Development and testing of a separator frame in a Norway lobster <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nephrops norvegicus</Emphasis> fishery

Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus fisheries are often characterized by high bycatch and discard rates. However, fisheries species exhibit differences in vertical behaviour that can be used to develop selective devices. We developed a separator frame that can be inserted into the forward part of a cod-end to divide it into a bottom cod-end and a top cod-end. In the top cod-end we inserted a 3-m-long window constructed of 274-mm mesh. The separator frame was tested from a commercial vessel in the Kattegat and Skagerrak area. Small mesh net bags were used to collect the catch going through the separator frame and ending up in the bottom cod-end, the top cod-end, or penetrating the window. The majority of Norway lobster and flatfish entered the bottom cod-end, and most gadoids entered the top cod-end. A relatively high proportion of gadoids and flatfish that entered the top cod-end penetrated the window. The separation was size dependant for some of the investigated species.     

The potential for new Nephrops trawl designs to positively effect North Sea stocks of cod,haddock and whiting

Within commercial fisheries, particularly mixed fisheries, both target and non-target species are often discarded. Discarding represents a potentially significant loss to the productivity of fish stocks; it can have damaging ecological consequences, and is a potential cause of the failure of recovery plans. The Nephrops fishery in the North Sea is classified as a mixed fishery. Nephrops trawls are constructed with smaller meshes than trawls used to target whitefish; consequently, the bycatch of juvenile fish can be substantial. Several new Nephrops trawl designs have been tested in the North Sea. The data from these trials are used to investigate the potential impact of their implementation on cod, haddock and whiting stocks in the North Sea (including the Kattegat and Skagerrak).The model examines five trawl designs, and also the scenarios of a cessation of discarding in all North Sea fisheries and in just the Nephrops fishery. The model is deterministic, and evaluates the relative differences between scenarios assuming all other variables remain constant. If discarding of cod, haddock and whiting in the North Sea fisheries were eliminated, stocks would increase by 41%, 14% and 29%, respectively, within 10 years. Eliminating discarding in the Nephrops fishery alone would increase stocks by 2%, 1% and 13%, respectively, reflecting the relative proportion of catches of these species in the Nephrops fishery. For cod and haddock, the introduction of the Nephrops trawl with a grid with a square-mesh codend was the only scenario in which a notable increase in stock number was observed. This trawl design facilitates the escape of fish of all ages/sizes from the trawl, effectively making the Nephrops fishery a single-species fishery. For whiting, stock numbers and landings increased under all scenarios, but forecasted landings were lower than if current discard patterns continued in all except the no-discards scenario. The dependency of the results on the validity of the assumptions and on the accuracy of the input data is discussed.     

Selectivity and escape percentages during three phases of the towing process for codends fitted with different selection systems

We investigated the selectivity of cod (Gadus morhua) and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) escaping from three different selection systems (a conventional diamond-mesh codend, a codend fitted with escape windows, and a codend fitted with a sorting grid) using the covered codend technique. By using a MultiSampler attached to the codend cover to partition the collection of escaping fish, we were able to determine the partitioned selectivity of each of these devices at different phases during the towing process: at depth, during the haul back, and at the surface.The percentages of escaping fish at depth from the diamond-mesh codend were significantly lower than those estimated for the escape windows and sorting grid codends: almost 62% of cod and 79% of haddock escaping from the diamond-mesh codend did so at depth, whereas approximately 75% of cod and 93% of haddock escaped from the other two systems at depth. The partitioned selectivity parameters, l₅₀ and SR, were estimated and modelled for each of the three phases of the towing process and used to compare the selective properties of the three selection systems. A comparison was also made with a traditional whole haul selectivity analysis. Finally, bulk catch was added to the model as an explanatory variable and its effect upon selectivity was measured in both, partitioned and whole haul estimates.     

Size selection by diamond- and square-mesh codends in multi-species Mediterranean demersal trawl fisheries

Mediterranean demersal trawl fisheries traditionally operate using small diamond-shape meshes in the codend, which tend to retain almost all animals. We investigated the effect of mesh configuration on the size selectivity of nine species (the scaldfish Arnoglossus laterna, the broad-tail shortfin squid Illex coindettii, the European hake Merluccius merluccius, the red mullet Mullus barbatus, the Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus, the common pandora Pagellus erythrinus, the deepwater rose shrimp Parapenaeus longirostris, the Mediterranean horse mackerel Trachurus mediterraneus and the poor-cod Trisopterus minutus capelanus) commonly captured in the Mediterranean demersal trawls. Two codends having meshes with the same opening (ca. 38 mm) but different mesh configuration (DM38: diamond-mesh and SM38: square-mesh configuration) were fished daily and alternately on the same trawl. They demonstrated a substantial improvement in selectivity with square-mesh. Selectivity was measured using the covered codend technique, the cover being supported by circular hoops.The results were analysed taking into account the between-haul variation in selectivity. Two other important external variables were identified: the trawling depth and the codend catch, which for some species influenced between-haul variation, but there was no evidence of a coherent effect on selectivity parameters.The selectivity of 40 mm diamond-mesh codend has been reported to be rather poor because a large proportion of the codend catch is immature and smaller than the minimum landing size (MLS) or first maturity size. With the exception of the flatfish (A. laterna), the effect of a change of mesh configuration from diamond- to square-mesh on size selectivity positively affected the retention length at 50% (L₅₀). However, square-meshes were found to be unsuitable for flat and/or deep-bodied fish as these escape more readily from diamond-meshes.The Council Regulation (EC) No. 1967/2006, concerning management measures for the sustainable exploitation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean, establishes the MLS of marine organisms. However, the increase in L₅₀ with square-mesh would not avoid some of the existing contradictions in allowing the use of codend mesh which leads to lower L₅₀ than the MLS.     

Size selective capture of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) in floating pots

Little is known about the size selectivity of cod in static fishing gears such as pots and traps. In this field study, floating fishing pots were equipped with 40, 45 and 50 mm square mesh escape windows in order to estimate the size selectivity of cod at different mesh sizes. Relationships between selectivity parameters and mesh size, as well as an optimal mesh size for the escape window with respect to current minimum landing size of cod in the Baltic Sea were sought. The results show that the floating pot is not only species selective when used in the Baltic Sea cod fishery, the implementation of an escape window reduced the proportion of undersized bycatch in the pots by more than 90%. The estimated length at 50% retention was found to be a direct function of fish body length (girth) and mesh size of the escape window, while the estimated selection range remained unchanged regardless of mesh size. Optimal mesh size, with respect to the length at 50% retention and current minimal landing size of 38 cm in the Baltic, was determined to be 45 mm. Strong indications (significant on the 0.01 probability level in the case of 50 and 40 mm escape windows) suggested that the relative fishing power of the pots increased with the implementation of an escape window. This result could be explained as a “saturation effect”, i.e. the probability of cod entering the pot is likely to be negatively dependent on cod density in the pot. The high species selectivity and the low catch rate of undersized fish have consolidated the floating pots position as a highly benign fishing method and the foremost alternative gear for the future coastal cod fishery in the Baltic Sea.     

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.     

Selectivity in a trawl codend during haul-back operation—An overlooked phenomenon

The selectivity of a 99 mm trawl codend was assessed using a codend cover fitted with a MultiSampler, which was acoustically triggered to take separate samples at three different phases of the haul. The first sample was collected during towing, the second during haul-up and the third at the surface. A total of 18 hauls were conducted with a commercial fishing vessel west of Scotland. It was demonstrated that escapes take place not only during the tow but also in the short period when the trawl is hauled back from the seabed and when the codend is at the surface. For haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), whiting (Merlangius merlangus) and Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus), respectively, the mean percentages escaping at the surface were 16, 12 and 38% of the total escape while 17, 8 and 28% escaped during the haul-up phase. Compared to towing, the escape rate (no./min) increased for haddock by a factor 2.7 during haul-up and by a factor 1.7 at the surface, whereas the escape rates of whiting were similar for the three phases. The escape rate of Norway lobster increased by a factor of approximately 7 for both the haul-up and surface phases, compared to the towing phase. The selectivity parameters L50 (50% retention length) and SR (selection range = L75–L25) were estimated and compared for the three different phases and for the whole haul for haddock, whiting and Norway lobster. For all three species there was no significant (P > 0.05) difference in L50 between the three phases of the haul. There was also no significant difference for whiting and Norway lobster when comparing the SR of the three phases, whereas the SR was significantly lower for haddock when comparing the surface phase with towing and haul-up. The estimate of L50 when towing was about 6 cm lower for haddock and whiting and 9 mm for Norway lobster compared to the selection curve estimated conventionally for the whole haul. Finally, the effect of sea state, duration and codend catch on the selectivity parameters were estimated for the individual phases and for the whole haul. A significant effect of at least one variable was found in all phases.     

秋季莱州湾弓子网网囊网目尺寸选择性研究

单船框架拖网(俗称弓子网)是渤海海区常见的作业渔具,对底栖渔业生物选择性差,作业过程中产生大量副渔获物。为改善网囊网目的选择性,2017年9月在莱州湾海域采用“套网法”对网囊网目尺寸分别为15、25、35、45和55 mm的5种网囊进行了选择性实验。结果显示,弓子网对渔获物种类的选择能力较差,具有捕获栖息于作业海域绝大多数底栖种类的能力。随网囊网目尺寸的增加,渔获物质量、尾数逃逸率和产值损失率逐渐增大,短吻红舌鳎(Cynoglossus joyneri)、口虾蛄(Oratosquilla oratoria)、鹰爪虾(Trachypenaeus curvirostris)和日本鼓虾(Alpheus japonicas)的选择性参数(L0.5、SR)呈线性增加。口虾蛄和鹰爪虾的50%选择体长(L0.5)与网目尺寸(m)的线性回归方程分别为L0.5=1.472m+12.63(R2=0.934)和L0.5=1.394m+0.724(R2=0.920)。在目前的渔业资源状况下,为保护口虾蛄和鹰爪虾等经济渔获物资源,兼顾生产效益和幼鱼资源保护,建议将弓子网最小网目尺寸放大至45 mm。     

欧洲地区选择性虾拖网渔具的研究进展

为减少副渔获物的兼捕,提高拖网渔具选择性,栅型兼捕减少装置已在底拖网渔业中得到广泛应用。兼捕减少装置水动力变化影响着鱼类接触后的行为反应,从而决定着装置的分隔效率和选择性效果。实验通过动水槽模型探究3种不同规格的栅栏 (Grid-0.3栅、Grid -0.4栅、Grid -0.5栅)分别在倾角30°、45°和60°,3种状态下对网囊网目张开程度、空间形态和阻力的影响效果。结果发现,① 无栅栏网囊的网目平均张开角度22°±5°。设置Grid-0.4栅和Grid-0.5栅网囊的网目平均张开角度较无栅栏网囊分别增大了3.3%和18.8%;而设置Grid-0.3栅网囊的网目平均张开角度减少了9.2%。②Grid-0.4栅对网囊形态影响程度最小,贴合网囊流线型;Grid-0.3栅和Grid-0.5栅使网囊发生扭曲形变。③设置Grid-0.3栅的网囊,不同倾角下的阻力差异较小,与无栅栏网囊的阻力相近。以不同倾角设置Grid-0.4栅和Grid-0.5栅的网囊,平均网囊阻力分别比无栅栏网囊的阻力高12.7%和24.4%。除Grid-0.3-A-30°栅外,有模拟渔获物条件下,网囊阻力均随栅栏倾角和规格的增大而增加。本研究对我国底拖网选择性研究和对保护近底层渔业资源具有重要意义。

     

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.     

Selectivity of flexible size-sorting grid in Mediterranean multispecies trawl fishery

ABSTRACT:   The demersal multispecies trawl fishery in the western Mediterranean Sea has a poor selectivity; large numbers of juvenile fish are caught when using the legislated 40-mm diamond mesh cod end. The selectivity of a flexible sorting grid with 20-mm bar spacing (BS20) installed in front the conventional trawl cod end was investigated. The standard covered cod end method was used. Data was adequate for analyzing the selectivity of European hake Merluccius merluccius , poor cod Trisopterus minutus , greater forkbeard Phycis blennoides and Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus . The selectivity of the 20-mm sorting grid was compared with the performance of 40-mm diamond (DM40) and square mesh (SM40) cod ends. The effect of a guiding funnel on the performance of the grid (BS20-f) was also explored. Finally, the potential changes in yield per recruit (Y/R) and biomass per recruit (B/R) after implementing a sorting grid were explored. An overall improvement in the 50% selection length ( L ₅₀ ) with all four species was substantial when comparing the BS20 to the DM40. Higher improvement in L ₅₀ s was achieved when the grid was equipped with the guiding funnel. When comparing the performance of the BS20-f to the SM40, there was no marked difference in L ₅₀ s. The Y/R and B/R, however, are substantially higher with BS20-f for poor cod and about the same for European hake. BS20 compared to SM40 achieved lower Y/R and B/R for all four species; the smallest difference was observed for Norway lobster. Further development is required if the sorting grid is to be introduced into commercial fisheries.     

Adaptive bycatch reduction in penaeid trawls via rapid adjustments to headline height

Penaeid trawling is among the world's least selective fishing methods; a characteristic that has evoked spatial closures being implemented in some fisheries if certain bycatch limits are exceeded. For decades, considerable work has been done to develop modifications to penaeid trawls that reduce unwanted bycatches, with most focussed at the posterior section (i.e. codend). More recently, efforts have examined ways to prevent bycatch entry into trawls entirely—via modifications to anterior components. This study assessed the utility of proactively lowering the headlines of Australian penaeid trawls, using clips at the otter boards, to 68% and 54% of their conventional height, and demonstrated mean total bycatch reductions (by weight) of 69% and 79%, respectively, with no effects on the targeted Metapenaeus macleayi (Haswell). The results provide insights into the location and behaviour of various species in the water column preceding capture, and support a simple and easy method for regional fishers to use in situ to avoid excessive bycatch and associated fishing closures. More broadly, the data support ongoing efforts in other penaeid‐trawl fisheries to reduce bycatches via similar, rapid adjustments to anterior components, depending on species‐specific behaviours during capture.     

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%.     

南海区双船大网目拖网网囊网目对带鱼的选择性

大网目拖网是我国海洋渔业捕捞带鱼的重要渔具。为提高拖网网囊选择性, 本研究在南海区采用套网法对双船大网目拖网 4 组网目尺寸(30、35、40 和 45 mm)的网囊进行实验, 在双重拔靴法的架构下, 拟合选择性参数、比较选择性的差异、估算捕捞方式指标。结果表明, 随着网目尺寸的增大, 网囊对带鱼的 50%选择体长增大, 对带鱼幼鱼个体的选择率显著下降, 带鱼幼鱼的渔获比例也呈下降趋势。结合带鱼最小可捕规格(23.0 cm)管理规定, 结果还表明网目尺寸为 40 mm 的网囊选择性较差, 其对带鱼的抛弃率大于 93%。为了进一步提高带鱼拖网渔业的资源养护水平, 还需要开展更多的选择性实验。     

Optimising codend configuration in a multispecies demersal trawl fishery

Abstract The relative efficiencies and selectivities of conventional and modified codends were examined in a demersal trawl fishery targeting several species, including eastern king prawns, Penaeus plebejus (Hess), whiting, Sillago spp. and cephalopods. The modifications to codends included: (i) reducing the circumference; (ii) increasing the mesh size in conventional diamond‐mesh designs; and (iii) orientating meshes on the bar so that they were square shaped. The codends were tested against a fine‐meshed control in paired comparisons onboard three commercial trawlers. The conventional codend comprised 41‐mm diamond‐shaped mesh attached to an anterior extension section at a ratio of 150 to 100 meshes and was demonstrated to be non‐selective for the targeted species. Reducing codend circumference to 100 meshes and increasing the size of mesh to 45 mm both improved selection for eastern king prawns, but the lateral mesh openings were estimated to be insufficient to allow juveniles of the other key species to escape. By contrast, codends made from 35‐ and 41‐mm mesh hung on the bar improved the size selection for eastern king prawns and selected stout whiting, Sillago robusta (Stead) (the smallest commercial‐sized fish) across narrow selection ranges and at 50% sizes of retention (L₅₀s) that were closely correlated to the transverse morphology of fish and the maximum mesh opening. With the exception of a reduction in catches of octopus, Octopus spp., by the 41‐square codend, there were no other impacts on commercial catches by the square‐mesh designs. It was concluded that diamond‐mesh codends are inappropriate for use throughout this multispecies fishery and that a modified design comprising at least 35‐mm mesh hung on the bar is required to minimise the fishing mortality of unwanted sizes of the key target species. The results are discussed in terms of the utility of these types of modifications for closely regulating selection in penaeid‐shrimp trawls.     

Escapement from the main body of the bottom trawl used for the Mediterranean international trawl survey (MEDITS)

Escapement through the body or under the footrope of the sampling trawl used for the Mediterranean international trawl survey programme (MEDITS) was assessed i) by means of visual observations performed with a towed operating vehicle equipped with a high-sensitivity video camera, and ii) by attaching small bags to the outside of the trawl body and under the footrope. Due to the small size of most of the individuals present in the study area and to the towing speed, fish behaviour in front of the trawl could not be frequently observed. In contrast, their behaviour was easily observed inside the net, especially upstream and inside the codend. Some species, such as horse mackerel (Trachurus sp.), showed greater swimming endurance compared with others such as annular seabream (Diplodus annularis). In three fishing trips conducted in different seasons in 1996 and 1997 to obtain data on several species in different areas of the Adriatic, six small net bags were mounted outside the body of the MEDITS trawl to quantify escapement through the trawl belly and under the footrope. Significant escapement of many species occurred in the near-bottom part of the side panels. Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) had the highest rate (64 %), mainly represented by small-size individuals. The escapement of greater forkbeard (Phycis blennoides) was also high (53 %). For hake (Merluccius merluccius), common pandora (Pagellus erythrinus) and poor cod (Trisopterus minutus capelanus), rates ranged from 10 to 16 %. The escapement of red mullet (Mullus barbatus) was very low despite their great abundance. Blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) escaped mainly through the mid-height part of the side panel. This great variability of escapement values could affect the proportion rates of the species sampled during a standard survey. Different escape behaviours among size classes were observed for M. poutassou, T. minutus capelanus and P. erythrinus, with smaller individuals tending to escape towards the bottom and larger ones towards the higher parts of the trawl body. In the species where the escape rate was size-dependent, therefore, the size-frequency distributions obtained from the codend catch may not reflect actual size-frequency distributions.     

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。     

青岛斋堂岛海域春季双桩竖杆张网网囊网目的选择性

2014年春季,采用平行作业法,以2a=16 mm(a为目脚长度)的菱形目网囊为对照网(CN),选取30 mm菱形目网囊和20 mm、30 mm、40 mm的方形目网囊(分别以30D、20S、30S和40S表示)作为实验网囊,对青岛斋堂岛附近海域的双桩竖杆张网进行了不同网目形状的网囊和不同网目尺寸方形目网囊的选择性比较试验。以多元统计分析方法进行种间选择性分析,以Logistic曲线作为选择性模型、采用极大似然估算法进行种内选择性分析。结果显示,与对照网相比,所有实验网囊均能有效释放玉筋鱼(Ammodytes personatus)、舒氏海龙(Syngnathus schlegeli)等低值渔获以及经济鱼类的幼体。比较不同网目形状网囊的渔获数据发现,方形目网囊较菱形目网囊具有更好的选择性,其中30S网囊对玉筋鱼和舒氏海龙的释放率(以尾数计)分别比30D网囊高4.61%和16.80%,对六丝钝尾虾虎鱼(Amblychaeturichthys hexanema)和日本枪乌贼(Loigo japonica)的50%选择体长(胴长)L50分别比30D网囊大38.47%和61.29%。比较不同网目尺寸方形目网囊的渔获数据发现,当实验网为20S和30S时,六丝钝尾虾虎鱼的L50分别为6.58 cm和7.20 cm,选择范围(SR)分别为3.02 cm和0.87 cm;当实验网为20S、30S和40S时,日本枪乌贼的L50分别为2.88 cm、4.03 cm和10.49 cm,SR分别为0.74 cm、0.52 cm和2.67 cm;不同尺寸的方形目网囊对这2种渔获物的L50随着网目尺寸的增大而增大。根据实验海区各种渔获物的经济价值、低值鱼类和幼鱼的释放比例以及分拣渔获物的劳动力投入等综合分析认为,30 mm方形目网囊在保护渔业资源的同时对渔业生产不会造成显著影响,建议予以推广。     

单桩张网菱形、方形网目网囊选择性研究

近年来,一种利用帆布作为扩张装置的新型单桩张网渔具在吕四渔场得到了快速发展。为了改善这种张网对主要渔获对象的尺寸选择性,进而评价其渔获性能以及对渔业资源的影响,使用套网试验法开展了不同网目尺寸(25 mm、35 mm和45 mm)的菱形和方形网目网囊尺寸选择性试验。通过对黄鲫(Setipinnataay)和小黄鱼(Pseudosciaena polyactis)渔获体长数据的选择性分析,结果显示,无论是菱形还是方形网目网囊,其50%选择体长L50和选择范围SR都随着网目尺寸的增大而增大(L50呈线性增长)。对比菱形和方形网目的选择性发现,对于黄鲫,50%选择体长L50差异不大,但菱形网目的选择范围SR大于方形网目;对于小黄鱼,方形网目具有更好的选择特性,即具有较大的L50(8%)和较小的SR(52%),但差异均不显著。菱形和方形网目对于不同体型鱼类的选择性差异以及渔民对方形网目网囊的抵触情绪等都使得在张网渔业中推广方形网目网囊值得商榷。     

Evolving and devolving bycatch reduction devices in an Australian penaeid-trawl fishery

Since bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) were first tested in Australian penaeid-trawl fisheries almost 20 years ago, there have been ongoing refinements to a discrete range of legislated designs; mostly in response to dynamic fishery-specific operational requirements. This study assesses the relative utility of the latest versions of two generic BRDs that have evolved/devolved in an estuarine fishery. Compared with a codend containing no BRD, a simplified Nordmøre-grid and radial escape section significantly reduced the total weight of bycatch by 74 and 36%, respectively. Catches of the targeted school prawns (Metapenaeus macleayi) were also reduced by 4 and 11%, respectively, although, at least for the Nordmøre-grid, these losses were apparently offset by the practicality of the revised design in terms of a simpler and cheaper construction. The presence of large quantities of displaced submerged plants (e.g. Egeria densa and Hydrilla verticillata) on the trawl grounds at certain times (which preclude using the Nordmøre-grid) may similarly compensate for the reduced efficiency of the radial escape section. In addition to quantifying the performance of the revised BRDs, the results provide direction for their future refinement in this and other similar fisheries.