Documentation of the selective effect of SELTRA 180 in Kattegat (38917)

The cod stock in Kattegat was at a critical low level. A selective SELTRA codend concept was developed to reduce the fishing mortality of cod in the Nephrops directed fishery in Kattegat. A version of the SELTRA design, SELTRA 180 was developed directly for the Kattegat situation and optimized through flume tank tests.

The aim of the project was to document the selective effect of SELTRA 180 codend, which was made mandatory in Kattegat in 2011, and to compare it with the standard 90 mm gear used in Kattegat. The SELTRA design was developed to getting an efficient selection of cod while retaining Nephrops. Results from an increased commercial onboard monitoring of the catch composition obtained with the SELTRA codends were compared with results obtained from experimental fishing.

The project demonstrated that the 90mm codend with a SELTRA escape panel obtained similar selectivity for cod as a 120 mm standard codend. This documentation led to the implementation of the SELTRA codend in Skagerrak in 2011.

The project was coordinated by DTU Aqua and funded by the Danish Minestry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries and the European Fisheries Fund (EFF).

Research area: Fisheries Technology