Authors:
Broadhurst, M.K., Brand, C.P. and Kennelly, S.J.
Journal/Publisher Name:
Fisheries Research
Contact information:
Three codends 1. a control, 2. a simplified Nordmore-grid and 3. one with a radial escape section were tested aboard trawl vessels off New South Wales Australia, to determine the effects on the catch of bycatch and target species. The codend with a radial escape section and the simplified Nordmore-grid retained fewer school prawns by weight 11.5% and 4.6% resepectively, compared to the control net. The Nordmore-grid codend caught 50% fewer yellowfin bream than the radial escape section net and 55% fewer than the control net. Both trial codends significantly reduced the predicted mean weight (36% Nordmore-grid and 74.3% radial escape section) and number (17.3% and 49.3%) of bycatch. The Nordmore-grid codend retained significantly fewer bycatch by weight (59.8%) and number 38.7%) than the radial escape section codend. In addition, the Nordmore-grid codend retained significantly fewer Ramsey’s perchlet than the control (48.3%) and radial escape section (50.7%) and fewer southern herring (69.4% and 57.6% respectively). Significantly more silver biddy sized 9.5 to 10.5 cm total length were retained inthe control codend compared to the Nordmore-grid and radial escape section codends.
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