Tools
Tools
Meena, DK, Fenton, M, Szostek, CL, Delargy, A, Johnson, AF, Kaiser, MJ, Hinz, H, Hold, N and Sciberras, M 2024 Catch yield and selectivity of a modified scallop dredge to reduce seabed impact. PLOS ONE, 19 (5). e0302225. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0302225
|
Text
Fenton et al. 2024 Catch and yield selectivity of a modified scallop dredge...pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (8MB) | Preview |
Abstract/Summary
Global scallop fisheries are economically important but are associated with environmental impacts to seabed communities resulting from the direct physical contact of the fishing gear with the seabed. Gear modifications attempting to reduce this contact must be economically feasible such that the catch numbers for the target species is maintained or increased. This study investigated the outcome of reducing seabed contact on retained catch of scallops and bycatch by the addition of skids to the bottom of the collecting bag of scallop dredges. We used a paired control experimental design to investigate the impact of the gear modification in different habitat types. The modified skid dredge generally caught more marketable scallops per unit area fished compared with the standard dredge (+5%). However, the skid dredge also retained more bycatch (+11%) and more undersize scallops (+16%). The performance of the two dredges was habitat specific which indicates the importance of adjusting management measures in relation to habitat type. To realize the potential environmental benefits associated with the improvement in catchability of this gear modification, further gear modification is required to reduce the catch of undersize scallops and bycatch. Furthermore we advocate that technical gear innovations in scallop dredging need to be part of a comprehensive and effective fisheries management system.
| Item Type: | Publication - Article |
|---|---|
| Divisions: | Plymouth Marine Laboratory > Science Areas > Sea and Society |
| Depositing User: | S Hawkins |
| Date made live: | 06 Jun 2024 08:20 |
| Last Modified: | 06 Jun 2024 08:20 |
| URI: | https://plymsea.ac.uk/id/eprint/10225 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |