2013 - 2013 Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas) North East Coast Net Grid Trials 2013/14 - Fisheries Science Partnership
FSP North East Coast Net Grid Trials
The twin rig trawler Aquarius II was chartered for ten days in September and October 2013 to undertake fishing trials in the Nephrops ( *Nephrops norvegicus* ) fishery off the North east coast of England. The aim of the work was to significantly reduce cod catches in this fishery through collective action with local fishing skippers. The practical approach taken was to insert a design concept under development known as the Net Grid into a trawl and to evidence changes in selectivity towards cod and other commercial species under normal fishing conditions. The objective of the work was to further develop this design with the aim of developing a trawl that reduces catches of cod in the English NE Nephrops trawl fishery without losing the target species of *Nephrops* .
dataset
http://data.cefas.co.uk/#/View/3592/
function: order
CEFAS102594ff-0257-47dd-b4d7-1ad5f5d319b0
http://www.cefas.co.uk/
eng
OGP
urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326
biota
revision
2011-03-25
publication
2008-06-01
publication
2008-06-01
-2
-0.5
55.25
54.5
revision
2010-05-18
2013-09-23
2013-10-18
publication
2017-02-01
notPlanned
The vessel’s own commercial trawls were used for the trial. With the exception of the experimental modification, both trawls were of identical construction; the trawls had a 400 mesh x 80 mm fishing circle, with ground gear of 37m constructed from 15cm and 22cm rubber discs. The starboard trawl was altered by including the Net Grid modification which had a 200mm square mesh panel; the other was left in its standard commercial configuration with a 90mm square mesh panel to provide a direct comparison. The trawls complied with existing technical regulations and for the purpose of these trials were fitted with new, identical 85 mm cod ends. The trawls were towed simultaneously as a twin rig, using a 3-warp towing system with a 450 kg clump centre weight and spread using ThyborØn® 55 doors. Two versions of the Net Grid were tested. The "long" version (Version 1) was operated for 14 tows and the "short" version (Version 2) for 10. Tows of 3-5 hours duration, i.e. typical of normal commercial practice, were conducted in the Farne Deeps fishing grounds off the North East coast of England. Towing speed was on average between 2.0 and 2.7 knots. The area of the main Nephrops fishing grounds within the Farne Deeps is classed as Functional Unit 6 (FU6) in the North Sea Nephrops stock assessment and is very small and highly localised. All fishing took place in the statistical rectangles 38E9 and 39E9 in ICES area IVb, bottom depths ranged between 55 and 101 m. Fishing took place during daylight and darkness, however because Nephrops catches were negligible during darkness, priority was placed on achieving daylight tows. Version 1 of the Net Grid was operated from 23rd till the 26th of September and resumed on the 8th of October after a spell of South-easterly gales, till a period of Northerly gales interrupted trials after the 9th. Version 2 was operated in one continuous period between the 15th and 18th of October.
Public data (Crown Copyright) - Open Government Licence Terms and Conditions apply
Public data (Crown Copyright) - Open Government Licence Terms and Conditions apply
Data Manager
Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science
Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory
Pakefield Road
Lowestoft
NR33 0HT
UK
+44 (0)1502 562244
originator
Data Manager
Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science
Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory
Pakefield Road
Lowestoft
NR33 0HT
UK
+44 (0)1502 562244
custodian
Data Manager
Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science
Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory
Pakefield Road
Lowestoft
NR33 0HT
UK
+44 (0)1502 562244
pointOfContact
2017-02-01T13:33:35