Discard reduction of trammel nets in the Northeastern Mediterranean prawn fishery

Gokce, Gokhan/0000-0003-1830-0733; Ozbilgin, Huseyin/0000-0002-7277-0608WOS: 000380019500006In this study the effects on the discard reduction of guarding net rigged prawn trammel nets were examined with the focus on catch composition and income of fishermen for the Mersin Bay small-scale prawn fishery. A total of 15 fishing trips were carried out between September and December 2011, using the commercial net and the alternative experimental net for comparison. the results revealed that catches of the main target species, green tiger prawn (Penaeus semisulcatus), in the alternative nets were only 1.5% smaller than those of the commercial nets, and with a statistically insignificant difference (P > 0.05). However, the catch of the main discarded species, the invasive swimming crab (Charybdes longicollis), mantis shrimp (Rissoides desmaresti), and the blue crab (Portunus pelagicus) were captured 85%, 66%, 75% less often in the alternative nets, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). Also reduced was the labour needed to remove the catch from the alternative gear as well as a reduction in the number of tears in the net. An 8% loss of revenue from landings was estimated when using the alternative gear, however, this difference was statistically not significant (P < 0.05).Mersin UniversityMersin University [BAP-FBE SU (ASB) 2010-1 DR]We would like to thank the captain of the commercial vessel "Secer". Thanks are also extended to students from the Faculty of Fisheries in Mersin University for their help during the sea trials. We are also grateful to referees for the helpful revision of the manuscript. This project was funded by Mersin University, Research Project Fund (BAP-FBE SU (ASB) 2010-1 DR)