Development of new concepts for escape windows to minimise cod catches in Norway lobster fisheries

Published source details Madsen N., Frandsen R.P., Holst R. & Krag L.A. (2010) Development of new concepts for escape windows to minimise cod catches in Norway lobster fisheries. Fisheries Research, 103, 25-29.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Fit mesh escape panels/windows to a trawl net Action Link

Fit mesh escape panels/windows to a trawl net

A replicated, paired study in 2007 in two areas of seabed in the Skagerrak and Kattegat, northern Europe (Madsen et al. 2010) reported that prawn trawl nets fitted with a square mesh escape panel allowed high proportions of undersized Atlantic cod Gadus morhua and plaice Pleuronectes platessa to escape capture, and high proportions of marketable sizes of non-target commercial fish. Data were not tested for statistical significance. For two of two panel positions, 93% of cod below the minimum landing size (30cm) and 86–87% above it escaped (92–93% overall) and between 75–82% of undersized (<27 cm) plaice (77–84% overall). Seven other non-target commercial fish species were caught, of which generally large proportions of legally sized fish escaped: saithe Pollachius virens (95–97%); lemon sole Microstomus kitt (55–75%); haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus (80–86%); witch Glyptocephalus cynoglossus (50–60%); dab Limanda limanda (70–100%); pollock Pollachius pollachius (82–100 %); and hake Merluccius merluccius (90–93 %). In addition, 33–37% of legally sized individuals of the target Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus escaped capture. Nine paired trawl deployments of two nets fitted with a square mesh escape panel (300 mm mesh), one 2.7 m and one 1.35 m in front of the codend, were carried out in June 2007. Codends were 90 mm diamond mesh. Full trawl designs are provided in the original study.

(Summarised by: Leo Clarke)