In a collaborative Fisheries Science Partnership (FSP) Project, Chadfish
(Cadgwith, Helford & District Fishermen’s Society) and Cefas (Centre for
Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science) sought to explore whether
fishing with large mesh gill nets is a selective method which does not catch
small fish; results in no discarding and no high grading; has low fuel use;
and maximises the economic returns of the haddock fishery.
Focusing on under 10 m gill nets in the south west of England, the project
sourced and analysed extensive fisheries data sets, conducted interviews with
skippers and organised a workshop of expert stakeholders including fishermen,
scientists, policy makers and fisheries managers.
These activities were used to evaluate the impacts of large mesh gill nets
according to selectivity for target species, selectivity for size, impacts on
unwanted by-catch species including mammals and birds, impacts on habitats and
economic returns from haddock.
