mode and/or fishing methods used, so that appropriate mitigation measures can be prioritized and investigated.     

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.     

Efficiency of the bottom trawl used for the Mediterranean international trawl survey (MEDITS)

The aim of the work presented in this paper was to assess the relative efficiency of the GOC 73 sampling trawl used for the Mediterranean international trawl survey programme (MEDITS) compared with that of a typical Italian commercial trawl. The latter was chosen because it is commonly used by fishermen in the central Adriatic, where the experiment was conducted, and therefore appeared as the best possible sampler of the commercial species present in those areas. Moreover, this trawl is similar to the various trawls used for the Italian national survey programme (GRUND). Four fishing trips were conducted between 1996 and 1997 in different areas and seasons to sample different species. Each trip was conducted in the same fishing area. A codend cover mounted on the commercial trawl ensured that the codends of the two nets had the same mesh opening. The two trawls were alternated daily. Net geometry (horizontal and vertical net opening) was measured during all tows. Catch data were converted into abundance per swept area before comparing the trawls. Efficiency comparisons were performed on ten fish species, one crustacean and four molluscs belonging to the MEDITS list of main reference species. The MEDITS trawl was significantly less efficient in terms of both weight and numbers of individuals fished for hake (Merluccius merluccius), common sole (Solea vulgaris) and Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus). A highly significant difference in favour of the commercial trawl was found in the weight, but not the numbers, of common pandora (Pagellus erythrinus). Efficiency differences were negligible for red mullet (Mullus barbatus), while the MEDITS trawl was significantly more efficient for the numbers of Atlantic horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus). For all the other main reference species differences were not significant. The commercial trawl was more efficient for large individuals of some species. The relative efficiency of the MEDITS trawl was especially low for small-size classes of N. norvegicus. The results confirm the lower efficiency of the MEDITS compared with the commercial Italian trawl for benthic species, and its greater efficiency for some others released from the bottom as well as for the pelagic ones. These data allow the results of the MEDITS surveys to be compared with those of the GRUND programme and with commercial-fleet catches in areas where the commercial trawls used are similar to the one studied here.     

Can we increase haddock yield within the constraints of the Magnuson–Stevens Act?

Georges Bank haddock is a recently recovered fish stock in the New England groundfish fishery. Due to federal constraints under the Magnuson–Steven Act, however, this stock cannot be optimally exploited due to the bycatch of other critical species in the New England groundfishery such as cod and yellowtail flounder which are overfished. The Ruhle trawl and Separator trawl are examples of recent advances in gear technology that have been shown to significantly increase haddock to bycatch ratios. This study models the groundfish fishery through a mixed-stock yield model which incorporates technological interactions. We also develop a socio-economic model that quantifies the amount of employment and producer surplus associated with three trawl types. Our results explore policy situations regarding the use of the new trawls. By bridging the biological and socio-economic models, we are able to view the fishery as a system that more accurately represents stakeholder views. Our model shows that each trawl, when used exclusively, produces different optimum strategies and therefore an optimum management strategy would most likely include a combination of trawl types. Our results also support the logic of using modified trawls for haddock fishing trips in which bycatch is strictly regulated (“B days”) as the Ruhle trawl is able to maintain 80% of catches caught by a conventional trawl while reducing bycatch up to over 60%. This paper is a first step towards an aid for policy makers to examine fishery gear trade-offs and the resulting biological and socio-economic consequences of different management actions within the constraints of the Magnuson–Stevens Act.     

烟威渔场底栖动物拖网技术改进研究

调查了烟威渔场主要底栖动物种类及使用拖网进行捕捞情况，分析了４０马力渔船所用２种拖网的结构、性能、渔捞效果，对１００－１８５马力渔船的传统拖网提出了采用双底纲、低口长袖、单拖作业等技术改进方向。     

我国当前南海南部拖网渔业的困局和对策

南海南部渔场是广西拖网渔船在南海外海的传统作业区域之一。然而,近年来该海域渔业涉外事故频发,广西渔船损失惨重。为了规避涉外事故,广西拖网渔船不得不频频中断正常生产,转移到南海外海其它涉外风险较低的渔场作业。2013年5月以后,在南海外海生产的广西拖网渔船陆续撤出南海南部,至今未恢复生产。本文采用南海捕捞信息动态采集网络和信息渔船2013年的生产记录,通过统计及对比,分析拖网渔船从南海南部转移后面临的困境和成因。结果表明,渔船转移到6°N以北的南海外海渔场生产,单位捕捞努力量渔获量（CPUE）减少31.25%、优质鱼类所占的比例明显下降、全部航次亏损,生产难以为继。目前南海南部的生产态势明显不利于南海外海渔业的发展。本文提出恢复和坚持南海南部生产是南海外海拖网渔业发展的基础,有关部门应加强渔场巡航护渔、组织综合编队生产及加大对渔船开发南海南部渔业资源的支持力度。为了进一步发展南海外海拖网生产,建议在南海南部探索试验共同渔区模式。     

What are the effects of climate on the offshore and onshore movements of adult grooved tiger prawns Penaeus semisulcatus in tropical northern Australia?

Historical catch per unit effort (CPUE) from the period in the development of commercial fisheries prior to the implementation of any temporal or spatial closures can provide insight into how environmental factors affect life history events. These insights can then inform contemporary fishery management practices to improve sustainability. We examined the timing of the offshore dispersal and onshore movement to aggregate on the spawning grounds of the grooved tiger prawn Penaeus semisulcatus in the north‐west Gulf of Carpentaria using all available historical CPUE data between 1970 and 1987. The impact of climate conditions on the timing of the winter minimum CPUE (dispersal) was quantified by fitting univariate relationships with non‐parametric weighted local regression (Loess). The timing of the winter minimum CPUE was delayed by 5 weeks in years with at least 1 week of rainfall > 250 mm, and was delayed by 5 weeks in years when the wet season continued through April, rather than ending in March. Under current climate predictions, rainfall is projected to increase in variability in this region. Our results indicate that the sustainability of the prawn trawl fishery may be enhanced if seasonal fishing effort restrictions and closure dates are not fixed, but are managed to reflect variation in the timing of the end of the previous wet season.     

长天井、大网目囊网的机帆渔船双拖网增产对虾和释放幼鱼的试验研究

为合理利用我国北方海区对虾资源，每年秋季在渤海使用机动渔船双拖网捕捞生产。由于渤海既是主要的对虾渔场，又是多种经济鱼类产卵繁殖和幼鱼生长的良好场所。在拖网捕虾的同时，大量捕到当年的幼鱼，损害渔业资源。因此，在1974—1977年研究一种能够多捕对虾、大量释放幼鱼的新型双拖网。新型网的主要特点如下：它的天井网比原型网长一倍左右，并增加侧网使网口的覆盖面积和网高相应扩大，防止对虾接触网具后弹跳逃逸；将囊网网目放大到50毫米，以释放网内的幼鱼。试验效果较为满意。在模型网水槽试验中，新型网的主要优点是阻力较小、网口较高和网口前方覆盖面积较大。捕捞生产试验证明可以增产对虾40％以上，少捕幼鱼不少于60％。     

Fate and consumption of discarded by-catch in the Spencer Gulf prawn fishery, South Australia

Discarded by-catch in prawn fisheries is likely to affect trophic balance including the population structure and function of both the exploited species and scavengers on discards. The Spencer Gulf prawn fishery consists of 39 trawlers operating about 60 days a year with a management system allowing large differences in spatial effort. Such a system provides opportunities to study spatial effects of fishing in relation to habitat and fishing effort. In this study, the occurrence and consumption of scavengers on the Spencer Gulf prawn fishing grounds were studied at five sites subjected to different historical fishing effort and further estimated through field and laboratory experiments. Baited video experiments showed that the most common scavengers on discarded by-catch were Degens leatherjacket (Thamnaconus degeni), blue crabs (Portunus pelagicus) and sealice (a group of several species of isopods and amphipods), notably Natatolana woodjonesi, with variable abundances between sites and day/night. Scavenger abundance and consumption was higher at night than during the day. Total abundance and consumption during the day showed a negative correlation to historical trawl hours, while during the night showed a positive correlation. In the laboratory, in contrast to groups, individual leatherjackets showed little interest in bait. Consumption rates for both leatherjackets and blue crabs showed a logarithmic trend depending on bait species. The results showed that during the day blue crabs and leatherjackets were the dominating scavengers while during the night it was Port Jackson sharks and in particular sealice. The effects of site, historical trawl hours and relative importance of the scavenging species are discussed.     

Existence of APGWamide in the testis and its induction of spermiation in Haliotis asinina Linnaeus

Immunolocalization by using rabbit polyclonal antibody against APGWamide demonstrated that there was APGWamide immunoreactivity (APGW-ir) in the varicosed nerve fibers in the capsule, connective tissue and trabeculae of the testis whereas there was no APGW-ir in the ovary of sexually mature broodstocks of Haliotis asinina. In vivo bioassay, by injecting APGWamide into foot muscle of mature males and females (age over 24 months), showed that most males (87.50%) injected with 200 μl of 10^− 3 M APGWamide (170 μg APGWamide/animal) could be induced to spermiate whereas fewer males (43.75%) injected with 200 μl of 10^− 6 M APGWamide (0.17 μg APGWamide/animal) could spermiate. Following injection with 10^− 3 M, 53% of males spawned within 3 to 4 h, while the remaining males spawned within 2 to 3 h. The former tended to release more sperm at the range of 1.04 to 2 × 10⁹, and the latter at the range 3.62 × 10⁷ to 2.07 × 10⁸ cells, respectively, and that the sperm of the former group appeared to be more motile. Following the injection of 10^− 6 M, all inducible males spawned within 2–3 h, and 43% of spawned males have sperm around 2 × 10⁹, while 57% have fewer sperm number ranging from 2.75 × 10⁷ to 9.94 × 10⁸ cells. In contrast to males, none of the mature females with ripen ovary could be induced to ovulate. These data suggest that APGWamide is an important signaling molecule that plays a role in the male reproductive process that could be used to induce spermiation.     

Improved estimation of trawling tracks using cubic Hermite spline interpolation of position registration data

For control and enforcement purposes, all fishing vessels operating in European waters are equipped with satellite-based Vessel Monitoring by Satellite systems (VMS) recording their position at regular time intervals. VMS data are increasingly used by scientists to study spatial and temporal patterns of fishing activity and thus fishing impact (e.g. surface of sea bed trawled during a fishing trip). However, due to their low resolution (2 h basis), these data may provide a biased perception of fishing impact. We present here a method aiming at interpolating vessel trajectories from VMS data points to obtain higher-resolution data on vessel trajectories which in turn should provide improved estimates of the spatial and temporal patterns of fishing activity and hence fishing impact. This method is based on a spline interpolation technique, the cubic Hermite spline (cHs), using position, heading and speed to interpolate the trawl track of a vessel between two succeeding VMS data points. To take uncertainty of the interpolated track into account, the method also determines a confidence interval, which represents the spatial distribution of vessel presence probability between two successive VMS positions. The cHs method was compared to the straight line interpolation technique using a reference data set with intervals of 6 min which was assumed to represent the real trawl tracks. The results showed that the cHs method approximates the real trawl track markedly better than a straight line interpolation. The cHs method should therefore be preferred to the conventional straight line approach to interpolate vessel tracks in studies aiming at estimating fishing impact from VMS data.     

Measurement of the rate of depletion of benthic fauna by prawn (shrimp) otter trawls: an experiment in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

We carried out a trawl-depletion experiment for benthic fauna in an area closed to commercial trawling. A 12-fathom prawn (shrimp) trawl net having a swept path of about 18 m was towed 13 times along each of six tracks. Each track was 2.7 km long and known from previous surveys to contain several relatively dense patches of megabenthos. The depletion rate was assumed to vary between trawls on a given track, and was modelled by a beta distribution defined by a mean rate and a dispersion parameter. Maximum likelihood analysis of the sequence of catches on each track suggests that a single trawl removes a small, but non-negligible, fraction of the benthos. The combined effect of 13 trawls on each track, assuming the trawls were aligned, was to remove a substantial proportion of the initial biomass. Gastropods suffered the greatest impact (an estimated 95% removed, on average). Ascidians, sponges, echinoids, crustaceans and gorgonians were depleted by an estimated 74–86%, and all other taxonomic groups except algae (27% removed) were reduced by at least 54%. Using differential global positioning systems and careful navigation, we aimed to achieve a high degree of overlap between successive trawls. Nonetheless, records show that the trawler deviated from this path and it is likely that the net did not sweep exactly the same path during the 13 trawls on each track. A simulation study was conducted to examine the effect on parameter estimates of ignoring the probable non-alignment of trawls. There was little bias in the estimate of the dispersion parameter. With the level of dispersion found on these tracks, the estimated mean depletion rates would, however, have been biased (upwards when the true mean depletion rate was below 15%, downwards when the true mean depletion rate was above 15%). This means that most mean depletion rates estimated from the catch data are probably biased by 2–3%. The depletion rates estimated from this study may be acceptable in areas that are trawled infrequently or sparsely. However, the cumulative effect of frequent trawls in an area of high intensity trawling is likely to be substantial both in terms of organisms directly affected by trawling and indirectly due to attracting scavengers and removing refuge habitat for fish and other mobile organisms.     

Population ecology parameters and biomass of golden grey mullet (Liza aurata) in Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea

This paper examines the changes in the population ecology parameters and biomass of golden grey mullet (Liza aurata) in Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea from 1991 to 2005. For most years during this 14-year period, we estimated the age structure of the catch, length–weight relationship, von Bertalanffy growth parameters, condition factor, natural and fishing mortality and biomass. Growth parameters were estimated as L_∞ = 62.7 cm, K = 0.15 year⁻¹, t₀ = −0.23 year⁻¹. The instantaneous coefficient of natural mortality was estimated as 0.350 year⁻¹ and the instantaneous coefficient of fishing mortality varied during the 14-year period between 0.111 to 0.539 year⁻¹. Biomass estimates of golden grey mullet, from the biomass-based cohort analysis were increased from 13,527 mt in 1991–1992 to 23,992 mt in 2002–2003. In 2004–2005, it was estimated to be 23,658 mt. We concluded that at the present time, the stock of golden grey mullet is not being over-fished.     

福建海区单拖渔业现状浅析

本文根据1998-2003年福建海区拖网渔业资源监测以及1995-1997年间闽南台湾浅渔场单拖渔业资源调查、1998年和2000-2001年福建海区拖网定点调查的资料,论述和分析福建海区单拖渔业的现状。结果表明:目前整个单拖渔业虽然船数削减,实际却加大渔船功率,作业时间延长,促使年产量、单位产量不断提高,导致渔获组成发生很大变化,由低质小型鱼类、生命周期短的头足类、虾蟹类支撑,渔获鱼类质量较差,经济效益下降;另一方面头足类、虾蟹类资源量年间波动性较大,易受捕捞过渡影响,很难长时间承担目前捕捞压力。为此,文中提出加强严格实行"双控制度"及控制网目规格等管理建议和意见,为有关渔业管理和生产部门提供参考依据。     

Salinity effects on reproduction of giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man)

Understanding the role of salinity in breeding and growth has the potential to enhance production of giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii. This study investigated the reproduction of females reared in salinities of 0, 6, 12, and 18 g L^− 1. Mean weight of females decreased with increased salinity (31.40 ± 1.54, 25.14 ± 1.16, 20.80 ± 0.81, and 16.62 ± 1.04 g at 0, 6, 12, and 18 g L^− 1, respectively). Larval production was delayed by 2 months in females reared in 12 g L^− 1 compared to 6 and 0 g L^− 1 and the cumulative number of berried females decreased with increased salinity. The number of larvae produced was positively correlated to weight of female. A larval production not only differed between salinity treatments, but also that larval production per gram of female differed between treatments. Females reared in lower salinity of 0 and 6 g L^− 1 produced larger numbers of larvae (12,155 ± 480 and 6519 ± 323, respectively) compared to 12 and 18 g L^− 1 (3751 ± 256 and 0, respectively). The number of larvae produced per gram of female was inversely related to the salinity levels (Y = − 37.54X + 685.65, n = 339, r² = 0.995, p < 0.05). Survival of larvae from females reared at 0 and 6 g L^− 1 was higher than those from females reared in 12 g L^− 1. This study clearly shows that female broodstock reared in lower salinity was larger, reproduced early, and produced more offspring than at higher salinity and this could significantly impact coastal prawn culture where seasonal fluctuation of salinity in the hatchery is common.     

Genetic evidence for a single stock of giant tiger prawns Penaeus monodon in demarcated prawn fishing zones of Tanzania

Tanzania demarcated three prawn fishing zones along its coast to spread fishing pressure and help the prawn fishery to recover. However, it is unknown whether the demarcated zones correspond to the genetic stock structure of the world's most commercially important prawn, the giant tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon). Thus, this study used partial mitochondrial control region sequences (534 base pairs) to test the hypotheses that (1) giant tiger prawns in Tanzania's demarcated prawn fishing zones are a single stock and (2) the giant tiger prawns on the Tanzanian coast experienced a recent demographic expansion. The sequences showed high haplotype diversity (h = 0.998–1.0) and low nucleotide diversity (θ_π = 1.89%–2.24%). The neutrality test and mismatch analysis showed that the hypothesis of recent demographic expansion could not be rejected. The analysis of molecular variance revealed low and insignificant fixation indices between the zones (F_ST = 0.00025, p > 0.05; Φ_ST = −0.00027, p > 0.05), suggesting that the three demarcated fishing zones constitute a single stock and that fishers may be targeting the same stock. Furthermore, it was discovered that Zone 2 has the potential to replenish depleted areas; thus, it should be prioritised in future conservation planning.     

Modifying otter boards to reduce bottom contact: effects on catches and efficiencies of triple‐rigged penaeid trawls

Two otter‐board modifications designed to minimise bottom contact (and therefore habitat impacts) were compared against conventional otter boards for their relative effects on the engineering and catching efficiencies of triple‐rigged penaeid trawls. The first modification involved restricting the angle of attack (AOA) of a flat–rectangular otter board to <30^° by attaching a restraining line to an adjacent sled, while the second was a ‘batwing’ otter board comprising a sled‐and‐sail assembly operating at 20^° AOA. The modifications reduced otter‐board bottom contact by up to 8 ha over a night's fishing without affecting standardised catches (per ha) of the targeted eastern king prawns, Penaeus plebejus, nor the fuel required. Further, compared to all other trawls, the restrained trawls caught less discarded bycatch (by up to 37%), while the trawls spread by the modified flat–rectangular and batwing otter boards caught more individuals of three retained benthic teleost species per ha than the conventional configuration; results that were attributed to species‐specific herding responses. Both modifications represent simple alternatives where there are concerns over either benthic impacts or, for the restraining line, unwanted bycatches in penaeid‐trawl fisheries.     

The efficiency of three fry trawls for sampling the freshwater pelagic fry community

Avoidance reactions of young-of-the-year fish assemblages were investigated in the offshore zone of three reservoirs in the Czech Republic during late summer. Pikeperch (Stizostedion lucioperca) strongly dominated in the Lipno Reservoir in 2003, bream (Abramis brama) and bleak (Alburnus alburnus) were the most abundant species in the Slapy Reservoir in 2004 and roach (Rutilus rutilus) and bleak dominated in the Želivka Reservoir in 2004 and 2005. Densities of fry ranged between 1.09 ind./100 m³ in the Lipno Reservoir and 2.95 ind./100 m³ in the Slapy Reservoir. In each reservoir, three trawl nets of different widths (dimensions 1.5 m × 3 m, 3 m × 3 m, 6 m × 3 m) were used in the pelagic area at night. For each trawl the estimated fish density was determined as the catch per 100 m³ of water and was compared between all three trawls. The fish length–frequency distribution was also compared between all the trawls. Day catches were much lower compared with those taken at night. Adult fish showed very clear avoidance of fry trawls. At night, no important differences in estimated fry density, obtained by these trawls, were observed in any locality for any fish species, nor in the length distribution of important species between trawls. According to these results, the avoidance reactions of fry in the late summer (August, September), at night, are unimportant. At this time of year, nighttime pelagic trawling appears to be an effective method for quantitative fry sampling. We recommend the 3 m × 3 m trawl for quantitative night sampling of the fry community as a good compromise between assured efficiency and relatively easy handling.