Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1060187
PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIAT FOR AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND ANIMAL RIGHTS PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIAT FOR EUROPEAN FUNDS AND SOCIAL DIALOGUE PROJECT PART-FINANCED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION EMFF 1.16.1 – A SCIENTIFIC STUDY TO IMPROVE TRAWL GEAR SELECTIVITY Objectives: - Test new and more selective trawling gear - Reduce by-catch of mixed trawling fisheries (hake and deep water rose shrimp) Maritime and Fisheries Operational Programme 2014-2020 Part-financed by the European Union European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Co-financing rate: 75% European Union Funds; 25% National Funds Investing in Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture - Malta Top Bottom Codend Side Escape Panel (SEP) SEP with 60 mm square-mesh (SEP60) SEP with 50 mm square-mesh (SEP50) Guiding device SEP 10 m SEP Position of SEP (red) on the trawl net Best combination: Trawling net with codend of square mesh 40mm and SEP of square mesh 50mm Trawling Gear Modifications tested: • Combinations of codends with different mesh sizes and shapes including: 40 square mesh 50 square / diamond mesh • Side Escape Panels (SEP) mounted 8-10m from the codend. The trawling net with the best combination was able to catch around: ~85% of hake entering the net ~28% of shrimps entering the net The trawling net with the best combination resulted in a decrease of: • 22% of hake caught that were under minimum landing size • 6% of deep water rose shrimp caught that were under minimum landing size illum | Il-Ħadd 9 ta' Diċembru 2018