Journal article
Refining a simple anterior fish excluder (SAFE) for penaeid trawls
Fisheries Research, Vol.214, pp.1-9
06/2019
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Abstract
Following recent international efforts to assess anterior modifications to trawls as a means for precluding unwanted catches, a promising device termed the ‘simple anterior fish excluder’ (SAFE) was modified for an Australian penaeid-trawl fishery. We tested a conventional penaeid trawl against those rigged with two SAFEs; each comprising a plastic banner located between the otter boards but orientated as either single- (original design) or double-concave configurations. Compared to the conventional trawl, both SAFEs caught significantly fewer absolute and standardised (ha–1 trawled) numbers of the most abundant non-target species, southern herring (Herklotsichthys castelnaui), although mean reductions were greater in the trawls with the double-concave (by 59 and 50%) than single-concave (44 and 36%) SAFE. Neither absolute nor standardised catches of the targeted school prawns (Metapenaeus macleayi) were affected. The results reiterate the generic utility of anterior modifications for reducing bycatch and maintaining function across different geometries. Configuring the SAFE as a double concave did partially improve its efficiency, but it also complicated fishing operations. Therefore, we conclude that owing to its simplicity, the single-concave design might be a preferable configuration for penaeid-trawl fisheries—pending assessments of other refinements.
Details
- Title
- Refining a simple anterior fish excluder (SAFE) for penaeid trawls
- Creators
- Valentina Melli - Technical University of DenmarkMatt K Broadhurst - NSW Department of Primary IndustriesSteven J Kennelly - IC Independent Consulting
- Publication Details
- Fisheries Research, Vol.214, pp.1-9
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Grant note
- This study was funded by the Australian Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (Project No. 2017/097).
- Identifiers
- 991012926983202368
- Copyright
- © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; School of Environment, Science and Engineering; National Marine Science Centre
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article