Following experimental work carried out in 2013, a twin-rig trawler, the
Ilfracombe-based *Our Olivia Belle *(BD 277), was chartered to undertake
further trials of a modified demersal trawl in August 2014 to look at
selectivity in a mixed demersal fishery off south-west Cornwall. The primary
aim was to improve the selectivity of the trawl to reduce discards of unwanted
haddock with the least possible impact on the wanted catches of haddock and
other commercial species. This is important in view of the future
implementation of the landings obligation and associated catch quotas for
species such as haddock. Following discussions with several Newlyn-based
trawler operators, the decision was taken to investigate the effect of
inserting square-mesh panels (SQMP) of 155 mm mesh into the top panel of the
lengthener of an otter trawl. A twin-rig trawl, deployed as for normal haddock
fishing, was used to compare the catches of modified and standard trawl nets
in a series of tows on the fishing grounds off SW Cornwall.
