Discard Reduction of Trammel Nets in the Northeastern Mediterranean Prawn Fishery

Abstract

In 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).