An innovative prawn trawl design, which could help to conserve fish stocks will be highlighted by the Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish) at Fishing 2004 (May 20-22) Glasgow exhibition.
Seafish says that rather than letting fish escape once they are in the net, the new trawl features a number of design elements around the trawl entrance to prevent juvenile fish entering the net in the first place. Recent trials with this new prawn trawl on fishing vessels have shown a significant reduction in the bycatch of unwanted juvenile fish without compromising the prawn catch, it added.
Trials of a new version for larger vessels will shortly get underway and Seafish will be displaying a model of this latest design at Fishing 2004.
Phil MacMullen, Seafish Fisheries development manager said: "This new trawl design, which was developed by Seafish in close consultation with the fishing industry, has demonstrated that significant reductions in the numbers of haddock and whiting caught can be achieved by using this approach."
The Kingfisher Information Services department of Seafish will be highlighting its work with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the UK Hydrographic Office in producing a specification
