title: Effect of Codend Circumference on the Size Selection of Square-Mesh Codends in Trawl Fisheries.
abstract: It is well established that increasing mesh number in the circumference of a diamond-mesh trawl codend can reduce size selection for round fish, whereas selection for flat fish species is unaffected. This effect has also been documented in Mediterranean trawl fisheries. In contrast, no information is available with regard to the effect of increasing mesh number in the circumference of square-mesh codends on the size selection of round fish and flat fish species. A field study was devised to bridge this gap and formulate proposals aimed at improving trawl fishery management. Size selection data were collected for a round fish species, red mullet (Mullus barbatus), and two flat fish species, Mediterranean scaldfish (Arnoglossus laterna) and solenette (Buglossidium luteum). Fishing trials were conducted in the Adriatic Sea (Central Mediterranean) using three square-mesh codends that differed only in mesh number around the circumference. Results demonstrated that increasing the number of meshes from 107 to 213 reduced the 50% retention length (L50) for red mullet by 2.5 cm but did not affect size selection for the two flat fish species. In some fisheries, regulatory provisions regarding the number of meshes in the circumference should therefore be carefully considered both for diamond- and square-mesh codends.
authors.affiliation: Italian National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Marine Sciences (ISMAR), Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sala
authors.affiliation: SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture, Fishing Gear Technology, North Sea Science Park, Hirtshals, Denmark.|University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Bent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.affiliation: Italian National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Marine Sciences (ISMAR), Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Carlo
authors.affiliation: Italian National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Marine Sciences (ISMAR), Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lucchetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Studies, University of Split, Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Jure
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brčić
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005398:Fisheries; D005399:Fishes / Q000145:classification; D013045:Species Specificity