Mobile Gear Case Study:

Mobile Gear Case Study:
Effectiveness of Trawl Modifications to Reduce Atlantic
Cod By-Catch in U.S. Haddock Fishery on Georges Bank
Paul Winger
Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Resources
Marine Institute, Memorial University of Newfoundland
St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
www.mi.mun.ca/csar
Many finfish exhibit species-specific behaviour while
swimming and exhausting in the mouth of a bottom trawl.
Several studies are now underway to improve trawl
selectivity for haddock, cod, pollack, and various flatfish
species by taking advantage of these behaviour patterns.
(Main and Sangster, 1981)
Design and Test of a High Opening
Raised Footrope Trawl for Haddock
and Pollack for the inshore Gulf of
Maine
Pingguo He, UNH
Vincent Balzano
Tim Eddy
Purpose: To design and test a new trawl employing both a high
headline opening for haddock/pollack as well as a raised footrope with
long drop chains for escapement of cod and bottom dwelling species.
Results: Twelve experimental rigs
were tested in the CSAR flume tank.
Initial sea trials in 2005 were
encouraging.
Next Steps: Additional sea trials
scheduled for summer 2006.
5’ drop chains
Rope Separator Trawl for Haddock
and Pollack using “B” Days-at-sea
in the Inshore Western Gulf of
Maine
Pingguo He, UNH
Carl Bouchard
Purpose: To design and test a specialized rope separator trawl that
uses a series of parallel ropes instead of netting to reduce the problem
of fish meshing in traditional separator panels, especially dogfish.
Results: Flume tank tested at CSAR
in December 2004. Initial sea trials in
2005 were encouraging.
Next Steps: Additional sea trials
scheduled for summer 2006.
F/V Stormy Weather
Using a 4-Seam Bottom Trawl to
Improve Escapement of Small
Haddock and Cod
Dana Morse, UMaine
Kelo Pinkham
Claudia Coffin
Purpose: To examine the use of square mesh side panels
inserted into a 2-seam trawl as well as an increased taper in the
trawl belly, on reducing catches of juvenile groundfish in the Gulf
of Maine.
F/V Bad Penney
F/V Ocean Reporter
Results: Field trials showed a reduction in the catches
of undersized cod and haddock. Some larger marketsized individuals were also lost. Other fish species
appear unaffected. Further work will continue to refine
this promising approach.
Next Steps: Field trials in summer of 2006 will test 6”
hexagonal mesh in the side panels
Testing a Modified Squid Net to
Target Haddock in the Gulf of
Maine.
Purpose: To modify a commercial squid net to target
haddock while at the same time reducing the
incidental capture of cod and bottom dwelling species.
David Beutel, URI
Laura Skrobe, URI
Jonathan Knight
Phil O’Grady
Jim Ruhle
Approach: Installed large 8-foot mesh in the bottom belly to facilitate
downward escapement of cod and flatfish. Installed kites to increase
headline height.
Results: 3 trips have shown positive results.
Next Steps: Additional sea trials planned for 2006.
Content for this presentation was kindly contributed by:
Pingguo He
Dana Morse
Mike Pol
David Beutel
UNH
University of Maine
Mass. DMF
URI
Thank You
Dr. Paul Winger
Director
Centre for Sustainable
Aquatic Resources