Effects of square-mesh panels in codends and of haulback delay on bycatch reduction in the oceanic prawn-trawl fishery of New South Wales, Australia | Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction

Broadhurst, M.K., Kennelly, S.J., O’Doherty, G. Fisheries Research Institute, N.S.W. Fisheries PO Box 21 Cronulla, New South Whales 2230 Australia

Codends modified with rectangular mesh panels (one oriented length-wise in the cod end and one oriented width-wise, each measuring 7 x 11 bars) reduced the weight of discarded bycatch by 46% and 38% respectively but did not significantly reduce the catch of targeted prawns. A haulback delay of 10-15 seconds allowed juvenile red spot to escape through the square mesh panels, while trawls with no delay showed no significant reduction in the bycatch of this species.

http://www.fishbull.noaa.gov/943/broadhurst.pdf