The Effects of Two Different Net Modifications on Reducing Discards in the Trammel Net Fishery for Prawn in Mersin Bay

Abstract

The discarded species caught in prawn trammel nets damage the nets and cause a serious labor loss problem for fishers. In the present study, a 15 cm high greenhouse plastic film and a greenhouse shade cloth net were fitted between the lower parts of the nets and the lead collars to reduce discards in the trammel net fishery. The modified nets were tested in Mersin Bay with twenty-one fishing operations between September and December 2021. The results showed that, compared to commercial trammel nets, the nets equipped with greenhouse plastic film and greenhouse shade cloth did not significantly reduce the catch of the target species green tiger prawn (Penaeus semisulcatus). However, the total number of discards significantly decreased. The discard rates in the commercial net, greenhouse plastic film net, and greenhouse shade cloth net were 45%, 26%, and 22%, respectively. Furthermore, when the incomes from the nets' hauls were calculated, the net equipped with greenhouse garden film and the net equipped with greenhouse shade cloth generated 24.77% and 14.41% more profit than the commercial net, respectively.